Top Ten Gift Ideas for the Learning Child Between 7-10

Some kids just can't quit learning. No child can ever be too smart for his own good, but can really get bored if he seems ahead of the class. Do you have a child or grandchild like this? Here's a list of toys for kids between 7 and 10 that will challenge him or her after school. The best part? These toys and games are interactive and fun, not just numbers and colors.

1. Clue Junior- Case Of The Missing Cake-$17. Nothing makes a parent more proud when a child can think for himself. Clue Junior starts your kids on that path. It works much like traditional clue, except this isn't a murder case, of course. This one focuses on who ate the chocolate cake and where with plenty of clues around. Your child just has to find them and put them together. Deductive thinking skills at an early age. Brilliant, Sherlock!

2. Uptoten.com -free with limited access, $20 per month for quality access. Uptoten.com reminds me of the old Sesame Street days of learning with its loosely drawn graphics and games. It's pretty fun to do for free, but the premium levels expand the learning immensely. There are too many games to describe, but of all the online learning and websites available for children, this is by far the best combination of fun and education I've seen.

3. Cranium Balloon Lagoon $18-$25. The Cranium Company cranks out a lot of educational board games; Balloon Lagoon is a fun one. It has a carnival games theme to it with small competitions that involve basic spelling and matching skills. There's even a little carousel timer that you put in the middle that actually doesn't get annoying over time.

4. Leap Pads- $29-$49 for the system, $12-$20 for games. This is perfect for the budding reader. Leap pads allow children to quietly learn basic math and reading skills at their own pace and their own levels. Almost every popular character has a leap pad program designed under their model, and the company builds leap pad systems for use all the way through high school! The system you get for your 1st grader has books available that can be used for a couple of grades, so think this as a worthy investment.

5. Junior Scrabble- $16. My parents used to beat me down in Scrabble. I was 8 years-old and had to compete with words like "lynx" and "quiz" on triple-word scores. I learned the hard way how to spell, but your kids can learn an easier way. If you've got a mini spelling bee running around the room, Junior Scrabble is the way to get them thinking through words, strategizing, and just having fun. It's a great educational board game that isn't a bored game.

6. Young Scientists Club Set 10 $35. Create your own not-so-mad scientists with this kit. If you have a young mind interested in plants and how things grow, Club Set 10 helps them grow plants out of seeds, dissect owl pellets and examine the insides. They'll even grow brine shrimp (remember those sea monkey days?). Your Nobel prize-winner starts here.

7. V-Tech V Flash game system - It's a perfect merge of parents and children coming together: furious, button-mashing fun with quality graphics and teaching going on at the same time. We're not talking about sideways education like shoot 'me ups teach hand-eye coordination. We're talking about basic math, reading comprehension, science, all under popular-themed videogames. V -Flash is a perfect hook up for the minivan's drop down TV screen. You're kids will not be bored learning on that long road trip! $90, $30 for games, $15 for memory cards.

Rubik's Cube. $10. Yes, they're back. If your child is one of those really, really smart ones throw this in her face and see how long she can twist and turn it til it's solved! Rubik's Cube wasn't just a toy of frustration for adults; it was a brain teaser that was solvable if you had the patience. This is for the child who knows everything.

8. Pocket Sudoku-$18. My father-in-law got me this and it's a great time passer for adults, puzzler for smart kids. The igadget version has 5 different levels, each one showing less numbers than the other. It even has a timer so your child can see how fast (or slow) he's going. Your children can build their squares using those powers of deduction. Soon enough, you'll have a CSI expert on your hands!

9. Name That Country- $18. Encourage your child to learn the world beyond the US. This board game has 60 countries and clues that your child must figure out. Clues like "Konnichi wa! We've been to see Mt. Fuji. Name my country!" teach your children to go beyond the state border and learn about other cultures.

10. Weather station- $20. The Capella #90 weather station allows that budding meteorologist the basics of weather. Your child will be able to see wind speed, wind direction, outdoor and indoor temperature as well as a rain gauge. Over 40 interlocking parts and indicators. If you live in a rainy or windy area, your child will make heavy use of this toy.