Rearing children is complicated business, but gifted children pose even more challenges. Those who are advanced in their development are often more emotional than the average child and also grow easily bored with toys and games which they have outgrown.

Some parents make the mistake of treating their smart kids like tiny adults. Children are not adults, of course, and even the gifted ones need to play every day. Playtime is how children learn about themselves and the world around them. For more on this topic, I highly recommend the book Einstein Never Used Flash Cards by Kathy-Hirsh Pasek.

If you need some toy ideas for your little brainiac, try the following:

Imaginative Play

• Playhouses - Both Step 2 and Playskool design affordable playhouses that will capture your bright child’s active imagination. From just a simple play kitchen to a full-fledged outdoor structure, this type of toy offers open-ended playtime for children whose mind has no limits.
• Puppets - Puppetry offers many benefits, as the art form is both fun and helps to develop social skills. Advanced children can really harness the full potential of puppetry because they will understand the process of acting through the puppets. Melissa & Doug produce high-quality puppets and puppet theaters at an affordable price
• Art Supplies - A gifted child is a creative child and you should definitely be encouraging expression through art. From crayons to more advanced media, artwork should keep your smart one busy for a long time.

Construction Toys

• LEGOs - This classic toy from Denmark is as popular as ever, offering open-ended fun for children of all ages. From early building with Duplo blocks to the more advanced LEGO robotics, playing with these toys will foster a bright child’s imagination and eye-hand coordination.
• Rokenbok - If you have a particularly gifted builder who is growing tired of his or her LEGOs, you might want to give Rokenbok a try. This educational system of construction toys combines remote control technology with the open-ended fun of a classic building toy. Every set is compatible with the next, allowing you to expand your Rokenbok community over time.
• Capsela - Capsela toys are motorized building kits that will teach your children all about physics and how machines really operate inside. The body of these kits are mainly comprised of clear capsules which reveal engines and servos, demonstrating how and why the toys move a certain way.
• K’NEX - Known as “the world’s most creative construction toy,” K’NEX combines the creativity of LEGOs with the challenging aspects of Rokenbok or Erector sets. From working vehicles to giant roller coasters, the possibilities are endless with K’NEX. The company even offers lesson plans that you can integrate with your building, which should be perfect for your advanced child.

Brainteasers

• Rubik’s Cube - Yes, you can still find this 1980’s sensation in stores. It is also just as challenging as you remember and could be a great way to keep your gifted child occupied on long car trips. There is a whole community of Rubik’s cube enthusiasts who are dedicated to learning more about this mind-bending puzzle.
• Jigsaw Puzzles - There are jigsaw puzzles suited for children of all ages and skill levels, so all you need to do is find the right niche for your brainy child. Whether it is fun, oversized puzzles of licensed characters or intricate landscapes, this toy should appeal to advanced children everywhere.
• Wooden Labyrinth - Since 1947, the movable wooden labyrinth has entertained children of all ages. A marble is placed in the labyrinth and it is up to you to control where the marble rolls by moving the board with knobs. Find the toy at any major toy retailer and your child will be both entertained and challenged.

After hitting the market in 1913, Erector sets were amongst the most popular toys of the 20th century. Sadly, these construction model kits are getting harder to find.

Occasionally, Erector will release a special edition kit for a high price. There are also modern versions that are similar to Meccano, which are far less detailed and (in my opinion) not as fun.

If you’re like me, then you took Erector sets for granted when you were a child and now that you have children of your own, you can’t find the toys anywhere.

The good news is, there are still Erector set enthusiasts who are selling classic kits on the Web. You can find specific parts, second-hand kits and sometimes even unopened sets if you are lucky.

If you’d like to purchase an old-fashioned Erector set for your little builder, check the following sites:

1. eBay - Is there anything you can’t find on eBay? I have seen classic, unopened Erector sets listed on eBay that cost less than a modern day LEGO kit. This is one of the first places you should look.
2. Fat Brain Toys - Here, you can find new, special edition reissues for a discount price. It is getting harder and harder to spot these anniversary sets for less than $100, so these close-out sales are much appreciated.
3. Amazon - Occasionally, you can find great deals on classic sets here from second-hand resellers.
4. Yahoo! Shopping - Compare prices of sets both new and old on Yahoo! Shopping. This will canvas any smaller online stores that offer Erector sets.

If you’re tired of building with the same old construction kits, then you may want to check out LaQ. This quirky brand of building sets comes from Japan.

I wouldn’t be so quick as to dismiss LaQ as the “Japanese LEGO,” which some people have been doing. This is a very versatile invention, which uses triangles and squares to make some very interesting creations.

Yes, there are specific LaQ model kits like the one you see above. However, you can also buy generic sets of LaQ pieces and create something original. Unfortunately, these kits are hard to come by in the US. The official LaQ site is quite difficult to navigate, as well.

If you are interested in building with LaQ (and I highly recommend it), then you can order kits from The Construction Site. The fine people over there have already imported the product for us, which cuts down on costs considerably.

I would be delighted to see LaQ become popular with children in North America. I think these sets offer something a little different from the other mainstream construction toys.

If you have a little builder in the family with a talent for design, then you should check out LEGO Factory. There, you can download a free design program that allows you to build an original LEGO creation. This program lets you choose any kind of virtual LEGO piece and create a 3D model.

If you are pleased with your virtual model and would like to build a version with real LEGO pieces, you can go to the site’s Pick a Brick section. There, you can buy only the specific bricks you need for your design. LEGO even boxes the pieces with customized directions for your original model kit!

Below are some examples of LEGO Factory creations, all of which were built by children.

“Castle Attack” Builder’s Age: 9

“Scorpion” Builder’s Age: 13

Papercrafts can be a lot of fun, but can your kids fit inside any of your creations? Thanks to Mr. McGroovy’s Box Rivets, you can turn plain cardboard boxes into something like this:

In case you’re wondering, yes that spaceship is big enough for your child to climb inside and “fly.” That is just the tip of the iceberg, too. With the plans and rivets from Mr. McGroovy’s, people are creating giant castles, pirate ships and trains.

Even more amazing is how easy and cheap it is to build these projects! If you don’t believe me, check out the customer gallery. Obviously, both the princess castles and pirate ships are big hits at birthday parties.

Mr. McGroovy’s even offers tips on how to obtain free cardboard boxes. While the creations obviously won’t last forever, they are sturdy enough to endure some serious playtime. This is all thanks to the specially patented box rivets, which are so sturdy that they need their own removal tool for dismantling the projects.

I highly recommend this advanced version of ordinary papercrafts. Here are a few more examples that were made by first-timers. Yes, they’re that easy:

Playmobil has recently added several new themes to their award-winning line of playsets. Parents of younger builders may want to check these out:

Fairy World

Fairy World is one of the most whimsical themes ever produced by Playmobil. Sets include Tree Stump With Fairy, Carriage With Unicorn (pictured above), Flower Wheel Barrow, Rickshaw, Water Lily and The Fairy Garden.

Pony Ranch

Pony Ranch should be a big hit with animal lovers and it has many sets in the series. These include Dressage, Horse Carriage, Donkey With Foal, Paddock, Horse Trailer, Horse Farm (pictured above), Equestrienne, Trotting Racer, Horse Washing Station, Paddock Fencing, Horse Shed, Ponies With Accessories and Covered Wagon.

Playmobil 1.2.3

The 1.2.3 series is designed for children ages 1, 2 and 3 to enjoy. The bendable figures and accessories are great for little ones who are still putting toys in their mouths. Sets include Rocking Snail, Water Lily, Meadow, Convertible, Truck With Garage (pictured above), Train, Summer Meadow, Circus, Farmer With Tractor, Fire Engine, Propeller Plane, Race Car, Small Dump Truck, Safari Truck With Rhino, and more.

Oh Yeah! I just finished building this bridge (Sydney Harbour bridge look-a-like) and I had to tell you how much fun it was! This is a K’Nex set called Real Bridge Building Set. It is part of their Education series. I have never purchased a major K’Nex set before until this one. My kids have a few of the junior sets which were given to them as gifts. Oh sure, I have always been in awe of the moving displays in the toy stores of the K’Nex roller coaster and ferris wheel sets. But somehow I always managed to walk away. Until now…

This little gem (fully built it spans 4 feet) took me about 2 hours to complete. The instruction book says there are 673 pieces, and I am certain that’s right. Another interesting feature to the set is the manual which describes some interesting structural points about real bridges. This building set is very well done.

But, this is a set reserved for the dexterous and patient, read 9+. Now that I broke the seal on K’Nex. I think I’m ready for a coaster!

One of the most exciting new construction toy sets to hit the market is Matchitecture. There are numerous Matchitecture kits available, each containing the blue prints for a construction, wood glue, tweezers and “Microbeams” (AKA match sticks without the sulfur tips).

Matchitecture projects are not for the faint of heart, mind you, so little builders will definitely need a hand from mom and/or dad. Children will not only hone their patience and creativity with these kits, they will really learn about architecture and construction.

The finished projects are quite intricate and beautiful, though there certainly are kits available in varying degrees of difficulty. From the bulldozer you see above (which reminded me of Konstruction Zone) to the Notre Dame Cathedral, there are Matchitecture projects to suit a wide variety of ages and skill levels.

To learn more about this product, visit the company’s official site. Kits range in price from $17 to $100, which is comparable to LEGO sets. Strangely enough, Matchitecture was not created by an architect at all, but rather a pharmacist. Go figure!