Gift Guide2009
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'!
Finger Puppets
These little guys are a breeze for preschoolers to manipulate. Almost every finger puppet in the line, from hedgehog to emperor penguin, costs less than $10.
My Little Helper Toolbox
Preschoolers tend to be fix-it fans by nature, and most love to take things apart and put them back together. This little toolkit gives preschoolers the chance to lug their own set of tools around, just like mom and dad.
Medieval Dress Up Crown or Tiara
The pink princess tiara features jewel, flower and ribbon details. Or, go for the King Arthur look with the reversible crown: the rubied, red velvet side is for kingly duties, and the silver side is for knight business.
Tub Tunes Water Drums
Grab your drumsticks, it's bath time! This set of two plastic and foam drums floats in the bathtub, giving kids a solid introduction to percussion in the midst of soaping up.
Build-it Rocket Kit
This creative art project transforms into a sturdy, all-wood rocket, able to withstand plenty of pretend play.
Bug Hotel
With a solid wood frame, yellow mesh walls for easy breathing, and a porthole stenciled with flowers, this toy makes for a wonderful bug getaway, and a great way to introduce your child to insect life, up close.
Kids' Favorite Card Games
A fun, back-to-basics toy sure to bring many hours of family fun, and lay the foundation for sportsmanship, turn-taking, and patience: skills which do not come easily to five-year-olds.
Decorate-Your-Own Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle
This puzzle-painting kit is an exercise in uncomplicated fun, and contains everything your child needs to paint a puzzle design that can be taken apart and put back together again and again.
Now I'm Reading Games: Word Dominoes
The set comes with a short story that introduces rhyming word families and a pile of colorful cardboard tiles. Sort of like Scrabble for beginners, each player must build words using the tiles in his hand, slapping a "fr" on an "og" or a "w" on a "ow".
Ducks in a Row
Along the lines of tic-tac-toe, but a bit more involved and quirky, this game works logic and spatial reasoning skills, while it teaches kids to think ahead. Like checkers, players move one square at a time: up and down, side to side, or diagonally.
