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'!

showing products 1 - 10 of 16
Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand

Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand

Looking for a hands-on way to get your kinder comfortable counting coins? Look no further! This wooden play center transforms the living room into a compact grocery store, perfect for pretend shopping. Plus, the reversible awning turns the store into a lemonade stand, when playmates get parched!

Reviewed for 2008, Kindergarten
Reindeer Swing

Reindeer Swing

Sculpted from recycled tires and made entirely by hand in the U.S. and Europe, this Blixen-for-the-backyard looks like a living breathing beast, thanks to the elasticity of the tire material. We can't think of a better use for all those semi-truck treads.

Reviewed for 2008, Preschool
Marineland Eclipse System 12 Aquarium Kit

Marineland Eclipse System 12 Aquarium Kit

Learning how to take care of living things is an important part of growing up - both in terms of gaining a solid understanding of biology, and fostering a sense of responsibility. A fish aquarium is a fun way for kids to take on the task. This great starter aquarium is made to last!

Reviewed for 2008, Fifth Grade
Super Pogo 2

Super Pogo 2

Think pogo has gone the way of the dodo? Think again. The inventors of the original Pogo Stick have brought the old wooden contraption into the next century! This super-powered aircraft-aluminum grade pogo can bounce kids up to four feet in the air with advanced piston power.

Reviewed for 2008, Middle School
Apple Nano

Apple Nano

Combine nine new and fabulous colors such as tangerine, hot pink, lemon yellow and lime green with a longer, sleeker body, and a 2" wide screen that makes watching movies and videos a whole lot more fun, and it's no wonder tweens are begging to turn in their old models for the fresh new nano.

Reviewed for 2008, Middle School
Marble Run

Marble Run

Marble runs have been a kid classic for years and it's no wonder-- they provide hours of whizzy fun, in addition to a shot of fine-motor practice and pre-engineering skills. This one's a real looker, but it's made of environmentally friendly rubberwood.

Reviewed for 2008, First Grade
Art Time Easel

Art Time Easel

Parents, unhand the toolbox! This super-swank easel makes that screwdriver completely unnecessary. Made of just three pieces of earth-friendly wood, it helps your kid get up and at it in no time, whether she's making a finger-paint masterpiece, or working on a Picasso-esque self portrait.

Reviewed for 2008, Preschool
Deluxe Puppet Theater and a Gaggle of Puppets

Deluxe Puppet Theater and a Gaggle of Puppets

Set the hands of the move-able clock, put out the chalkboard marquis, and part the velvet curtains...it's showtime! This well-made wooden theater offers hours of imaginative play. Perfect for developing storytelling skills, and turning a day cooped up inside into a dramatic adventure!

Reviewed for 2008, First Grade
Hilltop Castle

Hilltop Castle

This play castle has everything a knight-in-training could ask for. With a wind-up drawbridge complete with portcullis, an elastic catapult that really shoots, and walkways that flip down to imprison wrongdoers, the hilltop fortress promises hours of creative play, day or knight!

Reviewed for 2008, Second Grade
Olympus Stylus SW 850 Digital Camera

Olympus Stylus SW 850 Digital Camera

If you've ever wished parenting a teenager would be shock-proof, you're in for a disappointment. But, lucky for you, there's the next best thing: a digital camera that can not only survive a drop of five feet, it's also waterproof, dust-proof and freeze-proof.

Reviewed for 2008, High School

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