clever gift ideas

Nov 29

Posted by: Rachel in: blog, clever toys, crafty, games, i want that, if i had a million dollars, in style, parenting

I’ve been scouring the internet for gift ideas. As you can imagine, I came up with way more than enough. So I’ve created a list at wishlist.com to keep track of some of them for later purchase/birthday ideas, etc. I don’t think I could ever bring myself to use the wishlist service for something like a birthday or Christmas, but it would certainly be helpful for weddings, baby showers, etc. I’m just using it to keep track of neat products that I find online so that I don’t clog up my bookmarks.

1. Castle Blocks - I think these are amazing. This wasn’t one I found myself, I had a little help from Chris’s Holiday Gift Guide over at In the Trenches of Motherhood (aka Notes from the Trenches). These blocks look amazing. Be sure to read about how the ‘blocksmith’ started his business. Certainly a different take on your average wooden blocks. They look to be excellent quality. I am quite anxious to try them out, and I would love to take advantage of a holiday sale. This would be a good one to go in together with the grandparents!

2. Memory Game: I’m not even sure what I love about this one so much. It looks simple, long lasting and well made, for a nice price. Memory is a classic game that is good for all ages, so this would grow with your child, provided you are diligent about keeping up with the pieces. If not, it certainly isn’t a terrible budget strain to replace it. The shapes do look pretty small though, so watch out for the younger members of the family. You can always start out with 3-4 pairs and leave part of the board empty for the younger players.

3. Car Cake Pans: I must give credit for this find to my mom. She called to ask me if I though Caleb might like something like this for a gift. Would he like it? WOULD HE LIKE IT?? Let’s see, he loves to kitchen. He drags a kitchen chair across the room and positions it on my foot so that he can climb up and help. The mega bonus is that the cakes are little car shapes, they are absolutely precious. I already have birthday ideas whirling through my head. Wouldn’t that make a neat center piece. A long straight road running the length of the table with car cakes for each party goer. It could also be an EXCELLENT birthday party activity for kids a little older than mine. If you’re the organized type, you can set up a decorating station for each child, give them their vehicle, a paint brush for the icing (glue), and several pieces of candy for decorations, have the sprinkles lined up down the table. Kids would eat that up, literally!

4. Haba Boat Swing: I have ~~drooled over~~ seen this before. It is quite expensive, but doesn’t it just make you smile to look at it! Love the colors. I have always loved the concept of an indoor swing. Hey it could even double as a bassinet when the next baby comes along! I’M JOKING! Don’t try that! Especially when the older sibling has been soaring around the room like Peter Pan in the thing for a year.

5. Aqua Play Set: This is just a neat concept to me. I’ve seen a similar thing made by Brio a while back, but I can’t find it now. Again, steep price, but there are different sets you can get, this of course being the most complete/expensive. Looks like it would made a good summer toy for those days when you need to get the kid out of the house, but once you do it is too hot to move outside. Set it in the shade and let them play. It looks like it might be time consuming to set up though(?)

6. Colorforms: Yes the same colorforms that were around when you were a child. They seem to be pretty timeless as well. Encourages pattern play and creativity. Look around, you might find a better price, but I just happened to see them here.

7. Lacing Tree: Need to brush up on your hand eye coordination. This looks like a cute version of a lacing activity. A little more clever than some I’ve seen where you just outline a picture that is already there. Here you can actually make decisions about which animals should go where. Waiting room activity anyone?

8. Mazes(click pictures for links): I think I’ve seen the first one (or a similar one) at Target. “Drive” the different vehicles around to their appropriate buildings/homes. Very cute also. Requires some thinking for how to get each vehicle to the correct spot and move others out of the way. The bead maze has two pens, so siblings/friends can share. Again, hand eye coordination. Both of these are self contained, so they would make excellent toys on the go (for waiting rooms, airport terminals, etc)