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Monday, Dec 21, 2009
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Sparks of inspiration for the kid who has toys to burn (and just might!).
By Amy Reiter
They've got 67 Polly Pockets, 102 Matchbox cars, countless PlayStation games and every flashing, nattering plastic doodad ever churned out in China. Meanwhile, all the tasteful hand-hewn wooden playthings you've bought them over the years lie forgotten and unloved at the bottom of their toy boxes. It's enough to drive even the most loving aunt or uncle to desperate measures. (We confess, we once registered our gifting displeasure by purchasing each of our nieces a McDonald's Barbie -- at least she works for a living -- but, alas, that didn't go over too well with the parents.) Aren't there kiddie gifts that will not leave you feeling as if your soul had turned to brightly colored plastic? Yes, Virginia. There are.
Illustrations by Ryan Germick
A night of baby sitting that includes an activity of their choice (a DVD and popcorn? a glittery art project? an outing to the local ice cream shoppe?). It'll be good bonding time, you'll earn major points with the parents, and, hey, it's only one night.
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You might think that pretty much anything sold under the auspices of the Museum of Modern Art would cost a bundle -- after all, entrance to the museum itself will run you a steep $20. But you'd be wrong. The MoMA store, in fact, has a plethora of high-impact, designeriffic gifts for $20 or less. We like this Chair Game ($20), in which players try to balance and stack miniature chairs of various styles and colors without toppling the pile (it comes in a collectible tin). Or perhaps you'd prefer New York City in a Bag ($14), which includes wood block replicas of the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty and the Guggenheim, as well as six wooden cars that in our imaginary world are taxis that are never off-duty. You can browse other stylish options here -- and perfect the modern art of the bargain.
He's got the drum. She's got the guitar. And what self-respecting kid doesn't have a closet full of glockenspiels? Complete the band with this 18-tone accordion ($29.99) -- perfect for beginners. Roll out the barrel and let the polka fun begin!
Gone are the quaint days of tying string to tin cans. Here are the days of walkie-talkie wristwatches. These low-profile spy accessories look like standard-issue digital watches -- displaying the time and date -- but are also equipped with built-in mics and earpieces. They have a range of up to 400 feet -- and make a big, fun impact for a mere $30.
Kids, like grown-ups, enjoy getting dirty sometimes -- but not that dirty. That's where these cool oilcloth art smocks come in. (We're suckers for Mexican oilcloth -- the bright colors; the retro designs; the resistance to water, fading and stains.) Perfect for finger painting or cooking, these nifty aprons are one size fits all and good for girls or boys. (Scroll down to choose fun, floral patterns.) Plus, they're only $19. We're handing 'em out like candy canes to all the small people on our list this year.
OK, we admit, these are a little like the aforementioned McDonald's Barbie in that their appeal might be lost on the recipient's parents. But what kid wouldn't want this cool set of Remote-controlled Tarantulas ($48)? These colorful, lifelike spiders can creep or scurry (each of their eight legs moves separately) -- and are sure to freak out unsuspecting visitors. And they come with a fact sheet, so they're, um, educational. Yeah, that's it.
For the child who has everything, how about some monogrammed pajamas? Seriously, we'd wear these stylish 100 percent cotton numbers ourselves. Choose from blue pima, pink flannel or holiday-friendly red flannel ($45). You have your choice of three different monogram fonts, as well. Hugh Hefner never had it so good.
Traditional dollhouses? So fussy. So cluttered. So bourgeois. Hardly the modern child's dream house. But the Villa Sibi dollhouse, made by the German company Sirch, is a minimalist fantasy -- all clean lines, light wood and glass. There's nary a chintz curtain or a fleck of flocked wallpaper in sight -- but there is a deck, a pool and pool house, and fixtures unlike any you've seen outside of Metropolitan Home. All this simplicity and tastefulness doesn't come cheap, though: The Villa Sibi will set you back $690.
Spur their creativity, enhance their aesthetic and help them develop a sense of impermanence with a table that doubles as a chalkboard -- and looks a little like modern sculpture. Kids can color right on the three faces of the Chalker Table ($125). But if they want to sit in style while doing it, it'll cost you an extra $140 for a set of two Eames-evocative companion chairs. Pricey, but visually pleasing.
