GIFT GUIDE
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'!
Rapid 4 More
This heirloom quality set is a pleasure to play, but shifting channels, defensive "blocking", and interesting rules make this looker more than just a pretty face.
Bocce Tournament Set
Long revered in Italy as the perfect way to pass a sunny afternoon, bocce is beginning to catch on as a low-key antidote to high-energy athletic pastimes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
iPod Nano
Thin is in, especially when it comes to electronics. But this year, the iPod Nano got a major makeover, and in exchange for a little girth, it now has video. Kids will focus on the fact that they can watch movies and TV on the go, but this little guy also comes in handy for podcasts and audio ...
iLife
Tired of consumption? Inspire creation! This suite of software includes an array of artistic tools that will flex your kid's right brain and kick-start her imagination. Inside the box you'll find iMovie (for video), iPhoto (for photos), GarageBand (for music), iDVD (for DVD burning) and iWeb (for ...
RipStik Caster Board
This new toy is all the rage at skate parks around the country. Sure it looks a little odd, with its rotating deck and wheels that turn 360 degrees. But unlike its skateboard cousins, this means kids don't need to push off to keep this baby rolling; a twisting motion with shoulders and hips is all ...
Mindstorms NXT
R2D2 move over! The coolest robot on the block doesn't come from a galaxy far far away. And he can be built in thirty minutes flat. With Lego Mindstorms NXT and a computer, kids can design and program a robot to do their bidding. This hunk of gears, wires, and plastic comes hopped up with a 32-bit ...
Palm Z22
If getting your adolescent to keep track of his homework assignments feels like splitting the atom, you may want to consider luring him into organizational utopia with this little wonder. This compact, high-tech organizer holds appointments, addresses, to-do lists, and notes--all in an easy-to-read ...
Instax MINI 25 Instant Film Camera
The Instax Mini is Fujifilm's twist on the Polaroid Camera - a modern spin on an old favorite.
