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'!
Powerwing Drifting Caster Scooter
This is Razor's newest innovation. Instead of standing on one foot while the other one "pumps," a child puts both feet on colorful red side "wings" equipped with wheels on casters, and shifts weight from one foot to the other to get the scooter rolling. A toy to keep, and enjoy, for years to come!
Top Toss
This recreational family game is a fun and safe alternative to horse shoes. Players stand 25 feet from the Top Toss tower and take turns hurling their colored Bolo Balls in the hopes of scoring points. Get your swinging arm ready and aim for that top bar!
Backseat Drawing
How do you draw a picture without knowing what you're drawing? By relying on your teammates directions to guide you, with hilarious results! But it's not just fun and games: directing an artist to draw "butter on toast" or "a pearl" takes high level communication skills and teamwork.
Lightroom 2
This software makes plucking your best digital photographs a breeze, with cool features that let you sort your shoots, view the contenders side-by-side, and then slide your favorites into buckets, much like one might cluster favorite songs into playlists.
Scoot-n-Shoot Soccer
This miniature soccer set will turn a snowy day or rainy afternoon into a chance to work those gross motor and team building skills. Ask your kid to invite a few friends over, or play as a family, and let the games begin!
Make Your Own Sock Puppets
With this kit in hand, kids can transform three fuzzy socks into a trio of colorful friends, ripe for an impromptu show. The box comes flush with wiggly eyes, self-adhesive fur, pom poms, and peel and stick shapes, and it requires no glue. Translation: no goop to clean up when the crafting's done!
Chimalong
Tired of hearing your kindergartener practice his percussion skills on every surface in the house? Replace the ear-splitting banging with the dulcet tones of this sweet-sounding instrument, sure to bring out the musician in any child.
Ranger Rick Magazine
Where do dolphins sleep? How do birds steer? Kids are bursting with curiosity and this magazine, courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation, is full of amazing facts, hands-on activities, and photography of the world and the creatures that call it home. Each month, they'll run for the mailbox!
Games to Go
This ingenious collection of six popular games is sure to be a traveling parent's best friend! Games include Checkers, Tic-Tac-Toe, Snakes and Ladders (similar to Hasbro's Chutes and Ladders), Mancala, Backgammon, and Chinese Checkers.
Octopus Whirl
This building toy comes with 454 individual pieces that can be interconnected in a huge variety of ways, allowing the player to use her creativity to construct anything she can dream up. Switch on the electric motor and watch it spin around like the real carnival ride, but without the nausea!
