Gift Guideall
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'!
ABC Blocks
In this age of disposable toys, it's rare to come across something meant to last more than a year. These blocks are an exception: beautifully crafted of solid maple and painted with vibrant, non-toxic inks. Whether your kid wants to build a tower, or a word, he's got the tools to do it in style.
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.
Barn Buddies
This gift-giving, consider giving your child a Barn Buddy Sponsorship, which provides feed, board and medical care to one very special animal, such as Mama, a Bay thoroughbred rescued from a semi-truck accident, or Pepe, a black sheep who was bottle-fed after his mother rejected him.
Bazoongi Rocket Ship and Mushroom House
Any room can hold a secret hideout with one of these in the corner. Sturdy, colorful, and roomy enough for a friend to climb inside and play, too, we're bonkers for Bazoongi! A lesson in canvas creativity, and a must-have for the preschooler or kindergartener in your life.
Leatherman Juice CS4 Pocket Multi-Tool
Your teen may be able to talk his way out of any situation, but talking won't open cans, saw branches, or furnish four different screwdrivers to get the job done. That's where the Leatherman multi-tool comes in.
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.
You Mix It: Secret Formula Lab
Smart Lab's Secret Formula Lab has projects that let kids create "alien blood," grow their very own fungus, and make invisible ink - all from simple, nontoxic materials. Just beware that instant play may not be possible without a pantry stocked with baking soda and vinegar!
The Big Dig
Got a kid who's crazy for construction? Bring the worksite to your own backyard! This metal excavator is the perfect size for preschoolers. It pivots full-circle for a true on-the-job feel, and as kids delight in dirt, they work on key skills like manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination, too!
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.
Pixel
Think Connect 4 for up to four players. Sounds fun and easy right? Well, there's one extra feature that makes this game super interesting: a coordinate marker that governs where players can put down a piece! Boost logic, sequence, and strategy skills, and give your kid a jump on thinking visually.
Mailbox and Mail Set
Adults may take the postal service for granted, but for young kids, the process of sending and receiving mail is a mysterious and incredibly interesting phenomenon. Let them go postal, with this hand-painted wooden play set.
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.
iPod Touch with Nike Plus iPod Sport Kit
What if your iPod could talk to your running shoes? Well sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, because guess what? It can. Thanks to a collaboration between Apple and Nike, all new iPod Touch and Nanos now come ready to step in as Personal Trainer.
Easy Bake Oven
Since 1963 this simple little toy has been wowing boys and girls alike with its plastic paddle and mysterious cook-by-lightbulb design. This year, the oven celebrates its 45th anniversary. A perfect way to get your kid excited about the prospect of putting on an apron.
Art Shark
Have you ever wanted to be an art dealer or museum cat burglar? In Art Shark, an engaging and beautifully illustrated boardless board game, you can do both! Not only is this a fun family game, it will also get your child acquainted with over 60 classic works of art.
Storytelling Game
Storytelling is an important activity for second graders, who are beginning to read more complex chapter books and write their own short stories. This fast-paced memory game is a great way to get the literary juices flowing!
