Kids are always primed and ready for adventure, excited to discover more about the world and what magic it might hold.
Finding the right things to nurture this interest and educate can be difficult, but a globe is nearly always a good choice.
With a globe, kids can learn more about the countries of Earth, as well as their place within the world.
Globes can be seen as quite boring items, better suited for stuffy classrooms than children’s bedrooms, and stuffed full of tiny letters showing outdated place names.
But the best globes for kids combine accurate information with fun, creating a toy that’s engaging while also educational. And it should never be boring!
We all want to give our kids the world, and sometimes an excellent globe is as close as we can get.
We’ve put together this list of the best globes available for kids, from toddlers to older children, to help you make the right choice. Read on to find out more!
LeapFrog Magic Adventures Globe
Best Overall
The LeapFrog Magic Adventures Globe takes you beyond country borders, with an interactive globe that teaches kids about habitats, and the cultures and animals that can be found there.
Kids simply have to touch the included stylus to the globe, and they’ll trigger a fact, game, or video, letting them explore the world from their bedroom.
The tilted globe uses bold and clear imagery to show countries and borders for curious young minds.
Secured on a stand with a 2.7″ LCD screen, with a large stylus comfortable for holding in small hands, the LeapFrog globe is easy to use. It comes preloaded with over 600 videos from the BBC, providing more than 5 hours of fun.
And there are three interactive games, encouraging kids to think about what they’ve learned and become more familiar with the world.
We love the LeapFrog Magic Adventures Globe because it naturally fosters engagement. Designed for ages 5 to 7, the LeapFrog Magic Adventures Globe is an exciting choice for kids who are curious about what’s waiting for them in the big, wide world.
Pros
- 14-inch globe – The larger size makes the globe easier to read and use for smaller kids.
- Battery operated – No long cables to trip over, and kids can start playing whenever they like.
- Additional information packs – Upgrade the globe with the separate information packs.
Cons
- Short stylus cable – It’s a stretch for some of the globe’s furthest reaches.
Also available for purchase from LeapFrog.com and Target.com.
PlayShifu Orboot Earth Educational AR Globe
Best Interactive
The augmented reality of the Shifu globe makes learning about the world even more fun by turning the physical globe into a virtual one.
Using the companion app of the Shifu Orboot Earth Educational Globe, kids can watch as distant countries and exotic places come to life.
The basic globe features bold and colorful continent outlines, decorated with pictures showing children what they can find. There are no country names or borders, which gives the globe longevity, but does reduce some of its usefulness.
Once the app is engaged, you can really discover the brilliance of this globe. Kids can scan their device across the surface, and augmented reality images pop up on the screen!
From there, children can discover the cultures, countries, and inventions of the world, learn about foreign foods and ancient monuments, and walk with wild animals.
The 10-inch globe by Shifu is suitable for ages 4 to 10, and comes with a passport, stamps, and stickers. Kids can mark out where they’ve explored, encouraging them to unlock all 1000+ world facts.
Pros
- No Wi-Fi needed past setup – Once everything is installed, the app can run without an internet connection.
- Stickers and passport – The included adventure kit encourages kids to get hands-on.
- Augmented Reality – Parts of the world come alive with the augmented app experience.
Cons
- No country outlines – Without the app, the globe loses a lot of usability
Also available for purchase from PlayShifu.com and Walmart.com.
Learning Resources 3-D Puzzle Globe
Best For Toddlers
The Learning Resources Globe has been designed specifically for toddlers who are excited to get their hands on everything.
The big puzzle pieces are made out of sturdy plastic, with strong pegs that allow kids to fix the continents into place.
Building fine motor skills and improving spatial awareness, this Learning Resources globe can also nurture a growing enthusiasm for learning about the wider world.
The Learning Resources Puzzle Globe is simple, with six pieces representing Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America. There’s also a stationary piece representing Antarctica.
The chunky shapes can be grasped in small hands, and are easy to maneuver into the spaces. Solid pegs hold the pieces in place, but also allow them to be popped out again for future play.
Included in the pack are 6 continent labels and blank stickers, for marking the continents. These are useful for learning but will require some parental help.
Perfectly designed for little hands, the Learning Resources 3-D Puzzle Globe is intended to aid toddlers in developing skills such as hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness.
And with the globe shape, it can also encourage little explorers on their first steps towards adventure.
Pros
- Easy to grasp puzzle pieces – Great for young hands
- Includes stickers and continent labels – Discover what the continents are, and what might be found there.
- Durable plastic build – Can withstand rougher play.
Cons
- 8 inch size – Slightly on the small side.
Also available for purchase from LearningResources.com and Target.com.
Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Interactive Globe
Best For Nature Lovers
This interactive Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Globe is perfect for kids aged 4+ who love nature and exploring the world around them.
It’s designed to engage your child while teaching them about geography, nature, and animals.
And with the voice of Wildlife Warrior Bindi Irwin acting as a guide, you can trust that this globe is giving your kids the best information possible.
The Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Globe comes fully labeled, with clear country borders and capital cities.
Younger kids will find the information clear and easy to understand, with enough detail to engage older learners.
But the globe really comes to life when you start to use the stylus. Kids simply have to touch the stylus to the globe, and be delighted by an interesting fact or detail about places around the world.
There is over 10 hours of audio preloaded, so kids can keep discovering for longer.
Instead of just stating facts, the globe also encourages kids to play along, measuring distances and exploring with the help of their wildlife warrior guide.
A swivel stand and battery-operated pen make the globe user-friendly for even small kids. They’ll love finding out more about the world, from nature facts to capital cities, with just the press of a stylus.
Pros
- Clear labeling – Even without the stylus, the globe is fun to look at and learn from.
- Voice over instructions – A talking guide helps children explore the world around them.
- Large stylus – Easy to hold in small hands.
Cons
- No batteries included – Stylus requires 2 AAA batteries, sold separately.
Also available from EducationalInsights.com and Walmart.com.
Little Experimenter 3-in-1 World Globe With Star Map
Best With Star Map
This Little Experimenter 3-in-1 World Globe With Star Map is a great way to introduce your child to the wonders of the world. This educational toy has three parts: a star map, a planet globe, and a night light projector.
The globe can inspire kids to think more about what is waiting out there in the world, and what might lie within the stars.
The complete world globe by Little Experimenter clearly labels and displays countries, cities, and seas, in a bold font that’s easy to read.
Made of durable materials and with a smooth spin motion, kids can learn geography and discover the countries scattered across the globe.
At night, the globe comes alive with a light-up constellation map. A hidden sensor will automatically turn the stars on as the room grows dark, and a moon and star pattern is projected to banish any nighttime fears.
The star map isn’t just pretty. It teaches children constellations, inspiring budding astronomers.
Created for children aged 8 and up, the Little Experimenter 3-in-1 globe has a non-tip desktop base for improved durability.
Thanks to the detailed labeling, this is a globe that young geographers can get years of use out of.
Pros
- 3-in-1 globe, star map, and nightlight projector – Extra features add versatility.
- Durable construction – Won’t fall apart with consistent usage.
- Detailed labeling – Useful for older kids.
Cons
- The batteries can drain fast.
Also available from LittleExperimenter.com and Walmart.com.
Buyer’s Guide
If you haven’t started looking for a globe yet, then you might be unsure if this is the right gift for your child. Globes can be, perhaps unfairly, associated with dusty library corners, and the most boring classrooms.
But the best globes aren’t faded and peeling, with illegible city names and countries that haven’t existed in decades.
Instead, the best globes engage children with bold lettering, interactive features, and colorful characters.
To help you find the very best globe, take a look at this buyer’s guide.
Size
Globes come in all sizes, and it’s important to know how big they are before buying one. Globes tend to come in sizes between 8 inches and 15 inches.
Smaller globes can be good for young explorers, and nurseries with limited space, but they’re often harder to read. Larger globes are easier to read, and generally easier to play with, but might not fit into the space so easily.
Especially if you’re looking for a desktop globe!
Design
A globe for kids should be engaging for kids. Avoid any designs that shy away from color, and give a very boring view of the world.
Instead, you want to look for a globe that uses bright colors to distinguish countries and borders.
Globes for younger children will often include pictures of animals and landmarks to encourage them to look closer. Globes for older kids should have a greater level of detail, including cities and seas.
As well as colors, you want to make sure the globe is easy to read. If you have to break out a magnifying glass to see where France ends and Switzerland begins, then your child won’t want to play.
Age Range
Globes are great gifts for older kids who are learning about the world around them, or for younger kids who are beginning their exploration of the world.
Make sure to check the recommended age range before buying! Too complicated, and it will be off-putting for younger kids, while a simple globe won’t engage older children.
Age ranges are mostly recommendations, and a good globe can often be used for years past the recommended age range.
Interactivity
A basic spinning globe does encourage some level of interactivity, as you need to search and spin to find countries. But this is just the start of what globes can do nowadays.
A good interactive globe will teach kids about the world, bringing countries, nature, and history to life with facts and even videos. The biggest advantage here is that these globes encourage kids to get hands on.
Children will be motivated to do their own learning and exploring, so they can see more of what the globe has to offer.
Features
If you’re looking for an educational globe, then there are plenty of options. Some globes feature games and quizzes that encourage kids to learn about the world by playing.
Others feature maps and animations, showing kids where different places are located. Some light up, some encourage you to place the countries, and others will need you to put the whole globe together.
Accuracy And Age Of Globe
The world is always changing, and globes have to change to keep up.
While the basic geography of the Earth may remain roughly the same, place names, borders, and the facts of interactive globes will need to be updated from time to time.
When purchasing a globe, it’s important to check that it was made recently, to ensure it’s as up-to-date as possible. Inevitably, your globe will fall out of date eventually.
But by making a smart choice now, you can still get years of enjoyment from the globe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Accurate Are Globes Designed For Kids?
Globes designed for kids should be accurate, but they’re typically less detailed than an adult’s globe.
However, the names and outlines of countries should be accurate at the time of printing, and any facts from interactive globes should be as up-to-date as possible.
Some globes for kids will be very simple, and only feature the countries, or perhaps just the continents. These will be less overwhelming for small kids.
Are Globes Good For Children?
Yes, globes are great for children. They’re fun, educational, and help develop spatial awareness in children. They also encourage kids to learn more about the cultures and countries that make the world so interesting.
With a globe, kids can see how the continents and oceans fit together, understand the size of the planet better, and start to learn where countries are.
When learning history, a globe can help kids to better see how events affected the world.
Even standard globes can inspire kids to think about adventure, and interactive globes can provide children with hours of fun.
Why Choose A Globe Over A Map?
The 3-D globe helps children to visualize the world more accurately than a flat map. With maps, perspective and sizes have to be shifted to fit the flatter space. 3-D globes give a much better, and more accurate, picture of the Earth.
A globe can also improve a young child’s spatial awareness, helping them visualize distance and size in a better way than a map. Plus, the spinning motion of a globe encourages hands-on play in a way a flat map doesn’t.
How Often Does A Globe Need To Be Replaced?
Manufacturers recommend replacing globes between every 5 and 10 years. Over time, globes become obsolete as places and names change.
However, to properly keep up, you’d need to be replacing globes all the time!
To ensure better accuracy, without needing endless replacements, a globe can be used for teaching for roughly 5 to 10 years.
But if you want a globe for your child to play with and to learn some basic geography from, you won’t need to replace the globe quite so often.
Final Thoughts
Globes are one of the best ways to teach children about the world around them.
Encouraging hands-on play and introducing kids to countries and cultures they might never have heard of, a good globe can foster a love of adventure and learning.
We hope our top choices have shown you just how many types of globes are available, so you can choose the right one for your child.
The best globes are durable, accurate, and get your kids thinking beyond themselves, and into the furthest reaches of the Earth.
