Best School Age Toy Gifts for the Holidays
Model Magic Presto Dots
Keep your kids amused for hours with this artsy kit. Using the simple tools, they can sculpt whatever wacky creatures they can think up out of its special dough. 5 years+; $12; crayolastore.com
Perplexus
Boost your child's concentration and coordination with this 3-D puzzle that requires her to move a mini ball through different maze levels within the sphere. 5 years+; $24; fatbraintoys.com
3-D Flash Art
Displaying your kid's artwork just got trippy. After he splashes paint onto the spinner and adds Play-Doh to the attachable mold, press the button for a neat-o light show. 5 years+; $20; playdoh.com
See Spot Spell
Memory meets early reading in this board game quickie. Kids turn over two different color chips, and if it makes a word, they get to add it to their doggy dish. 5 years+; $17; learningresources.com
City Fire Boat
Finally set sail in your bathtub with this floatable rescue ship that's perfect for first-time Lego builders. 5 years+; $50; lego.com
Squap
In this unusual catch game, players have to toss a ball back in forth by snapping their paddles shut to capture the ball and popping them open quickly to throw it. 6 years+; $25; digginactive.com
Foos Ball
Smaller and sturdier than most, this wooden table-top game can be stashed away until your kids are ready to try their hands at a little friendly competition. 5 years+; $70; plantoys.com
Jungle Jive
Kids will go wild for this funky balance game. Imitate the exercises on the monkey cards while holding the egg steady. If you wake the bird inside, it's the next player's turn. 6 years+; $30; ravensburger.com
Glam Her!
Your stylish kid can customize her own doll with this nifty kit. It includes eight outfits to decorate with beads, ribbons, and other accessories. 6 years+; $27; alextoys.com
Color Code
Place the tiles in the right order to complete the design in the booklet. Caution: This puzzler is trickier (and more fun) than you might expect. 5 years+; $20; amazon.com
Peace Dachshund Sillo
This trendy "doggy bag" will be a girl's best friend. 5 years+; $21; douglascuddletoy.com
Order's Up!
For this fast-paced game, players have to match all the food on their menus -- and be the first to ding the bell. 6 years+; $16; gamewright.com
Barbie Video Girl
Barbie may be over 50, but she can still be cutting-edge. The doll is a real camcorder, with a screen on her back and a hidden lens in her necklace, for some fun moviemaking. 6 years+; $50; mattel.com
Crayola Chalk Maker
Pour the special paste into the plastic molds to create your own chalk for sidewalk doodling. 6 years+; $13; crayolastore.com
Star Wars Science: Clone Trooper Recon Kit
Get an up-close look at insects with this all-in-one flashlight, soil sifter, and bug viewer.
5 years+, $13; unclemilton.com
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