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Batteries Not Included: Gifts for Kids that Ignite the Imagination

December 12, 2012 by notjustcute Filed Under: Building Readers, Child Development & DAP, Learning through Play and Experience, Uncategorized 4 Comments

Have you ever heard people joke about getting an extravagant gift for a child, and all the recipient wanted to do was play with the box?  That’s because for all the bells and whistles you can find attached to today’s toys, the fact remains that children love any opportunity to imagine, create, and pretend.  And as a parent and educator, I love to give kids that opportunity!  Here, you’ll find some of my favorite gift ideas for igniting that spark!

*This post contains affiliate links to products I genuinely believe you’ll enjoy!

Let’s Build

Gears! Gears! Gears! Super Set – 150-Piece Set: Don’t just build, set it in motion!

LEGO Ultimate Building Set – 405 Pieces (6166): Legos are just classic.  If you don’t have any yet, this is a great place to start!

Marble Race Deluxe:  Arrange, rearrange, and set the marbles rolling.  The fun never stops!

Melissa & Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit Blocks: These blocks are awesome for open-ended construction!

Let’s Pretend

Melissa & Doug Cook’s Corner Wooden Kitchen: I always love a gender-neutral play kitchen.  My boys have gotten miles of play out of ours!

 Deluxe Wooden Furnished Dollhouse:  A perfect place for dramatic play!

Melissa & Doug Pizza Party:  Ask your neighborhood pizza place for menus and a takeout box and you’re set!

Lillabo 20-piece basic train set : These tracks fit the wooden Thomas brand trains at an incredible price!

Let’s Read

Nighttime Ninja: Incredible illustrations with a story that is both simple and sweet!

Brontorina: What if a brontosaurus dreams of being a ballerina?  You’re about to find out!

One Spotted Giraffe: A beautiful counting book with pop-up numbers!

Duck! Rabbit!: A fun play on perspective that kids of all ages enjoy!

Let’s Create

Kiwi Crate Subscription: It’s a gift that keeps on giving — and creating — all year long!

Scratch Art Magic Rainbow Black :  Perfect as a stocking stuffer!

Easel from IKEA : Another stellar deal from IKEA!

Creative Kits: Build a Fairy Box, Playdough Cupcake Making Kit, Spin Art (Just an inexpensive salad spinner and paints!)

 

What are your favorite gifts that encourage creativity?

*This post contains affiliate links to products I genuinely believe you’ll enjoy!

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Comments

  1. 1

    Steph says

    December 12, 2012 at 7:07 am

    I like that easel! We’re giving our kiddo lots of crafting supplies and several books this year. She’s also getting a subscription to Sparkle Stories from her grandparents that I’m excited about.

    Reply
    • 2

      notjustcute says

      December 12, 2012 at 7:26 am

      I love the idea of subscriptions, and I hear Sparkle Stories are fantastic!

      Reply
  2. 3

    Nicole says

    December 12, 2012 at 11:24 pm

    A note about the Ikea train set: yes the Thomas trains fit the tracks BUT they are taller than the Ikea trains and so will not fit under the bridge. Major bummer.

    Reply
    • 4

      notjustcute says

      December 13, 2012 at 6:37 am

      Good point — some of the trains are too tall for the tunnel. We have both the train set and the unit blocks pictured above, so when we ran into the problem we pulled some blocks that were the same length and set the tunnel on top of those to make it a little taller.

      Reply

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I’m Amanda Morgan. Here’s what I’m about…

In early education, there is too much distance between what we know and what we do. I bridge the gaps that exist between academia, decision-makers, educators, and parents so that together, we can improve the quality of early education while also respecting and protecting the childhood experience.

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