While many of our favorite LA museums have been closed since March, they’ve ramped up their online programming for kids, with regular live readings, art projects and science experiments. Now there’s a way to say thank you and help support these museums in turn—plus take care of some holiday shopping. Newly launched online gift shops from Kidspace, Cayton Children’s Museum, LACMA and more are stocked with creative, unique toy kids will love. Read on for our top picks, then visit the online shops to discover even more fun finds.
Kidspace Children's Museum
Find books, games, puzzles, arts and crafts and more in the online gift shop from Kidspace Children's Museum. (Added bonus: Kidspace is offering free shipping until Dec. 31!)
Our pick: Fat Brain Toys Hey Clay, $16.95
Why we love it: Available in four set (dinos, bugs, animals, and monsters), ,the lightweight, non-sticky and nontoxic clay.also comes with a free downloadable app and step-by-step instructions for kids.
Discover even more: store.kidspacemuseum.org
Hammer Museum
Both parents and kids will love the unique toys from Hammer Museum, including cool blocks, fun puzzles and display-worthy matryoshka sets.
Our pick: Blockitecture Garden City, $30
Why we love it: No batteries needed to entertain kids, who will be challenged to find ways to balance and build their own cityscapes with these architectural building blocks.
Discover even more: store.hammer.ucla.edu
LACMA
From an Andy Warhol LEGO kit to Keith Haring wooden blocks, the art-inspired kids toys in LACMA's store are sure to inspire.
Our pick: Ready, Set, Draw! A Game of Creativity and Imagination by Hervé Tullet, $14.99
Why we love it: Kids as young as 3 can play this drawing game of chance. Select what to draw from one deck and how to draw it from the other. From "draw a tree . . . with your eyes closed" to "draw flowers . . . upside down!," the combinations will keep kids engaged and get those creative juices flowing.
Discover even more: thelacmastore.org/collections/kids
Cayton Children's Museum
Cayton's recently launched online shop is stocked with eco-friendly art supplies, learning games, colorful puzzles and more. And discount alert! Use the code LAUNCH10 for 10 percent off your first purchase.
Our pick: Block & Chalk Set, $24
Why we love it: Kids can find endless ways to decorate their blocks as they create buildings, homes and whole towns. And the set comes with chalk sharpener that's pretty genius.
Discover even more: museumstore.caytonmuseum.org
The Broad
Our pick: Yayoi Kusama Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn't Sorry, $17.95
Why we love it: This title alone makes us smile. Inside is a clever, quirky book that introduces kids to contemporary artists Yayoi Kusama and her whimsical, inspiring world.
Discover even more: shop.thebroad.org
The Huntington
Our pick: Small Peacock Hand Puppet, $30
Why we love it: Made by master puppet brand Folkmanis, this pretty peacock is well-made and easy for kids to manipulate.
Discover even more: thehuntingtonstore.org
The Getty
Our pick: Gustav Klimt coloring book, $8.95
Why we love it: Klimt's intricate and dazzling masterpieces have been converted into line drawings for kids to color and expand their ideas of art and expression.
Discover even more: shop.getty.edu
California Science Center
Find out-of-this-world gifts from The California Science Center, home to the space shuttle Endeavor. All proceeds from this Store go to support the California Science Center Foundation a Non-Profit California Corporation.
Our pick: Kids Flight Suit, $69.99
Why we love it: Littles ones will love playing astronaut in this authentic looking suit, which also comes with a free NASA hat. Throw in freeze-dried space ice cream for a little something extra.
Discover even more: store.californiasciencecenter.org
–Shannan Rouss
MORE RED TRI GIFT GUIDES:
Our 33 Favorite Gifts for Kids Ages 6-9
The 29 Coolest Gifts for Tweens This Year
The Top Holiday Gifts of 2020 for Every Age & Stage
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