Learning ResourcesRock 'n Gem Surprise, Sorting, Matching & Counting Skills Activity Set, Early STEM, 19 Pieces, Ages 3+

Super cute for my 3 yr old daughter. Easy to figure out for them but entertains them for hours. They come with “gems” but you can put other fun small items in them with no problem. Very durable for more aggressive kids. Super great gift for boys or girls.

The Learning Resources Rock 'n Gem Surprise Activity Set is a fantastic learning tool for young children. It’s engaging, colorful, and provides a hands-on way for kids to develop sorting, matching, and counting skills. My 2.5-year-old daughter loves it, and I can see how it helps her build important cognitive abilities while having fun.Pros:Bright and Engaging Design:The vibrant colors and shiny "gem" pieces immediately capture a child’s attention. The different shapes and sizes of the gems make sorting and matching activities exciting and visually stimulating.Educational and Developmental:This set is great for teaching early math skills like counting, sorting, and comparing. It also introduces patterns and sequencing in a fun and interactive way.Durable and Safe Materials:The pieces are made from sturdy, high-quality plastic that feels durable and safe for little hands. There are no sharp edges, and the gems are large enough to prevent choking hazards.Versatile Learning Opportunities:In addition to sorting and counting, we’ve used this set for imaginative play. My daughter loves pretending she’s a treasure hunter or jeweler, which adds an extra layer of creative fun.Compact and Easy to Store:With just 19 pieces, the set is easy to store and doesn’t take up much space. It’s also lightweight, making it perfect for travel or playdates.Cons:Limited Number of Pieces:While the 19 pieces are sufficient for basic activities, adding a few more gems or additional shapes would increase the variety and extend playtime.Slightly Simple for Older Kids:For children closer to the upper age range (5+), the activities might feel too basic. However, you can introduce more advanced concepts like simple addition or subtraction to keep it challenging.This activity set has quickly become a favorite in our home. My daughter enjoys sorting the gems by color and shape, and I’ve noticed her improving her counting skills. We also play matching games, which keep her entertained and focused. It’s a great toy for independent play as well as parent-child interaction.

My daughter loves these! You work on hand eye coordination cracking them open. You work on color sorting, shape recognition and hand eye coordination putting them back together. Such a great educational toy! Plus it is super well made and very cute!

The Learning Resources Rock 'n Gem Surprise set is a gem in our home learning, captivating my daughter with its blend of colorful gems and educational activities. The “rocks” are the perfect size for her little hands to grasp, and she loves “mining” to get the gems out. Considering how much she has been using this toy, it’s pretty impressive it’s held up so well. She loves sorting her “gems” when she is done by color or shape. It perfectly merges her fascination with nature and early STEM learning. The excitement of uncovering hidden gems within the “rocks” adds an element of surprise that keeps her eagerly engaged. As she manipulates the pieces, her fine motor skills and sensory abilities are honed, and watching her learn and grow with every play session is truly rewarding. This 19-piece set not only brightens her day but also lays a solid foundation for critical early STEM skills in a fun and interactive way allowing her to learn as she plays! Highly recommend!

I got this toy for my 18 month old toddler so that she can get develop fine motor skills while being familiarized with various shapes. It is now exactly 3 months later (21 month old) and she has legitimately played with this toy every single day. It is one of the most useful toys by far. At 18 months old, she was only able to use the chisel (pushing it down) to open the rocks. Now at 21 months old, she’s able to utilize the hammer and chisel (requiring more eye hand coordination and hand control). Not only that, she developed a love for “heart” shapes and is obsessed with the purple and yellow hearts. She learned to express her surprise emotion and silliness opening each rock. The quality of this toy is also fantastic - each gem and rock is well built. The two halves of each rock are perfectly conforming and not janky (if you know what I mean). This is truly one of the best quality toys we’ve gotten for our little one. I cannot recommend it enough.

Great kids game to work on problem-solving.

My son is 3 and autistic . He struggles with fine motor task and staying focused . He loves these and within days of playing with them he can open them with minimal help . I think these are challenging for kids to figure out but not too challenging where they’re very frustrated . And honestly they’re just really fun to break open. They will not open if you try with your hands which is awesome because it forced my son to have to learn how to use the tools . They will however open if they’re thrown .