When most people hear National Geographic toys, they picture rock tumblers and crystal kits (we have both of these too 😂).
But the National Geographic toys you’ll find on this site cover all sorts of types of play. This page has every National Geographic Kids toy I recommend across the site, all 6 of them, sorted by the 11 play categories I use for our toy rotation.
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Why We Like National Geographic Kids
- They’re open-ended. Most have no right answer, and can be played with in lots of different ways. Kids build, knock down, and build again.
- They get kids moving. A fort kit and balance stones are gross motor toys you can use inside on a rainy day.
- Learning is baked in. Marble runs are physics. The garden kit is life cycles. Kids don’t notice but they’re learning each time they play with them.
National Geographic Toys by Age
| Age | What to look for | More toys for this age |
|---|---|---|
| 2+ | Junior marble run with jumbo pieces and kid-safe balls | Toys for 2 year olds |
| 3+ | Jumbo foam blocks, balance stepping stones and beams | Toys for 3 year olds |
| 4+ | Motorized marble run, flower and herb garden kit | Toys for 4 year olds |
| 5+ | Bigger marble run builds, obstacle courses with the stepping stones | Toys for 5 year olds |
| 6+ | Fort building kit | Toys for 6 year olds |
National Geographic Fort Building Kit
If you only get one toy from this page, make it the fort kit. It’s a building toy, a gross motor toy, and a pretend play toy all at once.
National Geographic Kids Fort Building Kit (ages 6+)
We have built forts, rockets, cars, caves, and houses with this kit. You name it. As they get older the kids use the pieces to build tools, gear, and more.
And it doesn’t stop at buildings: the sticks have turned my kids into helicopters, firefighters, and magicians with wands. Once the fort is up, the second round of play starts, like using the fort to play house.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Kids Fort Building Kit
We have built forts, rockets, cars, caves, houses… You name it. These versatile sticks have also turned my kiddos into helicopters, fire fighters, and magicians with wands.
- BUILD THE COOLEST FORTS EVER – With 135 pieces, kids can build forts that are nothing less than epic! This fort building kit makes it easy to build an indoor fort with endless configurations. It's perfect for creative building and play!
- DURABLE, PREMIUM-QUALITY COMPONENTS – Sturdy poles in two different lengths work with the Flex-Tech hubs to create a number of dynamic structures, with 6 included clips that make it easy to cover the fort with a sheet or blanket (not included).
- HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL TOYS – We're proud to make the highest quality hands-on science toys, and all our products are backed by exceptional service. If your experience is less than stellar, let us know and we'll make things right!
National Geographic Marble Runs and Building Toys
We love marble runs. Kids build the track (that’s the building part), then watch the marbles go (that’s the playing part), then fix whatever didn’t work. That’s a real STEM toy: gravity, speed, and a lot of trial and error.
National Geographic Kids Junior Marble Run (ages 2+)
I wish this had existed when my kids were 2. Regular marble runs are off-limits for toddlers because marbles are a choking hazard, but this one uses jumbo pieces and kid-safe balls.
Little ones get to experiment with building a track and watching the ball drop without a grown-up hovering. It comes with two starter courses to copy, then they can build their own.
National Geographic Kids Junior Marble Run
We love marble runs, and I wish something like this would have existed when my kids were 2. This lets kids experiment with building tracks and watching marbles, without the choking hazard.
- MADE FOR TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS u2013 This junior marble run is designed for ages 2+, using jumbo pieces and kid-safe balls so young children can safely enjoy classic marble run and ball drop play.
- 35-PIECE BALL DROP BUILDING SET u2013 Includes 33 jumbo construction pieces and 2 child-safe balls for building colorful ball drop tracks and marble run mazes sized just right for little hands.
- WATCH BALLS DROP, ROLL & RACE u2013 Kids send balls dropping, rolling, and tumbling through their mazes, discovering cause & effect while experimenting with speed, gravity, and direction.
- INCLUDES PLAY & LEARN ACTIVITY CARDS u2013 Comes with 4 Play & Learn Cards filled with toddler- and preschool-friendly building ideas that inspire creativity and early problem solving.
National Geographic Motorized Marble Run (ages 4+)
We’ve bought all kinds of marble runs, and this one is especially fun because of the motorized marble elevator. It carries marbles back to the top so the run keeps going in an infinite loop.
If your kid likes a marble run with a building challenge, the Educational Insights Design and Drill maze is another favorite.
National Geographic Motorized Marble Run
We love marble runs and have bought all kinds. This one is particularly fun with the motorized marble eleveator to create an infinite loop.
- MOTORIZED LIFT FOR ENDLESS RUNS – Features a motorized lift that carries your marbles up almost 20 inches and drop them onto the track! Create a perpetual motion machine that continuously takes your marbles back to the top to launch again!
- COMPATIBLE WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MARBLE RUNS – Expand any National Geographic Glow-in-the-Dark Marble Run with this kit! All pieces, including the spiral lift, work seamlessly with existing sets (non-magnetic), so you can create even bigger runs!
- LEARN WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC – With National Geographic STEM toys, learning is always part of the fun! The included Learning Guide contains fascinating facts about physics, motion, and more! It also contains tips for building amazing marble runs!
Jumbo Foam Building Blocks (ages 3+)
The jumbo foam blocks remind me of the classic wooden unit blocks we play with at the library, just softer. They don’t snap together, so kids have to think about balance, and when the tower falls, nobody gets hurt.
They’re washable and come with a storage bag. For more ideas, see our open-ended toys guide.
National Geographic Kids Jumbo Foam Blocks
These remind me of classic wooden unit blocks, but in a softer foam style.
- JUMBO FOAM BLOCKS FOR TODDLERS u2013 This 30-piece set features extra-large, lightweight foam blocks that are soft, safe, and easy for small hands to stack, build, and knock down.
- BRIGHT COLORS, FUN SHAPES & HANDS-ON LEARNING u2013 Kids can explore and create with colorful blocks in multiple shapes and sizes, encouraging open-ended play while supporting creativity, spatial reasoning, motor development, and early STEM learning.
- WASHABLE & DURABLE DESIGN u2013 Parents will love how easy these blocks are to clean! Each foam piece is washable and holds up easily to energetic, everyday play from preschool-aged kids.
- INCLUDES PLAY & LEARN CARDS u2013 Comes with 4 Play & Learn activity cards full of ideas that help preschoolers build early skills in language, math, creativity, and problem-solving through tactile play.
- EASY STORAGE & CLEANUP u2013 Includes a closable storage bag to keep all the jumbo foam blocks organized, portable, and ready for play at home or on the go.
National Geographic Gross Motor Toys
Balance, hopping, and climbing burn energy and build coordination, and they’re great on days you can’t get outside.
National Geographic Kids Balance Stepping Stones and Beams (ages 3+)
My kids love stepping stones and balance beams, but they can be a pain to store. These stack like trays, and they’re still sturdy enough to step and hop on. Balance play is also great sensory input for kids who need to move.
National Geographic Kids Balance Stepping Stones and Beams
My kids love stepping stones and balance beams, but sometimes they become too cumbersome to store. These stack like trays, but are durable enough to step and hop on.
- 12 COLORFUL PIECES u2013 Includes 4 hard plastic stepping stones, 4 straight beams, and 4 curved beams, so kids can design endless obstacle courses while building balance, coordination, and gross motor skills through imaginative play.
- SAFE, NON-SLIP DESIGN u2013 Each stone and beam features a non-slip rubber base for maximum stability and secure play indoors or outdoors (not recommended on wet surfaces).
- BUILD, ROLL & JUMP u2013 Kids can create their own course, roll the included foam dice, and jump to their color for an interactive and exciting challenge.
- STACKABLE & DURABLE u2013 Lightweight yet sturdy construction supports kids up to 150 lbs. Stackable design makes for easy storage and travel.
- PLAY & LEARN CARDS INCLUDED u2013 Four Play & Learn cards introduce fun games and activities that spark creativity for toddlers and preschoolers.
Nurturing and STEM: The Garden Kit
Taking care of something living is one of the best ways to practice nurturing, and plants are a lot easier than a puppy 😂.
National Geographic Flower and Herb Garden Activity (ages 4+)
Kids decorate their own metal pots with paint and stickers, then plant cosmos, nasturtium, and basil seeds. After that, it’s on them to water and care for the plants.
National Geographic Flower and Herb Garden Activity
Teach your kids about plants and lifecycles, as well as giving them responsability for something living. Routine watering and pruning teaches them nuturing skills.
- GROW YOUR OWN GARDEN – With this complete set, kids will have fun decorating their pots, then planting cosmos, nasturtium, and basil seeds. The included materials make growing an herb and flower garden easy!
- PAINTABLE POTS KIDS CAN DECORATE – This super-fun kids garden kit includes three durable, stainless steel pots that are perfect for decorating! Kids can use the 15 stickers and 6 paints included with the kit to make their garden beautiful!
National Geographic Microscope (ages 6+)
This miscroscope is as close to the real thing as you’re going to get without spending a small fortune. It comes with pre-loaded slides, rocks to examine, and the magnification can be adjusted.
It’s fun for kids to experiment with things around the house as well like a slice of orange, or a broken crayon.
National Geographic Microscope
Our local library has microscopes for kids. It's fun for them to look at ordinary items like a tissue or pencil shavings.
- FASCINATING SPECIMENS – Kids get 6 prepared plant slides in this microscope kit, along with 6 rocks and minerals, and 6 blank slides to prepare at home! They'll be entertained for hours as they explore the microscopic world with this STEM lab kit!
- A COMPLETE SCIENCE EXPERIMENT KIT – With a pipette, specimen dish, tweezers, and easy-to-follow instructions, kids will be able to conduct tons of science experiments, investigating the world around them just like real scientists!
Want more building toys? Our Learning Resources page has our favorite gear sets, and our toy guides page has every age and category. For using toys like these while you get something done, see our independent play guide.
FAQ
At our house, the fort building kit and the marble runs get the most use. For toddlers, start with the junior marble run. For active kids, the balance stepping stones are a great indoor option.
The National Geographic toys on our list are made by Blue Marble under the National Geographic name.
The junior marble run is made for ages 2 and up, with jumbo pieces and kid-safe balls. The motorized marble run uses glass marbles and is for ages 4 and up, so keep it away from little ones because the marbles (and some of the pieces) are choking hazards.
The box says 6+. Younger kids can join in with a grown-up helping with the connectors.
They have non-slip rubber bottoms, which makes them sturdier than foam stones. The maker doesn’t recommend using them on wet surfaces.
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