Gift Guide2008
From toys that stand the test of time to board games that are anything but boring, we found the best products for each grade that will build your child's brain as well as being chock full of fun. Our list of loot is kid-tested, teacher approved, and full of options for any family, so get wrappin'!
240 Piece Puzzleball
Wondering how to assemble a 3D globe out of 240 pieces? It's a puzzler, all right. But this puzzleball has all the components needed to make a spherical globe, including a display stand to show off your child's prize once it's been pieced together. A fun and educational activity for all seasons.
Lab Luxury
Learn about the chemical reactions in bath salts that make water fizz. Find out how soap works, and how milk baths soften the skin. Not only does this kit introduce your child to the science of spa ingredients, it also teaches her the basics of scientific inquiry!
Lomography Diana Dreamer Camera
Middle school is the perfect time to begin seeing the world with a new lens, and the retro stylings of this camera will get your kid started. This cult classic camera rose to fame by virtue of its dreamlike lo-fi images. An appealing way to go against the digital grain, and get back to basics!
Spore
This much-anticipated computer game will give your teen exactly what he's been hankering for--the chance to control his own universe! With a few clicks, your child is on his way to creating a civilization, starting from a single-celled organism and moving all the way up to a galactic super power.
Butterfly Wings and Insect Capes
Preschool is the start of that golden age in childhood when simple costumes and props can transform a child into something magical. These gauzy, bright nylon wings make metamorphosis a snap, and set pretend play, one of the most important steps in a child's development, happily flapping!
Mailbox and Mail Set
Adults may take the postal service for granted, but for young kids, the process of sending and receiving mail is a mysterious and incredibly interesting phenomenon. Let them go postal, with this hand-painted wooden play set.
Toot and Otto
Sometimes, it's the simple things that give us the most pleasure, and do the most good for our brains! This game is a cross between a three-dimensional word-search puzzle and the classic strategy game Connect Four, with quirky dogs, Toot and Otto, as the game's mascots.
Educated Kid
This indie band of three hails from the Bay area, and while they aren't a household name (yet!), we're betting it won't be long. Handpicked to grace the kids' stage at Lollapalooza, it's no surprise that they've got a hip-factor that will keep parents rocking out along with their kids.
Mummy Mystery
With 48 challenges and 4 levels of difficulty, this strategic maze game can be adapted to any child's capability, and occupy them for as little as 5 minutes or as long as a few hours. Kids pick a challenge and arrange tiles to build a "road." Wonderful for cognitive thinking and reasoning skills!
Buzzword Junior
Based on the popular vocabulary-building game for older children, this is a quick-moving game in which players have just 45 seconds to solve a given set of clues, all of which pertain to a specific "buzzword." Sharpens young minds like an interactive crossword puzzle. Get your buzz on!
