You may have heard that boys’ interests include slugs, snails and puppy dog tails, but those can’t exactly be gifted. We asked our friends at The Woods, Creative Kidstuff and The Studio at Rush Creek to help choose gifts to satisfy the well-rounded modern boy. We found great gift ideas for every little fellow, including the explorer, the gamer, the chef, the zoologist and the artist.
The Explorer
The mysteries of the universe are revealed under a night sky. Here are gifts for the young astronomer.
Tour the Stars This guide book takes you on a tour of the stars from your own backyard. Stars: A Month by Month Tour of the Constellations tells you where to look and when. Additionally, author Mike Lynch's audio commentary is available for download at Adventure Publications' website, adventurepublications.net. Ages 7+, $12.95, The Woods
Starry Night Nancy B’s Science Club MoonScope brings outer space up close, thanks to magnification that lets kids see the mountains on the moon and Saturn’s rings. Two all-glass eyepieces, a tripod with built-in LED light, and a special moon filter are included. The accompanying Star Gazer's Activity kit features facts, star gazing activities and a place to record notes and observations. Ages 8+, $49.99, Creative Kidstuff
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Glow-in-the-Dark Constellation Creations let your child put the whole galaxy on their ceiling, then watch it glow after lights-out. Kit includes ten constellation templates and astronomy facts. Ages 5+, $6.99, Creative Kidstuff
Space Out Your little astronomer can get up close and personal with the planets as he assembles this giant 48-piece Solar System Floor Puzzle. The completed puzzle measures 2 by 3 feet. Ultra-thick cardboard pieces are durable and easy-to-clean. Ages 3+, $15, The Woods
The Gamer
Games don’t always run on an outlet or battery pack; these gifts use brain power instead! Here are four picks sure to challenge your youngster and maybe you, too.
Roll Play The Tenzi Dice Game doesn’t use a game board or a stack of cards. It comes with four sets of ten colored dice, so you can get rolling right away. The first player to get all of their ten dice on the same number wins. Since everyone has the same chance of winning, it’s a fun game for little kids to play with older kids. Ages 3+, $14.99, Creative Kidstuff
In Living Color Color-coded Sudoku makes ColorKu accessible for kids. The challenge is to get one of each color in every row, every column, and every three by three box. Simple in theory, tough in practice. Each puzzle has only one correct solution, so it offers your child a chance to experiment and get creative. Ages 8+ , $34.99, Creative Kidstuff
Canoe Play with Me? Cribbage is a great game for kids eight and older and one the whole family can play together. This canoe-shaped cribbage board gets extra points for Minnesota charm. Each board is hand-painted and comes with six pegs stowed in a hidden storage compartment your kids will love. Ages 8+, $29.95, The Woods
Crazy Mates Crazy eights and pirates pair up in this classic matching game. Crazy Nate, Scurvy Sam, Cap'n Frizz and First Mate Matilda will quickly become your kid’s favorite characters. Each box comes with 48 laminated cards and instructions for two ways to play. Ages 5+, $6.99, Creative Kidstuff
The Chef
Roll up your sleeves, strap on your apron and start your ovens! Here are gifts to delight the aspiring culinary artist.
Build Your Own Pizza From pepperoni to peppers, favorite pizza toppings are a matter of personal taste. Let your little chef do it his way with 50 different ingredients. This wooden play set includes six sliceable crust pieces, a colorful tray, pizza cutter and spatula. The wooden box keeps everything neat and tidy when he’s done baking. Ages 3+, $22, The Woods
Cooking with Chemistry This Edible Chemistry Kit highlights the chemical reactions that happen every day in the kitchen. From the fizz in soda pop to the polymer in pudding, this kit turns your kitchen into a laboratory and shows science in action. Ages 9+ with adult supervision required, $16, Creative Kidstuff
Kiddo Kitchen-aid Give your little sous-chef all the fun of imaginary food preparation with the Super Chef Kitchen. Complete with a miniature oven, tiny microwave and itty bitty sink, it’s good for hours of make believe. The sturdy wood construction, retro styling and cheery red and white gingham backsplash makes your play room prettier, too. Ages 3+, Creative Kidstuff
The Zoologist
Every kid we know is fascinated with animals. Here are gift ideas for the animal lover in your menagerie.
Jungle Love Jellycat’s Sebastian Snake, Maximilian Monkey and Lonely Lion are sure to become longtime childhood companions. Rendered in soft, squeezable plush fabrics, they can snuggle as they move from the crib to the big boy bed. Ages 0+, $20 each, Creative Kidstuff
Take a Hike Give your budding zoologist a field guide to the animals of Minnesota with the Critters of Minnesota Pocket Guide. This book includes full-color photos of each animal and details on their habitat, range, favorite foods and predators to look out for. Track diagrams mean kids can learn to identify creatures from the trails they’ve left behind. Ages 7+, $5.95, The Woods
Connect the Spots These are not your ordinary dot puzzles. Each giant image has over 3,000 dots so you can’t visualize the image at first glance. The set includes five large posters, printed on thick paper and neatly stored in the sturdy portfolio. Of course, once these masterpieces are complete, the posters can grace bedroom walls instead. Ages 8+, $19.99 Creative Kidstuff
The Artist
From finger paints to origami, kids love to get creative. Here are gifts for those Picassos-in-training.
Put Your Stamp on It Let your little one let out a mighty roar with the Dinosaur Stamp Set. Stamps feature all their prehistoric favorites like T-Rex, the mighty stegosaurus and the long-necked sauropoda. Eight stamps, stamp pad with washable ink and five colored pencils all included. Ages 4+, $12, The Woods
You Can’t Rush Art The Studio at Rush Creek hosts art classes for young artists all year long. Whether your child learns to make a clay animal whistle, decorates a gourd or paints a holiday ornament, he’ll definitely be working on creativity. Ages 4+, Gift cards available in multiple denominations, The Studio at Rush Creek
Dragon Tales The Gild the Dragons Foil Art Kit comes with instructions, tools and supplies to create four dragon images with shimmering foil scales. Sticky boards with peel-away coverings make it easy to peel and press each section, paint by numbers style. Ages 6+, $17.99, Creative Kidstuff
Frame It Showcase that beautiful artwork in a homemade frame. This Mosaic Frame Kit includes a frame, grout, a foam brush, stained glass and a three page photo instruction booklet. Ages 8+, $15, The Studio at Rush Creek
Where to find it:
The Woods
15825 95th Ave N
Maple Grove, MN 55369
763.416. 9663
Creative Kidstuff
11647 Fountains Drive
Maple Grove, MN 55369
763.424.2576
The Studio at Rush Creek
9481 Garland Lane North
Maple Grove, MN 55311
763.315.3001
