Where to Find Extraordinary Toys in San Carlos: At Reach and Teach

GUND, founded in 1898, is one of America’s oldest soft toy manufacturers and was among the first to produce teddy bears. Renowned for high-quality, huggable plush toys, GUND uses premium, surface-washable materials (like mohair fur for teddy bears) and securely sewn features, ensuring safety for all ages. Known for innovative designs, their offers include interactive plush toys.

These charming wooden creations are a nostalgic nod to the classic Tinker Toys, offering endless hours of building and imaginative play with a modern twist. BeginAgain Toys specializes in toys designed for children aged six months to six years, offerings puzzles, playsets, and games that encourage imaginative play and holistic child development. Their products are crafted from natural materials, such as rubberwood and organic cotton.

TEDCO’s Blocks and Marbles sets are handcrafted by local Amish artisans in Indiana, using high-quality North American hardwoods like oak, beech, maple, and walnut. These durable wooden blocks are designed to promote hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, balance, and sequential organization skills in children. Each set includes various runners, tunnels, pillars, and special blocks, along with marbles, encouraging creativity and experimentation.

Smart Cars is a clever game that invite kids as young as 4 to solve pattern challenges by building colorful cars, combining fun and learning as they zoom their way through puzzles. SmartGames in general offers a range of logic puzzles that combine fun and learning to develop cognitive skills for all ages. Each puzzle is thoughtfully crafted to enhance problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and critical thinking, making them perfect for kids and adults looking for a fun brain workout.

A STEAM masterpiece, this DIY cardboard pinball machine lets kids (and adults!) build their own game from scratch. Add electronics for extra flair and whiz-bang fun! Perfect for kids, adults, and educators, this eco-friendly kit allows users to build and customize their own working pinball machine, learning basic principles of physics and mechanics along the way with pre-cut, slot-together pieces and endless opportunities for design personalization.

Alicorn Inc. specializes in DIY STEM kits that encourage hands-on learning and creativity. Their Dinosaur Robot Kits, such as the T-Rex and Brachiosaurus models, allow children to build moving robotic dinosaurs, introducing them to basic robotics and engineering principles. Similarly, the Music Box Kit enables kids to construct their own functioning music boxes, providing insight into the mechanics of sound production. Each kit includes all necessary materials and step-by-step instructions, making them accessible and engaging for young learners.

A classic that never goes out of style, this wooden maze game is a nostalgic challenge for adults and an exciting puzzle for kids honing their coordination and patience. Players use two knobs to tilt the board, skillfully guiding a metal ball from start to finish while avoiding strategically placed holes. The BRIO Labyrinth Game, introduced in 1946, is a classic wooden maze that has captivated players of all ages, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. 

Tic Tac Toe meets strategy in this quick-to-learn game where players “gobble up” their opponent’s pieces, making it a hit for both kids and adults. Players aim to align four pieces in a row on a 4×4 grid, with the twist that larger pieces can “gobble” and cover smaller ones, introducing elements of memory and strategy. The game is crafted entirely from wood, offering an elegant and sustainable design. Its simple rules make it accessible, while the layered gameplay provides a challenge for all ages. Gobblet is a strategic board game by Blue Orange Games. 

An action-packed magnetic soccer game from Norway, Klask combines quick reflexes and strategic play for fast-paced family fun. Originating from Denmark, this award-winning game challenges players to score goals using magnetic strikers while avoiding pitfalls like falling into their own “Klask” hole or attracting small white magnets, known as biscuits, to their striker. Klask is easy to learn yet offers strategic depth, making it a favorite for both casual players and competitive enthusiasts. 

A beloved building set that lets budding engineers and architects create endless designs, from simple structures to intricate creations. Founded in 1992, K’NEX features interlocking plastic rods, connectors, and other components that allow users to build a wide variety of structures, from simple models to intricate, motorized creations. Known for its flexibility and versatility, K’NEX has been a staple in educational settings, helping students explore concepts in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). 

Spot It!, known as Dobble in Europe, is a wildly popular eye-spy game with multiple variations for different ages and interests, making it a go-to for kids who love quick and exciting challenges. Each of the 55 circular cards features eight different symbols, and any two cards share exactly one symbol in common. It’s a fast-paced card game that challenges players to quickly identify the single matching symbol between any two cards. Its compact design and straightforward rules have made it a popular choice for family gatherings, parties, and travel entertainment.

The perfect way to introduce kids to the classic game of chess, this version uses storytelling and fun characters to make learning the rules both easy and enjoyable. Tailored for kids as young as three, it uses a narrative-driven approach where each chess piece is brought to life with its own unique story and personality, making the rules and movements easy to understand and remember.

For fans of classic games, Reach and Teach also stocks wood and magnetic chess sets, Mancala, Chinese Checkers, Dominos, Backgammon, and timeless strategy games like Go, Ticket to Ride, and Settlers of Catan. 

The San Mateo Fire Department has invited Reach And Teach to choose and obtain hundreds of gifts for children ages 4-6 during the last three holiday seasons. Captain Joshua McGurk and his son came by to pick up gifts so that local volunteers can wrap them for the kids! The gifts are purchased with financial donations made throughout the year at events hosted by the Fire Department.