Best School Age Toy Gifts for the Holidays

By Kourtney Eidam and Karen Snyder Duke
Bryan McCay
Still don't know what to buy your school-age kid for the holidays? Check out these fun, affordable toys.
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Model Magic Presto Dots

Peter Ardito

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

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Perplexus

Peter Ardito

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 of 16

3-D Flash Art

Peter Ardito

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

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4 of 16

See Spot Spell

Peter Ardito

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

5 of 16

City Fire Boat

Peter Ardito

Finally set sail in your bathtub with this floatable rescue ship that's perfect for first-time Lego builders. 5 years+; $50; lego.com

6 of 16

Squap

Peter Ardito

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

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7 of 16

Foos Ball

Peter Ardito

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

8 of 16

Jungle Jive

Peter Ardito

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

9 of 16

Glam Her!

Peter Ardito

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

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10 of 16

Color Code

Peter Ardito

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

11 of 16

Peace Dachshund Sillo

Peter Ardito

This trendy "doggy bag" will be a girl's best friend. 5 years+; $21; douglascuddletoy.com

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Order's Up!

Peter Ardito

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

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13 of 16

Barbie Video Girl

Courtesy of Mattel

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

14 of 16

Crayola Chalk Maker

Bryan McCay

Pour the special paste into the plastic molds to create your own chalk for sidewalk doodling. 6 years+; $13; crayolastore.com

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Star Wars Science: Clone Trooper Recon Kit

Bryan McCay

Get an up-close look at insects with this all-in-one flashlight, soil sifter, and bug viewer.

5 years+, $13; unclemilton.com

Copyright &copy 2010 Meredith Corporation.

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