|
See
our Current Gift Guide
Technologically
savvy and notoriously harder to please, kids ages 9 and up require
extra attention when selecting software and gifts that will truly
engage and hold their interest. Fortunately, we've found a few pleasers.
We've included topnotch software, activity sets, books, toys, and
audio products that kids will love receiving--and adults will love
giving.
| Creativity
Activities & Books |
|
 Top Pick
For girls who love to pamper
themselves, The Body Book is an exceptional set.
Featuring natural body care tips and recipes, this book also
comes with an exciting pack of supplies to get started--a
face brush, scented oils, nail brush, pumice stone, nail
buffer, and more. This gorgeous full-color spiral-bound book
emphasizes good nutrition without being preachy, and offers
one satisfying recipe after another. A sugar scrub for your
feet or hands contains sugar, oil, and juice from a lemon; a
peaches-and-cream hand mask is another all-natural
3-ingredient pleaser; and the strawberry salt rub is a
luxurious and fragrant concoction designed to slough off
dead skin cells, moisturize, and energize. This is a
fantastic set that adults will love too. In the long run,
kids will save money by making body care products at home. [Buy The Natural Beauty Book (Klutz)
at Amazon.com for
approximately $16-22 US]
 Top Pick
For creative kinds, A
Book of Artrageous Projects makes a fantastic gift.
Filled with art starters and packaged with supplies to get
started, this spiral bound book contains inspiration like no
other. Even the cover itself can be used for an art
project--it's a sheet of copper designed to be used for an
embossing activity. Collages, stained glass, painting, and
more. [Buy Book of Artrageous Projects
at Amazon.com for
approximately $14-20 US]
Fairies: Petal People
You Make Yourself is another Klutz book-and-supply set
for kids ages 9 and up. Supplies to make 12 adorable and
intricate little fairies are here, along with a fabulously
inspiring little spiralbound book of ideas and instructions.
Fairies are made up of assorted (and included) beads and
dressed up with flower petals (also included). Kids use the
colored pencils to add details to the fairies' bead-faces.
Fairy bodies consist of beads that are strung together with
the set's floral wire. Instructions and full-color photos
demonstrate the techniques. Kids can opt to make easier
petal people, or get more involved with intricate details. [Buy Fairies : Petal People You Make Yourself
Amazon.com for
approximately $13-16 US]
 Yet another outstanding Klutz
product is Super
Slappies : Make Your Own Animal Bracelets. Slappies are
all the rage-- they are bracelets that you actually slap
onto your wrist. This set allows kids to make animal
slappies--fuzzy and fancy bracelets that girls will be proud
of, especially when they have made them all by themselves.
Our favorite bracelet was also the easiest to make--a
delightfully fuzzy purple caterpillar with googly eyes you
can wear on your wrist! You can buy ready-made Slappies too,
but making them is way more fun! [Buy Super Slappies : Make Your Own Animal...
at Amazon.com for
approximately $13-18 US]
|
| Sure-to-Please
Software
Games |
| Top Pick
The
latest title in the Incredible Machine series may be
the best one yet. Incredible Machine Even
More Contraptions features 250 new puzzles, taking the
form of mind-bending contraption challenges. It is an
addictive game of trial-and-error as players work through
zany puzzles that become progressively more involving as
levels advance. With pleasing graphics, and the option to
play head-to-head, this title is a must-buy for puzzle
lovers ages 9 through adult. It makes an extra
special gift for all those kids (and adults) who love to
tinker. [Buy The Incredible Machine: Even More...
Amazon.com for
approximately $30 US]
Hoyle Kids Games is
a set of well-designed and fun games, mostly of the
tried-and-true variety. We've seen games like Hangman,
Checkers, and Snakes & Ladders time and time again, but
never quite this way. Kids and parents alike will love this
collection of time-tested games, gussied up for today’s
technologically demanding kids. Play checkers on lily pads
in a pond – and with an alien, no less. It's good
old-fashioned fun with a 21st century twist. A sure bet. [Buy Hoyle Kids Games 2002
Amazon.com for
approximately $30 US]
 Top Pick
The
highly anticipated sequel to the ground-breaking classic Logical
Journey of the Zoombinis is here. Zoombinis Mountain Rescue
contains all-new logic puzzles and fun 3D graphics. Some
activities resemble ones found in the original title, and
others challenge the brain in new and exciting ways. Focus
is on mathematical thinking for the Information Age. This
one is harder than the original, but besides its challenge,
it is sure to please kids with an interest in computer
programming and others who simply enjoy logic puzzles. [See
our review. Buy
Zoombinis
Mountain Rescue Amazon.com for
approximately $25 US]
Top Pick
In Nancy Drew Treasure in
the Royal Tower, children ages 12 and up get the opportunity
to step into teen sleuth Nancy Drew's shoes as she explores
an old castle, interviews mysterious characters, and solves logic puzzles. It's exciting,
challenging, and involving. Kids will love the chance to
play detective. [See our review.
Buy Nancy
Drew Treasure In The Royal Tower Amazon.com for
approximately $20 US]
|
| Video
Games |
|
 Tired
of Pokemon, but itching for similar game-play? Dragon
Warrior Monsters II may be just the answer. This game
for the GameBoy Color and Advance units allows kids to
collect and breed monsters, and trade them with their
friends. Two versions are available, though there is very
little difference between the two--Tara's Adventures and
Cobi's Journey. This is a noticeably improved version
of the original, and kids will love it. [See what
11-year-old kid-tester Justin has to say about it on Justin's
Page. Buy Dragon
Warrior Monsters 2: Cobi's Journey and Dragon
Warrior Monsters 2: Tara's... at Amazon.com for the
GameBoy platform]
|
| A Starter
Digital Camera for Kids |
|
 An ideal starter camera for
children is the Jam Cam 3.0. This durable
entry-level digital camera allows kids to snap photos, load
them on their computer, edit them, and then store or publish
them. Its durability means you can feel confident placing it
in the hands of your child, which in turn helps build
confidence and pride. Note, though, that the results are far from
perfect--young kids won't mind, but older ones may balk at
the quality. [See
our review. Buy KB
Gear JamCam 3.0 Digital Camera (Blue) at
Amazon.com]
|
| Electronic
Learning Toy |
|  Top Pick
LeapFrog's
Explorer II Globe is a fantastic learning globe with
a touch-sensitive pen. Kids (and adults) use the pen to
explore the globe, picking up geography facts as they do.
Kids can listen to musical samples, learn facts about
population, discover the time in different parts of the
world, and more. Fun games allow kids to test their
knowledge--in fact, the games reinforce geography in a
powerful manner. This is a fantastic tool for learning--it's
responsive and fun for kids, and sophisticated enough to
impress adults as well. [Buy Explorer Globe II
Amazon.com for
approximately $99 US]
|
| Audio &
Video |
|
 For Shrek fans, the Shrek
Soundtrack makes a nice gift. Kids will love the
get-up-and-go song All Star (by Smash Mouth), the
cute Like Wow sung by Aaron Carter, and the two
good-mood renditions of I'm a Believer from Smash
Mouth and the movie's donkey (Eddie Murphy). [Buy Shrek
(Soundtrack) at Amazon.com; buy the video Shrek
Amazon.com for
approximately $16 US]
Treat your kids to A
Classical Kids Christmas--a beautiful combination of
Christmas story-telling, carols, classical music, and
poetry. Kids are reminded of the true meaning of Christmas
in this magical recording. [Buy A Classical Kids Christmas
Amazon.com]
|
| Board Games |
|
Cranium is a "whole-brain" game designed for kids
older than 12 and adults. Its variety of activities and
questions is its most impressive feature. Players form teams
and compete to get to the purple brain at the center of the
board called Cranium Central. They might have to answer
multiple-choice questions, act out  something
for others to guess, or sculpt a mystery object from clay.
It's a fun and engaging game. [Buy Cranium
Amazon.com for
approximately $35 US]
Cranium's Cadoo is the
kiddie version of the game. Questions and activities are kid-friendly, as the game is designed for kids ages 8
and up. Cadoo's variety of activities will appeal to
young children. It's perfect for times when you want the
kids to have fun away from their computer and video
games--and the game is a giggling-good time. [Buy Cranium Cadoo for Kids
at
Amazon.com for approximately $20 US]
|
|
More Gift Ideas:
|
|
Kid Testers' Pages:
| Our
Departments |
| Guides By
Age Group:
Guides By Product:
|
|
