Gifts seem so special to children, all wrapped in gemstone-hues waiting for little fingers to rip off the paper and uncover the surprise within. It is often easier in my mind to choose a gift for a child because they have not already accumulated anything and everything, so less fear of duplicates. Like grown-ups, they develop their own individual taste and style so that is to be considered when selecting the right present.
Before I launch into a few gift ideas for your favorite kid (or someone who is still a kid at-heart), I will admit that I do not have children so this is from the perspective of what I would have loved to receive myself at certain ages. For that reason, I may be slightly off in the ideal age range, so check with the parent or someone who “knows best”. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, here is the list of things I would ask Santa for if I was a kid again…
For the child who is intrigued by culinary endeavors or loves to play with food, look no further than My A to Z Recipe Box: An Alphabet of Recipes for Kids, $16.99 from Chronicle Books. It may be a bit young for tweens, so for ages 8-12, consider the Cook It In A Cup, $16.99 from Chronicle Books.
A classic read and Newberry Award winner is E.L. Konigsburg’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, $6.99 from Amazon.com (recommended ages 9-12, but has lasting power for all ages). Also by Konigsburg is The View From Saturday, $6.99 from Amazon.com (recommended for ages 8-12).
Who doesn’t love Snoopy? Peanuts comics are timeless and enjoyed by generations, for a gift to multiple children in the same family (or even a home gift knowing they’re all about their kids), check out the Peanuts Classics: The Ultimate Boxed Set, $31.16 from Amazon.com. It has over 600 pages of Snoopy and the gang.
Popular in Ireland and Great Britain this year are the In The Night Garden collection, available from Smyths for £3.99 to £32.99.
Stargazing is a hobby that can start early, so why not encourage it with the Child’s First Telescope and Periscope Kit, $34.99 from Overstock.com.
For the budding archeologist, check out the Mystery Rock, which allows chiseling and brushing to unearth gemstones, bones, and fossils. Available for $24.95 from Store for Knowledge.
Let creativity flow freely with art supplies. Many art retailers and craft stores carry kits and separate items for a lovely gift, online options include: Madison Art Shop; Budget Art Kids; Daniel Smith; A.C.Moore; Plaza.
My A to Z Recipe Box: An Alphabet of Recipes for Kids. By Hilary Karmilowicz. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
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