Best School Age Toy Gifts for the Holidays

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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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