Gifts for Kids Archives - ResearchParent.com

Code Your Own Games!

Michelle — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 21:37:00 +0000

I cannot overstate how amazing this book has been for my family. I bought Code Your Own Games! for my oldest around his 11th birthday and he fell completely in love with the MIT coding language for kids, Scratch. Not only did he work through all the activities in the book, but he started writing his own code before he was even finished with it. We have tried other Scratch books in the past, but this is the one that got him hooked. He has learned so much not only about coding, but about real-life applications of math and physics as well.

Code Your Own Games! Details

Title: Code Your Own Games!
Author/Illustrator: Max Wainewright
Publication Year: 2020
Age Group: Elementary, Middle School
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments

This book has been a life-changer for my family. My oldest child wanted to learn to code for a while, but I really didn’t know how to help him. To start, I got a few Scratch books from the library. While the others were not particularly child-friendly or engaging, this one captured his interest immediately. At the time, he was even using an edition of the book for a previous version of Scratch. This is important to note as technology improves rapidly. Even this most recent edition will likely soon be out of date when Scratch updates to a version beyond 3.0.

However, I think the fact that my son was using a version that was slightly outdated was actually helpful. Rather than just mindlessly following the instructions in the book, he had to really understand what the instructions were telling him to do. That way if the website did not exactly match the images in the book, he could still figure out the next steps. I am not advocating seeking out an old version. I am just saying that if the version you can get ahold of does not match the most recent version of Scratch, don’t let that stop you!

What I love most about the games in this book is that they are short and provide immediate gratification. From the very first tutorial, within 20-30 minutes, the child has a game that they actually enjoy playing. Not only that, it will spark ideas in their minds for how they can improve the game. This leads to a lot of added-on learning, particularly if your child is willing to explore.

My younger kids saw my son having so much fun working through this book, that they have all been eager to start. To make sure they didn’t steal his thunder, I told them they had to wait until he finished the book. Now that he has finished it, my 9-year-old is currently working through the book. She has only done maybe the first 3 or 4 tutorials, but she spends several hours a week making her own little games and videos based on what she has already learned. My oldest, meanwhile, who is currently 12, made several of his own games and is now teaching himself how to program in Python, a language that is widely used in scientific communities.

I am so grateful to the author for writing this book and for the rabbit holes he has inspired my kids to follow!

Included on Lists:

Best Gifts for 10 Year Olds
Best Gifts for 11 Year Olds

Click here for more Best Gifts for Kids ideas.

Spirograph

Michelle — Wed, 06 May 2020 13:28:23 +0000

I remember LOVING Spirograph as a kid. I was always so impressed by the fun designs I was able to create. I would spend hours experimenting with the different combinations of outer and inner circles to see which would produce the most beautiful finished products. When my daughter broke her leg around her 7th birthday, I bought her a kit. I was so pleased that even a modern day child was able to enjoy it as much as I did all those decades ago.

Product: Spirograph Fun Shapes Set
Website: www.kahootztoys.com/spirograph-home.html
Recommended Age Range: 7 to 10 years
Price Range: ~$20
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: In an era when technology is grabbing hold of our kids, fun open-ended toys like Spirograph can still hold their attention for a surprisingly long time. Not only do kids get to practice fine motor control, but there is some covert math in these as well. Why do some combinations of inner and outer pieces create far more interesting designs than others. Why do some combinations seem to not work at all, but rather just repeat the same exact pattern over and over? Your child is not likely answering these questions, but their brain is stimulated.

When my daughter broke her leg, this gift was a lifesaver. She made designs for all of her friends and family and decorated them up by turning them into flowers. I’ll admit that now, over a year later, she hardly ever plays with it. However, I know that in a few years my next child will be able to enjoy it, then the one after that. When our family has reached it’s fill of Spirograph, it is the kind of toy we will be able to pass onto another family in near perfect condition.

Included on Lists:

Click here for more Best Gifts for Kids ideas.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book

Michelle — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 03:06:09 +0000

When my 7 year old had a broken leg, Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book was an absolute life saver. Before she got the hang of her crutches, her full leg cast left her stranded on our couch nearly the entire day. Her grandmother sent her this activity book and she could not have enjoyed it more. It had her working and giggling for days and days.

Book: Don’t Let The Pigeon Finish This Activity Book
Author: Mo Willems
Website: http://mowillems.com/
Recommended Age Range: 6 to 10 years
Price Range: ~$20
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: Our family LOVES Mo Willems books. Elephant and Piggie are 100% the books that turned my kids into real readers. They are simple enough that we could read them together early on and fun enough that kids want to re-read them on their own. The whole Pigeon series is absolutely hilarious.

When I found out there was a Pigeon activity book, I knew it would be good. However, this book over-delivers by far. My 7 year old needed some help reading the instructions, but as soon as she knew what to do, she would spend a considerable amount of time on each activity. Even when she was stuck on the couch for weeks, this book kept providing what seemed like endless entertainment.

She drew and colored and cut and wrote. There was enough variety in the activities that she never got bored. She made a puppet show. She built an airport. She got to use her creativity in so many different ways.

I would recommend this book to any child under the age of about 10. However, for a creative child who is stuck inside for whatever reason, this book is a blessing. If it weren’t for this book, my daughter likely would have spent half her days watching movies and playing video games when she was hurt. With this book, she didn’t even miss them.

Included on Lists:

Click here for more Best Gifts for Kids ideas.

Bow and Arrows

Michelle — Sun, 08 Mar 2020 04:23:47 +0000

If you’re looking for a gift under $25 for boys between the ages of 7 and 9, a toy bow and arrows is almost a guaranteed hit. I don’t mean to be sexist. Honestly, as non-violent a female as I am, I find shooting a toy bow and arrow to be incredibly satisfying. However, I’ve never witnessed the sort of over-the-top enthusiasm from a girl that boys never fail to exhibit with a toy like this. (Nerf guns are pretty safe bets too.)

Product: Air Z-Curve Bow
Company: Zing
Website: zing.store
Recommended Age Range: 6 to 10 years
Price Range: ~$25
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: One year at Christmas time, we found bows and arrows very similar to this at Costco. It was a year when I was feeling particularly reluctant to deal with the hassle of Christmas shopping. As a result, basically every boy in our family got one, including uncles. Despite my laziness, overall they were a hit. They are pretty easy to use even for kids as young as six or seven. Even though they aren’t able to shoot them as far as older kids and adults, they still have a lot of fun. Also, with the padded tips, they are relatively safe.

A lot of times I like to put a lot of thought into a personalized gift that a child will enjoy. Other times, I’m looking more for the birthday present that will result in the most excitement when opened. I like instant gratification. When you really just want to see a young boy smile, give a gift like this. It’s a no-brainer. While it may not last forever, it will bring a lot of joy and get a lot of use before it either breaks or gets passed to a younger child.

Alternatively, if you want a more personal gift that takes more time, but is less expensive, try our homemade bow and arrows.

Included on Lists:

Click here for more Best Gifts for Kids ideas.

100 Piece Puzzles

Michelle — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 17:40:12 +0000

It must not be a coincidence, but since I posted about 48 piece puzzles a few days ago, my kids have been puzzle obsessed. They must have seen a picture on my computer that reminded them of puzzles, but that was all it took. My 5 and 7 year olds have re-done every 48 and 100 piece puzzle in our house. My 10 year and 3 year olds joined in for the fun off and on, but the middle kids were hooked.

Product: 100 Piece Puzzles
Company: Melissa and Doug
Website: melissaanddoug.com
Recommended Age Range: 5 to 10 years
Price Range: ~$12
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: According to my Amazon account, I first purchased this 10 piece ocean puzzle in 2014, when my oldest would have been 4. I can not even count how many times my kids have done this puzzle. Sometimes they like doing it alone and don’t want anyone to help them. Other times they all work on it together as a group.

There is something so calming and satisfying about working on a puzzle on lazy days. I’m so glad my kids are able to enjoy this old school, technology free activity.

I really love the 100 piece floor puzzles by Melissa and Doug. We also have one with a rainforest theme, though I’ve had my eye on a safari one for awhile. Ravensburger’s 100 piece puzzles are fantastic quality as well and they have a larger selection of pictures. Find a theme that your child will enjoy and watch them get to work!

Included on Lists:

Click here for more Best Gifts for Kids ideas.

48 Piece Puzzles

Michelle — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 19:36:07 +0000

It’s possible that not all kids like puzzles, but my kids definitely do. We can go long stretches of time without doing any, but as soon as I pull one out, they are obsessed. 48 piece puzzles make great gifts for 4 through 7 year olds in my opinion, depending on how often the child does puzzles. Even though my 7 year old is capable of doing larger puzzles on her known, I think she would find a 48 piece puzzle fun and relaxing.

Product: 48 Piece Puzzles
Company: Melissa and Doug
Website: melissaanddoug.com
Recommended Age Range: 4 to 7 years
Price Range: ~$10
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: I grew up doing puzzles with both of my grandmothers. There is something so calming about trying to put all the pieces together. When kids are young, it’s pretty much impossible to have giant puzzles out on the table for days at a time. The kids need something quicker to work on so pieces don’t get lost. Immediate gratification is important at this age to keep them interested.

My oldest child could do 48 piece puzzles on his own when he was 4. Probably because they have so many more activities vying for their time, my younger kids reached this point a little later. Their attention span wasn’t long enough at 4 to carry them through a puzzle of this size. However, when they are ready, 48 pieces is a wonderful number, because it is doable in one sitting. It prevents the child from getting overwhelmed.

My personal favorite puzzle brands are Melissa and Doug and Ravensburger. I like Melissa and Doug for the younger ages, because their pieces are larger making them easier to manipulate

Included on Lists:

Click here for more Best Gifts for Kids ideas.

Scratch and Sketch Books

Michelle — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 15:21:49 +0000

I don’t know where the first one of these books in our household came from, but all my kids love them. I remember doing something similar to this when I was in elementary school. We would color a page completely with crayons then paint over the crayon in black paint. The scratch away effect was similar. These Scratch and Sketch books provide the same entertainment for a lot less work. Thankfully, even though they will be used up at some point, they seem to last a long time in our house.

Product: Scratch and Sketch books
Company: Peter Pauper
Website: peterpauper.com
Recommended Age Range: 4 to 9 years
Price Range: ~$12
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: These Scratch and Sketch books come in a wide variety of topics. ALL of my kids ranging from 3 to 10 years enjoy them. Even the kids that only scribble find great satisfaction in using these books. I can understand why. It’s easy to create impressive art when your wooden stick reveals a rainbow of colors.

The brand of scratch book is not important. My kids have enjoyed Scratch and Sketch books like the one pictured above. We have also owned all of the Harry Potter “Scratch Magic” books. I imagine there are other companies that make these books as well.

There are also two styles of theses scratch and sketch books. Some of them are simply black pages that the child may color (or scribble) whatever they like. Others reveal a colorful picture. My kids have enjoyed both, though I think they slightly prefer the ones without the picture underneath. They like the freedom the blank pages offer.

Included on Lists:

Click here for more Best Gifts for Kids ideas.

Light-Up Tracing Pad

Michelle — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 15:10:11 +0000

Right before my daughter’s 7th birthday, she broke her leg skiing. This Light-Up Tracing Pad by Crayola was a lifesaver during her recovery time. It kept her occupied for hours without having to rely on electronics all the time.

Product: Light-Up Tracing Pad
Company: Crayola
Website: shop.crayola.com
Recommended Age Range: 5 to 8 years
Price Range: ~$25
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: After my daughter broke her leg, the poor kid was in a full leg cast for 3 months. My active girl was confined to the couch for what seemed like weeks on end. On the way home from the hospital after getting her first cast, we stopped at Target to pick up some supplies.

I got her books, art supplies, and a bracelet making kit. However, the item I purchased that day that has ended up getting the most use over the past year was a Light-Up Tracing Pad. She used that tracing pad to make hundreds of pictures which she then gave to her family and friends.

Her 5 year old brother loved it as well, which caused a number of arguments during that time in our lives. Even though it has been a year now since her accident, this tracing pad STILL gets pulled out on a weekly basis by one of my kids. (I know because I am constantly nagging them to remember to turn off the light so batteries don’t die.)

All in all, I think this was a great find. It was relatively inexpensive and helps kids practice their fine motor skills in a fun way. I think it would make a great gift for any aspiring artist.

Included on Lists:

Click here for more Best Gifts for Kids ideas.

Pop Up Soccer Goals

Michelle — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 14:59:52 +0000

These have been my son’s most-used gift over the last 3 years. Soccer goals are such a great present to encourage outdoor play, exercise, and team work.

Product: 4 Foot Pop Up Soccer Goals
Company: Golme (or Amazon)
Website:www.golme.com
Recommended Age Range: 6+
Price Range: ~$25-$50
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: My 9 year old has had these goals for 3 years. He enjoys playing soccer in a league during the fall, but is not obsessed with soccer by any means. However, he plays with these goals all year round. He takes them to the park every week to play with his friends, even when it is freezing and there are patches of snow on the ground.

I love that he is laughing and having fun while being outdoors and getting exercise. My son also puts them at either end of a hallway in our house to play with his younger brothers. It does make it a little difficult whenever anyone wants to walk down the hallway, but if my boys are playing happily together, I can deal with it. They also are fun for family picnic days. My husband plays with our older kids while I read a book on a blanket nearby.

These soccer goals have been such a hit, we’ve given them as gifts and they have always seemed to be appreciated. Technically, I think that the Golme set my son received as a gift might be slightly higher quality, but I usually give these cheaper Amazon brand ones as gifts. I can’t vouch for the durability of the Amazon ones. However, the Golme ones have been used EXTENSIVELY by our family for 3 years. My husband used them to coach 2 seasons of soccer and we have had no problems with them. They are fantastic as far as I’m concerned.

Face Paint Crayons

Michelle — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 17:46:13 +0000

I’m always on the lookout for which gifts my kids receive that I think would have universal appeal. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to mention these face paint crayons. My daughter has had them for at least a year and she still uses them at least twice a week to decorate herself and her younger brothers. My kids have fairly sensitive skin and have never had a problem with these crayons. They are super fun and easy to clean off their faces when we need to be more serious in public.

Product: Face Paint Crayons
Company: Ewong
Recommended Age Range: 6+ (younger kids would probably enjoy as well, but adult supervision is recommended)
Price Range: ~$12-$15
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: I love that although these are called “face paints,” they are actually crayons. Nothing ever spills, which keeps our furniture and clothes safe. Even my toddler can hold these chunky crayons in his little fists and use them effectively. My daughter has gotten particularly good at turning her brothers into Harry Potter by drawing on his signature glasses and scar.

A few months back, my daughter was running with her friends in impractical shoes and ended up with a black eye. She was so embarrassed by her shiner that for a couple days she didn’t want to be seen in public. These face crayons were a lifesaver. We would cover up her injury with the most attention grabbing designs possible and she was as happy as can be.

When we first got these crayons, I was a little restrictive about when she was allowed to use them. I still require her to ask permission, but they are so easy to clean up and my kids have so much fun that I basically never say no anymore unless we’re on our way out the door to church. I consider it my small way of supporting the arts.

Click here for more Gifts for Kids ideas for kids of all ages.

Gifts for Kids Archives - ResearchParent.com

Code Your Own Games!

Code Your Own Games! Details

Comments

Related Links

Spirograph

Related Links

Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book

Related Links

Bow and Arrows

Related Links

100 Piece Puzzles

Related Links

48 Piece Puzzles

Related Links

Scratch and Sketch Books

Related Links

Light-Up Tracing Pad

Related Links

Pop Up Soccer Goals

Related Links:

Face Paint Crayons

Related Links: