Gift Guide2008
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'!
Third Grade
Face Off! Air Hockey
Is it a science lesson or a toy? Kids can usually tell you in no time flat. But this ingenious set actually had our testers fooled. With a little adult assistance, (but not much!), kids can assemble a miniature working air hockey set and learn about the science of air ...and a good hockey game, too.
Safari West
Has your child always dreamed of going on safari? At this wildlife preserve in the California wine country, visitors pile into jeeps and hit the road for close encounters with zebras, rhinos, wildebeests, and more than a dozen varieties of African antelope.
Giant Weaving Loom
Are your children interested in learning the ancient art of weaving? If so, then there's no better product on the market. Large and sturdy, this loom should last through more than its fair share of creative crafting sessions, whether kids decide to make a purse, weave a belt, or whip up a scarf.
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.
Mummy Mystery
With 48 challenges and 4 levels of difficulty, this strategic maze game can be adapted to any child's capability, and occupy them for as little as 5 minutes or as long as a few hours. Kids pick a challenge and arrange tiles to build a "road." Wonderful for cognitive thinking and reasoning skills!
FlapDoodle
FlapDoodle involves lots of ridiculous trivia and even sillier tasks. Play involves moving through a beautifully illustrated “factory” using one of the deliciously absurd character game pieces. Quick, creative, and endlessly amusing, this is an absolute must for any family's board game ...
Stone Soup Magazine
When you imagine your child 10 years from now, do you imagine her reading The New Yorker? Then you've got to get your hands on this magazine! Every story, poem, and illustration is penned by a kid ages 8-13, but it's edited by a professional. Inspiring reading, perfect for a budding author or poet.
Blik Blok
If you've spent time in an elementary classroom, you've probably seen "tangrams". Teachers use them to introduce geometry and build visual-spatial perception. This puzzle game brings tangrams into three dimensions, challenging kids to configure blocks into arrangements designed by real architects.
Knot a Hat-n-Scarf
All children need to know how to do to create the scarf and hat projects outlined in this kit is to tie a simple knot. That's it. And the projects come out looking like something you might find at your local craft fair! A brilliant introduction to the world of crafting.
Octopus Whirl
This building toy comes with 454 individual pieces that can be interconnected in a huge variety of ways, allowing the player to use her creativity to construct anything she can dream up. Switch on the electric motor and watch it spin around like the real carnival ride, but without the nausea!
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