GIFT GUIDE 2007
First Grade Gifts
Gifts for a 6-Year-Old or 7-Year-Old
From toys that stand the test of time to board games that are anything but boring, we found the best first grade products for a six-year-old or seven-year-old. Our list of loot is kid-tested, teacher approved, and full of options for any family, so get wrappin'!
Folding Medieval Castle
The sprawling turrets, spacious courtyard, and winding stairs of this wooden castle are sure to delight your budding royalty. And the fact that the whole thing can be folded up and stored flat, will delight you as well. Complete with four playing figures (more can be bought separately), this ...
Spark Talking Bug Identifier
Channel your child's fascination with bugs and expose him to the scientific method, with this vocal magnifying glass that enlarges specimens to twice their actual size. The bug tracker asks yes or no questions and will identify up to 50 bugs based on the responses. In addition to facts, the device ...
Pretend & Play Animal Hospital
For little ones itching to operate on the family pooch, this toy offers an educational diversion. The fold-out vet's office has everything the doctor ordered to treat the patient, including mini-stethoscope, syringe, ear scope, and bottles of medicine. The set also includes a patient chart for ...
Potholder Loom
This simple, classic toy starts with a hard plastic frame and a set of colorful cotton looms that kids can weave to create real potholders. Teachers, especially for first and second graders, consider looms a valuable learning toy. In weaving loops, six-year-olds get invaluable practice with pattern ...
Three Tales of My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Written more than 50 years ago, My Father's Dragon still seems as fresh as a daisy. A very unusual daisy. It's the story of a resourceful young man named Elmer Elevator who runs away with an old alley cat, in order to rescue a baby dragon. Armed only with the random collection of things he managed ...
World Almanac Puzzler Decks
You've probably heard of the World Almanac. Well, the veritable tome just got a major facelift, transforming it from an unwieldy, though admittedly useful doorstop, into a set of kids' puzzler decks that are seriously fun.
Lego City Recycle Truck
Bring the idea of recycling home with this cute toy. Lego is perfect for this age because it works on counting, spacial reasoning, pattern recognition, dexterity, and fine motor control-- key components to reading, writing, and math. Once they've snapped this truck together, kids can put the ...
Super Fort
This toy provides all the straight-up fun of a home-grown fort, but without the mess of misplaced sheets, chairs, and pillows. Using flexible foam tubes, many-sided magnetic connectors, and multi-colored fabric panels, kids can build just about any kind of lair they want, whether it's a tug-boat, ...
Story Maker
The fabulous pastime of fridge poetry is back with this kid-friendly kit. Perfect for beginning readers, and a great stocking stuffer, the kit breaks stories down by phrases, such as "under the bed," "the nice queen," and "laughs out loud," making it easy to string sentences together. Each magnet ...
Melody Harp
It's a moment you've been waiting for: your little kid is asking to play an instrument! You'd love to support it with something more than rhythm sticks and castanets, but perhaps less daunting than formal viola lessons. Introducing the Melody Harp, a sixteen string zither that sits on a kid's lap, ...
Doorway Puppet Theater
This detailed hanging theater is just the thing for impromptu puppetry performances. Easily hung in a doorway by tension rods, the theater features curtains that can be tied back during the performance, backstage pockets for puppets and props, and a generous window with enough space to accommodate ...
JumpStart Phonics Read and Rhyme
This software helps kids practice reading, as they make their way through over 200 sight words key to early success. They'll match upper and lowercase letters, play with word families, master their consonants and vowel sounds, and practice reading aloud, all in the context of some pretty fun ...
Poppin' Puzzlers
Let's face it, kids love when things POP! and make a little mess. This little slice of chaos is sure to get some giggles, as players hurry to place their shapes where they go before the timer goes off and--you guessed it--the pieces go flying off the board. Beat the timer and your opponent to win. ...
Alphabet Rockers
Need a fresh album for your child's collection? Look no further. This CD was produced by School Time Music, a San Francisco record label founded by Harvard graduate and professional singer Kaitlin McGaw and drummer and music teacher Dawn Richardson. Songs such as "Seven Days a Week" and "The Money ...
What's Gnu?
This game is a terrific way to teach young children new three-letter words, and to build confidence in spelling and reading the ones they already know. Plus, it takes a scant twenty minutes to play. Designed with easily distracted kids in mind, What's Gnu? involves a lot of shouting and giggling, ...
Teaching Cash Register
At school, your child is starting to master the values of pennies, dimes, nickles, quarters and bills. Why not give him some valuable practice at home, too? Kids love pretend play and pressing buttons, and this cash register delivers. Your child can "ring up" anything he'd like and this cashier ...
