HOLIDAY 09
GIFTS FOR THE CUTIE PIE KIDS
THE 12 BEST TOYS FOR YOUR FAVORITE TOTS
StoryTots
Little bookworms (and even those who haven’t quite discovered a love of literature) will adore the reading material from StoryTots, which makes them the hero or heroine of their own story. That’s about as cool as it gets. Choose from tales involving monkeys in a zoo, a magic crown, a fire-blasting dragon, a dinosaur circus and vacuuming (yes, vacuuming—kids are endlessly intrigued by the suction!). A personalized dedication from you at the front of the book seals this sweet-as-can-be deal.
($25.95 for softcover; $49.95 for hardcover;
www.storytots.com)
Mon Bébé “Bio”
Dolls have become timeless toys for kids for a reason—they never lose their appeal. Gift your little doll with this eco-friendly baby straight from France, brought to you by the eclectic, cool and always unique offerings of Finn's Finds. Packaged in a reusable cotton bag, the exquisite doll is developed using sustainable practices, with clothes fashioned from organic cotton and a body made of plastic free of phthalates. It’s always nice to know the little one you work so hard to protect is toting around a toy that’s totally safe for her. (
www.shop.finnsfinds.com)
Bloom Putty
Make your kids putty in your hands (or at least keep them occupied for a little while) with this great nontoxic putty. It’s made from silicone rubber and doesn’t contain gluten, wheat, casein, dairy, soy, nuts or latex. Best of all, it won’t dry out or crumble, so kids—and, let’s face it, parents—can have plenty of fun molding, twisting, stretching and squeezing. Boysenberry, icing on the cake and apple are just a few of the 14 scents, or pick up one of six unscented colors.
($10.95, unscented; $11.95, scented; www.bloomputty.com)
Pork Chop Kids
Nothing fills out a little girl’s wardrobe better than a pair of Pork Chops. Don’t be confused by the name—Pork Chops aren’t food, but baby thigh-highs. Baby thigh-highs? Yes. Think about it: Tights and leggings are inconvenient during diaper changes and bathroom breaks, while leg warmers don’t cover feet. And thus Pork Chops fill a legwear niche nicely. There are patterns galore; for the holidays, we like the ones with a little shimmer and shine (try Black Sparkle, Glittery Gold or Silver Sparkle). ($18,
www.porkchopkids.com)
GET 10% OFF WIHTH CODE TFG10
Haba Wooden Fruit & Vegetable Set
These eco-smart, shiny wooden fruits and vegetables are destined to be the toy du jour for any budding gastronome. Your little one will love going “shopping” with the two included nets in tow, and choosing from the selection of apple, grapes, plum, carrot, pepper and other nutrition-conscious toys. Just one of many imagination-moving green toys from Hazelnut Kids, an environmentally-friendly one-stop toy shop, this fun-with-food playset is definitely done in good taste. ($46.40, www.hazelnutkids.com)
Animal Memo
Appealing to both boys and girls, this new take on the classic game of Memory stimulates children’s intellectual skills, memory and hand-eye coordination by challenging them to match up pictures of different animals. The canvas carrying bag allows for easy storage, and the tiles are safely made with natural, chemical-free rubber wood. From MonkeyBean Toys, a specialty toy store featuring the best of the best worldwide, this memory-making present is enlightening for the kids and light on your wallet—what’s better than that?
($24.99, www.monkeybeantoys.com)
Family Christmas Pajamas
Get into the holiday spirit family-style with coordinating pajamas for the entire clan—moms, dads, kids, babies, teens, grandparents, and even cats and dogs. Snug as a Bug offers cozy polar fleece and flannel PJs in a variety of styles and winter patterns that’ll make everyone comfy on a chilly evening. Plus, the Toronto-based company is committed to local, sustainable business practices. It’s the ultimate form of family bonding, and you’ll all look winter-rific. (www.snugasabug.com)
Classic TravelKiddy
A long car ride or airplane trip can make even the calmest adults antsy—it’s no wonder kids have that classic catchphrase: “Are we there yet?” Head off their questions with this jam-packed kit from TravelKiddy that keeps little ones entertained. We’re talking a 9-by-12-inch foam core drawing board, a coloring book, 16 Crayola crayons, tissues, hand wipes, bandages, Wikki Stix (kids can craft all kinds of things out of these little wonder-sticks), assorted small animals, color-your-own finger puppets, a magnetic drawing board, an animal tape measure, a ruler, six sticker sheets, postcards and more. Really, there’s more, but we got tired.
($39.99,
www.travelkiddy.com)
AirPacks
Kids carry quite a load these days—figuratively with school, friends, extracurricular activities, etc.—and literally on their shoulders, with heavy backpacks. Ease some of their burden with an AirPack, brought to you by the healthy living experts at Core Products, a company created to make your life more comfortable. This ergonomically designed backpack redistributes the weight from the shoulders to the hips, creating better posture and less strain on the spine. They may still have all the modern-day worries of a kid, but at least they’ll be standing tall!
($44.96 to $53.96,
www.coreproducts.com)
Meal Time Fun for Boys
Pave your little boy’s way to becoming the next Rocco DiSpirito with this chef-in-training set from the fabulous children's gifts, décor and more store Firefly Furnishings. The package includes a sweet-as-pie apron; plates, bowls and tumblers with a dump truck theme; a stuffed animal friend dubbed Supper Hero; cooking utensils; and a kid-inspired recipe book. He’ll be stirring, straining and serving right alongside you before you know it. ($107,
www.fireflyfurnishings.com)
“Tea Party” Tee by Ashley Alexander
A tea party scene with forest friends makes this long-sleeved tee off-the-charts adorable for girls. All the clothing items from lark + loon feature hand-drawn designs and are made in the USA, soft as butter, prewashed and manufactured with pure cotton. This light blue beauty is just the thing for a playdate or a nice spring day on the playground.
($28,
www.larkandloon.com)
Classic Moonjar Retro Tin
Instill good financial values early on with this new twist on an old idea. Three separate money boxes each represent a different purpose for cash: spending, saving and charitable giving. The concept was inspired by John D. Rockefeller, who in his kitchen kept three jars for his children’s allowances, for the same categories that correspond to the moonjar’s compartments. Direct from the inspiring folks at Little Zen Minds, a smart-choice site dedicated to educational and learning toys that are as fun as they are important, this gift is one that definitely keeps on giving.
($22.95,
www.littlezenminds.com)
