GIFT GUIDE 2008
Middle School Gifts
From toys that stand the test of time to board games that are anything but boring, we found the best middle school products 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'!
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.
World Vision
Make this year an eye-opener for your child, by teaching her to spread love beyond her own doorstep. Start her out with a "giving budget" and a copy of the World Vision catalog, which contains a smorgasbord of poverty-fighting items to donate, from goats to clean water.
Malarky
Why do cows stick their tongues up their nostrils? These are the types of wild questions your kid will find in this bizarre game of bluffing. Tell the group the real answer to the question, or make something up, creating your own answer. Boosts brainstorming, and builds vocab on the fly.
Faces Magazine
What would it be like to vacation in the Ukraine? What do teens eat in Japan? Treat your tween to a monthly spin of the globe with a subscription to this magazine. From the corners of Madagascar, to the alleys of Jerusalem, he'll catch a glimpse of the people and places that make the earth unique.
Nabaztag
This Wi-Fi bunny can tell time, read the news, recite email or RSS feeds, and send messages anywhere in the world. Like a regular pet, he has a personality (if a slightly robotic one) and your child will likely get a kick out of the fact that he'll do tai chi moves when it's time for bed.
The Cabinet of Wonders
When Mikal Kronos is hired by the prince of Bohemia to build the world's most amazing astronomical clock, it seems that fame and fortune will follow...until he comes home blind. Can his daughter help? A breakneck fantasy novel with a strong female lead is hard to find. Don't let this one pass you ...
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.
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!
Triskellion
This is a riveting tale of two twin teenagers who, following their parents divorce, are sent to stay with their grandmother in a small English village. Sounds boring, until Rachel and Adam discover a legacy that foretold their coming... over three thousand years ago!
Rapunzel's Revenge
For some middle schoolers, reading can go from a joy to a chore in a flash. Fortunately for parents, Newbery Award-winning author Shannon Hale has come up with an intelligent and original story featuring a butt-kicking heroine, wrapped up in an easily digestible graphic novel format.
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.
Chaos
It looks like a no-brainer at first, but this deceptively simple two-person game has got the goods to keep kids and adults engaged through hours of strategic play. Based on the sand pile metaphor in chaos theory, players take turns stacking and toppling their pieces. But prediction is everything.
Brother Sewing Machine
Got a tween who's glued to the tube for every Project Runway episode? Introduce your designer-to-be to the creative possibilities of owning a sewing machine! The practice of sewing ones own clothing may seem like ancient history, but stitching for style is enjoying a well-deserved renaissance.
Uluwatu Bamboo Longboard
Skateboarding is still cool, but these days, it's also practical. Sure, kids are still grinding tricks on old-school "street" boards, but many people (adults included) are finding that cruising to school and work on a smooth-turning "longboard" is the name of the skating game.
My Listography: My Amazing Life in Lists
Could you remember the television shows you liked, the times you got in the most trouble, or all the places you wanted to go one day...back when you were 12? Didn't think so. Give your child a gift with the historical memory of a journal and the irresistible fun factor of personalized Top 10 lists.
Atlas Adventures
In this game of geography smarts, players compete to complete a world map puzzle by correctly answering world trivia questions. But this ain't your grandmama's quiz game: in a word, these questions are hard.
