Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Santa’s Helper: A gift guide for kids
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Disparate reactions to recalls of toys made in China aside, I imagine we’d all choose to avoid Toys R Us this season if possible. My Misstropolis shopping guides are all about finding the gift that no one else has, and the options for kids are amazing. Here are my favorite gift ideas for the little people in your life. (Remember, make a careful list and stick to it. This will help you avoid impulse buys and save for a new New Years outfit. And for God’s sake if you are going out to shop, make sure you go during off hours and pick somewhere close to a spot that makes good martinis.)
Budding photographer in the family? Lomography cameras will rock their world and break the lock on any pent up creativity.
The Colorsplash 35mm version has different colored lenses and a long exposure capability for trippy takes on reality.
Lomolitos disposable version makes a great stocking stuffer. At $14, it’s not as scary a purchase for a young (or forgetful) budding photographer. At Booksmith stores, or online at Yoyashop." title="Yoyashop">Yoyashop.
If the High School Musical fever is still raging in your hacienda as it is in mine, consider the High School Musical digital camera from Disney. Available at Walmart in stores and online.
What could be better for doodlers than doodling in 3D? Let them hang their photographic masterpiece or 3D doodles anywhere by making the walls magnetic with magnetic paint at Babels in Needham.
Get some Magnetic Poetry at New England Mobile Bookfair and watch their imaginations go to work.
If magnetic paint is not your thing, consider a little wall candy. Wallcandyarts has everything from rad racers (racecars) to Sophisti-kit (fashionista illustrations) to stripes, dots and flowers for your boring old walls. Stick them on and lift them off, no scraping, peeling or commitment anxiety. Visit their way cool website or find them at Lively Kids in Newburyport, MA.
I can’t wait to give my girls the Lightcast, and watch them get their groove on. When they get tuckered out they can crash on their new fatboy loungers from Modern Seed and read some of their favorite books.
If you are really a cool mom, dad, auntie or Godmom, encourage them to zip around the house on an indoor skateboard. Just don’t call me when Great Grandma’s vase gets broken.
Since we all could use a little zen into our holidays, check out the Buddha Board. Even the website is relaxing and addictive.
Soccer nuts and urban hipsters alike will appreciate this limited edition soccer balldesigned by graffiti artist Sam Flores. Created for insider only store Upper Playground in San Francisco, it’s also available at designpublic.com.
Not many kids want to tear open that big exciting box only to find clothes inside, but if yours is made that way,
Modernseed, and Design Public are good for the littles. I love the Salvor Flauna tees on Design Public.
And with Jasmine Sola falling to pieces, Stil is a good local call for teens (especially now with three locations: Boston, Chesnut Hill and Natick). The teen boys in your life will think you are the absolute bomb if you show up with a Rogues Gallery original tshirt. A favorite of Hollywood hotties, the designs and colors are modern with a New England edge. (The company’s in Portland Maine.)
There’s nothing nicer than the gift of time, except maybe the gift of expanding the mind. Give a little of both with a membership to a local museum.
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA.
Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA.
And finally for the kid who has it all….
The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell. Mooch the cat desperately wants to find a gift for his friend Earl the dog, but Earl already has everything. “What do you give a guy who has everything?” Mooch wonders. The answer, of course, is nothing!
Because just because we can give them all of it, doesn’t mean we should.
Happy shopping!
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