Tired of purchasing gifts that end up never being played with? These Bay Area gift experiences offer family-filled fun, and sometimes, a little learning on the side
There is no doubt that your kid’s holiday lists are a long list of toys, games, and just more stuff to add to their collection because let’s face it, material gifts are super fun to unwrap. That being said, we all know that kids remember experiences for far longer than a toy, and can even become a core-memory maker. Experience gifts also have the ability to foster new skills, help with decluttering, and create connections within a family. A LEGO set is fun to put together, but giving an experience gift is also a great way to enhance your child’s interests and foster a love of learning. If your little one is all about animal encounters, the chance to spend a day on the farm where they can feed the chickens and pet the goats may be the best day ever. The options are really endless.
In the Bay Area, there is no shortage of opportunities for experiences that make wonderful gifts—how lucky for us! From cooking sessions to fostering a love of animals, we’ve rounded up our favorite experiences that isn’t just another toy for the playroom.
Animal Rescuers will Love the Adopt-a-Seal at the Marine Mammal Center: For marine-minded kids who love fostering and caring for animals, their Adopt-a-Seal program is a surefire gift that gives back. Choose the pup you'd like to help and you'll receive an adoption package that includes adoption certificate, your seal's photo and history, and all the ways your gift will help ensure the pup's rehabilitation and safe return to the wild. Optional upgrade will deliver a plush harbor-seal for that extra "aw" factor.
For Kids Who Love Steam Trains: Train tickets, tucked under the tree or the menorah, to ride the rails? Yes, please! This gift experience will have you headed south to board the trains at Roaring Camp. In addition to their popular holiday trains, you can buy annual passes that offer unlimited Redwood Forest Steam and Santa Cruz Beach trains for one full year.
Good to Know: There are often other activities happening at the camp like gold panning and scavenger hunts that are great for families and kids of all ages.
For Kids Who Want to Sleep in a Train Car: For the ultimate train lover's destination, book at night at Railroad Park Resort where you can spend the night in a vintage caboose and your little engineer can dream about riding the rails all night long.
Good to Know:Siskiyou County is full of train history and outdoor experiences (picture waterfalls, fishing, and spelunking to name a few) that everyone in the family will enjoy.
For Kids Who Love Swinging and Climbing: Got a kid who loves an adrenaline rush and climbing great heights? Head to Rocklin and spend the day at Quarry Park Adventures. There, they can soar across the ravine on the zipline, balance on the ropes course, and test their strength on the rock wall.
For Kids Who Want to Go Skydiving (without the Plane): Does your kid love jumping off the tops of playground structures and won't stop talking about skydiving one day? Gift them the next best thing with time at iFLY Indoor Skydiving where kids ages three and up can experience the feeling of skydiving.
For Your Mini Martha Stewart or Gordon Ramsey:Cucina Bambini is a great way to get your budding chef to sharpen their kitchen skills. Classes like the macaron workshop or gingerbread house decorating class are not only fun (and festive) but parents will hopefully get to taste some of the sweet treats that come home.
A Holiday-Themed Trip to San Francisco: Always a fun gift, and a great way for the family to spend quality time together, whether you're coming in from out of town or making it a staycation. Our recommend? Book a holiday tea and stay in the Santa Suite at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.
An African Safari without Leaving SFO: Safari West is just a short drive away and an experience that the whole family is sure to love. Here you'll see giraffes, zebras, and rhinos that roam freely on the property. Want to continue the fun? Spend the night in a luxury tent.
We adore gifts that everyone can share. These are the best gifts for the whole family!
It’s not always necessary to buy for each member of the family—yours or those you love. There are so many goodies out there that everybody will appreciate, as long as you know where to look. Actually, you can just look here! We’ve put together a guide to the best gifts for the whole family. These are the goodies that the crew can share, play, with, learn, and enjoy together. Plus, as a bonus, it makes your holiday shopping so much easier.
Not only will every member of the crew appreciate them, but many of these bring everyone together. From classes to games to art and more, encouraging family time is the ultimate goal of all of our picks. These gifts for the whole family will definitely remind us all what’s really important this season, and are sure to be enjoyed beyond just the holidays. That’s at least two gifts in one, right? What a win for the most wonderful time of the year!
Family Cooking Class
Sur La Table has always been great for gift-giving, and this year we're also loving their offering of cooking classes! This Pizza & Calzone class is designed for the whole family with kiddos 7+.
The entire family will love—and get to be included in!— a professionally painted portrait from Paint Your Life! Select the painting technique you'd like used (oil, charcoal, watercolor, and more!), choose an artist from Paint Your Life's team of talent, and upload the photo you’d like used. You can even upload multiple photos to be combined into one portrait!
We're just swooning over these placemats from Letterfolk! Personalize them with the included tiles, and even add more tile sets for additional color options for extra customization options. Tinybeans Exclusive: Take 15% off sitewide with code TINY15! Valid through 12/31.
Babies and kiddos require a lot of stuff. Like, a lot. So when holiday traveling comes along, all of that gear has to come along, too. Unless they use BabyQuip! BabyQuip is the baby gear rental service that delivers everything from strollers to cribs to car seats and toys right to your destination (including hotels, Airbnb, private residences, and more!), sets them up for you, then picks it all up when you're done. You'll be giving them the gift of ease for the entire family, no matter where they are!
Where has this been all our lives? This stroller wagon accommodates 1 or 2 kiddos up to 5 years old and transforms from a stroller to a wagon with the flip of the handle! Parents can choose to push or pull the Pivot Xplore and can even add a toddler seat or car seat adaptors (sold separately) for the ultimate in versatility for everybody in the family!
You don't have to camp out to eat like you are! This electric s'mores maker turns your house into a campsite (safely!). Gather the whole family and dig in.
Start Family Night off on the right foot with a choose-your-own-adventure tile from this family night jar, complete with personalized lid from LGWdesign!
The family that sings together...okay, so we can't find the perfect rhyme, but what brings the group together faster than karaoke? Works with your favorite karaoke app or YouTube videos!
Turn any space into a movie theater! Project movies, video games, and photos up to 150" with 2 HDMI connections and Bluetooth capabilities. Family movie night has never been so fun.
There's more than just bragging rights at stake; each team must pick a wager before the game can begin. What are you willing to do if you lose? Wash the dishes? Treat the other side to movie night? Pick your bet and then take turns answering trivia questions correctly (kid-friendly!) and see who gets crowned the winner.
Quotebooks were born from a husband and wife team who liked to write down funny things they said to each other, and as their family grew, they added their kids' words, too! Create your own keepsake book, authored by your family.
Re-create the iconic Brady Bunch opening credits with your own bunch! Lots of options available for customizing from BestiesHouseOfGifts, as well as three blanket sizes.
The perfect seasonal gift, you can personalize the color and text on this snowball bucket! Although the pictured snowballs aren't included, you can either fill them with actual snowballs, or with these fluffy plush snowballs.
Mixbook lets you select, format, design, and customize your own photo book using their easy editing tool! Create a personalized photo gift that tells the family story, explores lineage, celebrates a new member, captures an event, and so much more. If photo books aren't for you, Mixbook offers a ton of different photo gifts. You'll want to make them for everyone!
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International Artist’s Day is the perfect reason to get your creative juices flowing with these art sets
If you haven’t heart of International Artist’s Day, here’s a little background: beginning in 2004, IAD was created to celebrate the contributions made to society by artists around the world. It also just so happens to be the birthday of Pablo Picasso, who was born October 25, 1881.
We can’t think of a better day to really lean into your artistic side. These art sets are perfect for really flexing those creative muscles. Whether you’re a painter, sculptor, or a scientist (you read that right!), these art sets will get everyone in the family inspired!
Folk Art Watercolor Paint Kit
Create dreamy watercolor art with this paint kit designed for beginner artists! Starting with the four pre-stenciled art images, use the included paints and instructions to branch out with your own unique designs.
Who says art is limited to paper? This kit features natural dyes to turn the homemade pasta you've created with the included 00 flour (the finest ground) into works of art. Makes 8-10 servings.
With this kit, your kiddos are given the opportunity to write and illustrate their own hardcover book! Using the guide, little ones craft an entire book, complete with illustrations, then use the prepaid envelope and order form to send their creation off to be professionally printed!
Kids get to explore color in a whole new way with this kit! It includes 43 pieces and 16 experiments (plus the supplies to do them!). Great for getting your little scientists tapping into their artistic side.
Including enough supplies to create 4 sand art displays, this kit is also a great option for allowing kids to make their own holiday gifts for parents, teachers, friends, and more.
It's tough to create art without the proper supplies, and this child-size wooden art easel has it all: dry-erase board, chalkboard, child-safe paper cutter, locking paper roll holder, and more!
Not your typical mosaic kit! This set includes real natural stones that have been cut by mosaic artists in Tunisia. Follow the template to create a gorgeous unicorn mosaic they'll love to display!
Your kids will bee thrilled with this candle-making activity kit! Starting with a story about Bethany Bee that helps little ones learn just how important bees are, they then have all they need to create their own real beeswax candles (4-8 candles depending on size)!
Through this adorable book about shy Sylvette and her neighbor, Pablo Picasso, kids are introduced to this esteemed artist and his work, along with a great story and lesson!
Make their Osmo an artist's dream with this bundle! Kids ages 4-10 will learn how to bring beloved characters to life through digital sketches. (Get your Osmo Base for iPad here, or for Fire Tablets here.)
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October is here, and we’re officially in the spooky spirit! That means there’s no better time to round up the gang, hit Play on your favorite Halloween movie, and create one (or all!) of these kid-friendly DIY Halloween decorations! These start-from-almost-scratch projects are excellent for getting their creative juices flowing, and DIY Halloween decorations give your little ones a chance to feel included in some not-too-scary activities! You can even let them rock their Halloween costumes while they’re crafting for a little pre-trick-or-treating practice. (We think combining some ready-made decor with DIY Halloween decorations is going to make your house frighteningly festive!)
Even if they're a bit too young for pumpkin carving, this pumpkin lantern kit gives them the same jack-o-lantern joy! Decorate this darling lantern with pre-traced scratch art, and add the flameless LED candle on the inside to finish your glowing creation!
Everything you need to create these Halloween luminaries is included in this kit! Use tissue paper in Halloween colors, glitter glue, stickers, and more to craft little jar luminaries that come to life with flameless LED candles! You'll want to display these this year and beyond.
Your mini monsters will be enthralled with this haunted house kit! It uses primarily soft materials like foam and pom-poms, and the shapes and stickers allow them to customize their creepy casa just the way they want. When it's lights out, it lights up with glow-in-the-dark accents!
We love letting our bigger kids take charge of their own fun, and this book of DIY Halloween projects is designed to let them do just that! Clearly-written and including materials lists and safety tips, this book will quickly become a holiday go-to every Halloween season!
We couldn’t pick just one! This set of 3 STEM Halloween projects allows your young scientists to build and decorate a bubbling cauldron, make their jack-o-lantern spill over with a combination of citric acid and baking soda, then get handy and conduct eerie experiments with static electricity!
Smiley instead of scary, this cheerful pumpkin and his candy corn friend are ready for little ones to add their own touch with included paints! Once it's dry, fill it with their favorite wrapped candy and let them show it off.
This jazzed-up jack-o-lantern uses the idea of paint-by-numbers to guide young artists as they add individual "diamonds" to this fully functional lamp. The lamp holds the corresponding number or symbol for each diamond color included, so they'll know exactly what to do next. A placement pen and tweezers allow for smooth application and they'll never know they're honing their fine motor skills!
The days may be getting shorter, but there's still sun to catch! Shed some light on your Halloween celebrations with this kit that includes everything pint-sized Picassos need to create a masterpiece!
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Sculpture gardens are a perfect way to introduce kids to fine art without worrying about whether their art gallery manners (whisper voices, hands to themselves) are ready for prime time. Kids will love spending time wandering outside at these enchanting spots all over the DMV. Plan to bring a picnic or, if your littles are budding artists, pack a small sketch pad and pencils so they can draw what they see. Check out these must-visit places with your little sculptors and enjoy outdoor art with the whole family.
The REACH at the Kennedy Center If you're looking for a great pre- or post-concert art injection, or just a gorgeous place to spend an afternoon outside, visit The REACH at the Kennedy Center. The kids will love Joel Shapiro’s Blue: poised in mid-kick, turning the surrounding landscape into a giant stage as it prepares to pirouette across the grass, Blue is a great introduction to the immense artistic possibility of an outdoor sculpture.
Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden You won't want to miss the immersive Infinity Mirror Rooms at the Hirshhorn Museum this summer, and while you're waiting for timed-entry tickets at the Plaza, you can soak up Yayoi Kusama's darling Pumpkin with your little pumpkins. On your way out of the museum, make sure to walk through the museum's sculpture gardens. With more than thirty works of art displayed year-round, the Hirshhorn Museum’s gardens offer visitors a contemplative haven in the heart of our nation’s capital.
Independence Ave and 7th St. National Mall Online: hirshhorn.si.edu
National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden The National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden is nothing short of a national treasure. This collection spread over6 1/2 acres on the National Mall, is a go-to spot with young residents and visitors in any season. Soak up works by greats like Calder, Oldenburg, and David Smith.
6th and Constitution Ave. NW National Mall Online: nga.gov
The Kreeger Museum This once private Northwest home turned modern art enclave, is home tomore than a dozenoutdoor sculpturesinstalled throughout the museum's grounds, also featuring the always fun for kids, a reflecting pool. Allow kiddo to wander also among the trees and discover an earlier installed exhibit calledPortals, composed of seven stainless steel and mirrored columns wrapped in wire, inviting visitors to explore the mazelike natural world.
Editor's Note: Timed entry passes are required to visit the museum.
Glenstone Museum Installed throughout the expansive grounds, the collection of outdoor sculpture seamlessly integrates art, architecture, and nature. Wear your comfy walking shoes and bring a stroller if your kiddo gets tired easily: there’s a lot of ground to cover at Glenstone. But you and your littles will be thrilled by the cartoonish Split-Rocker, especially while it is in bloom from May to October. And you may also want to visit Clay Houses, which is open daily from 12pm to 4pm, weather permitting.
Ladew Topiary Gardens Stretching the definition of "sculpture" gardens, Ladew Topiary Gardens features more than 100 shrub sculptures (à la Edward Scissorhands)—trees shaped as seahorses, birds, and men in top hats. Kids will adore exploring this 50-year-old public garden. After taking in the topiaries, tour gardens of irises, roses, azaleas, water lilies, and more.
Baltimore Museum of Art Take a stroll through the BMA’s gardens where you’ll find 33 sculptures positioned across nearly three acres. Tots will love sculptures in the BMA Sculpture Gardens that appear to be in motion even when they aren’t.
10 Art Museum Dr. Baltimore, MD Online: artbma.org
Anne Marie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center Discover a new kind of outdoor art called Tree Pops, artwork hidden in the knots of trees among this 30 acre reserve in Solomons, MD. Spend time in theFairy Lollyand stroll the Women's Walk. Honoring local heritage as well, other pieces range from a commemoration at the entrance of Chesapeake Bay watermen, The Oyster Tonger, to Thirteen Talking Benches, arranged throughout the garden and inlaid with plant mosaics native to Southern Maryland.
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley Make a day trip to this Winchester property, a 1.5 hour drive from DC. From May 28 to Nov. 13, visit Origami in the Garden with your littles to see a collection of metal sculptures created by Santa Fe artist Kevin Box as well as collaborative works with his wife, Jennifer, and with numerous origami masters. The MSV installation will feature 11 larger-than-life displays of sculpture throughout the Glen Burnie Gardens and Inside Out, a display in the Glen Burnie House of paper origami models shown alongside unfolded cast metal wall hangings.
Insider Tip: Feeling inspired by all the origami you saw at the MSV? Pick up this great beginner's kit and help your little make their very own!
The VMFA takes art outside for a memorable experience in an environment of changing light, climate and seasons. The 3 ½-acre Garden is an organic and free flowing space inspired by Virginia's waterfalls and woodland paths. Garden secret: VMFA is one of only eight U.S. art museums to feature a permanent installation of work by artist Dale Chihuly.
The Sperlak Gallery and Sculpture Gardens If summer travels to the beach lead you to Cape May, NJ, this sculpture garden is fewer than twenty miles away and worth the drive. The working farm, studio, nature sanctuary and sculpture garden of artist Stan Sperlak has become one of the most popular “Art” destinations in the country. Private tours with Stan can be arranged by calling 3 days in advance. Weekday self-guided visits can be made for anytime, and on the same day.
Looking to shower your littles with love this Valentine’s Day? Our carefully curated collection of best Valentine’s Day gifts you can get on Amazon will have you giving the perfect present (We’ve even got great gift ideas for teen girls!). From creative craft kits to books for kids, keep reading to see them all.
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This fun LCD drawing board is perfect for the car or anytime! And once they're done with their creation, simple press the erase button and start the fun all over again.
This Plus-Plus tube comes with 70 pieces and instructions for how to make hearts, a spinning top or a robot. A winner when it comes to Valentine gift ideas.
This roll of 100 stickers is fun for everyone. With bright colors and funky designs, kids will be able to use these long after Valentine's Day is over.
Use this non-toxic sensory material to spend some QT time with your tiniest valentines. You can help them make hearts, flowers or just about anything else that comes to mind.
In I AM LOVE: A Book of Compassion, kids are encouraged to look inwards when they face tough times. The sweet book teaches littles to live with gratitude, practice self-love and live with kindness and compassion.
This collection of Mad Libs is beyond special! The Valentine's Day booklet comes with 21 letters that once filled out, can be torn out, folded into an envelope and then given to your very own Valentine!
Sweet and sentimental, this coloring book is one for kids of all ages. It's printed on 60-lb stock paper which means it holds up to markers and pencils while sharing thoughtful messages that far surpass candy.
This bright red polish is a fun Valentine's Day treat for your tweens! Vegan and animal-cruelty free, if red isn't her color, there are several others to choose from.
—Gabby Cullen & Karly Wood
Editor’s note: All products available and under $20 at the time of publication.
Our annual gift list is back and shopping locally and from New York makers is just as important as ever. (Also: circumvent those supply chain issues!). We found gifts for New Yorkers of all kinds—food-lovers, puzzle players, new parents and more. Show and share your Big Apple pride by shopping these NYC businesses for unique gifts this holiday season!
For the Perpetual Student: ClassBento
ClassBento
Should the person you’re gifting have everything, meet ClassBento, a workshop booking platform designed specifically for artisans who want to share their craft. They just launched with a highly-curated catalog of virtual and in-person experiences, from making a leather tote bag in Brooklyn to learning the ins and outs of street photography in the city. You’ll feel so good knowing you’re supporting the craftiest of New Yorkers and giving your loved ones an experience to remember.
For Kings County Gamers: Monopoly Brooklyn Edition
Top Trumps USA
For those old-school gamers who can't get enough Brooklyn love, this special edition of the board game classic dedicated to the borough is a no-brainer. Many of Brooklyn's major sites and landmarks are represented, including Coney Island, the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Green-wood Cemetery, numerous parks and even Junior's Cheesecake! Buy it locally at locations including Wegmans, Awoke Vintage, Junior’s, Jewish Children’s Museum, Park Slope Toys, St. Mark’s Comics, Toys4u, Woods Grove, City Chemist, and more.
Price: $39.99
For the Hard Core New Yorkers
Literie Lifestyle
Literie candles, the brainchild of Erica Werber, a born and raised New Yorker, evokes the (delicious) sounds and smells of New York City. From Hot Roasted Nut Cart to Bodega Coffee, your home will smell delish—and just like the city you love.
Maps become beautiful pieces of artwork when created by Marquee Design Studio, the first and only place for hand-drawn and customizable map prints. Graphic designer and founder Marti Reiff was looking for unique yet meaningful artwork for her new apartment and when couldn't find any she drew her own. She posted her map creations to social media and with that, her business was born. FYI: New York City maps are ready-to-order or you can pick a custom location of your choice that means a lot to you and yours.
With the NYC Adventure Painting Kit from Uncommon Goods, you can choose from 18 prints of hand-sketched scenes of the Big Apple’s most famous landmarks and streets ready to be rendered in your choice of colors. Everything else you need is included too, like watercolor pebble paints, a sponge, brushes, and more—all you need to contribute is a little bit of water for the eyedropper. Happily, these kits are made in New York, too!
Dopple, a chic clothing subscription service for kids newborn to age 14 based in NYC, has introduced Dopple Gift Drops for effortless and elegant gifting. These gift sets can be customized according to the recipient's style and your budget (from $60 up to $750). Choose from The Luxury Lover, The Boho Babe, The Preppy Parent and The Hypebeast. Gift sets are available for girls, boys and unisex with pieces from brands such as Bonpoint, Dôen, Petit Bateau, Stella McCartney Kids, Rylee + Cru, Monica & Andy, Chloé.
The founders of Kadoo, based in Forest Hills, know a thing or two about creating memorable gift boxes. Our favorite: The Gourmet Pancake Gift ($85), which features buttermilk pancake and waffle mix, raspberry jam and maple syrup, sourced from Finding Home Farms in Middletown, New York. Note: All Kadoo boxes are wrapped in reusable materials a la the Furoshiki art of sustainable gift wrapping.
If you love Sunday sauce but don’t want to take the time to make it, skip that step and order a gift box of four Carbone sauces, including marinara, arrabbiata, tomato basil and roasted garlic. Developed by Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi—chefs and co-founders of the NYC-based restaurant group Major Food Group—Carbone’s sauces are crafted in small batches using premium ingredients to create a Carbone at-home experience for you!
At Lockwood, a boutique with three locations in Queens and one in Brooklyn, fun local treasures await—right down the block. Local favorites include an NYC Pizza Slice mug ($18) and a New York Forever pillow ($42) designed by the shop. (It's a kid's room favorite!)
Love them? Love to hate them? Regardless, New York wouldn't be New York without these omnipresent feathered friends. The Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to Know the World’s Most Misunderstood Bird, written by renowned bird lover Rosemary Mosco, is a funny and fascinating look at the bird.
The limited-edition Gourmand 52 deck, a new initiative being supported by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, aims to support ROAR (Restaurants Organizing, Advocating & Rebuilding) and the New York restaurant industry. Designed by three University of Pennsylvania students, the decks feature original, hand-drawn illustrations of New York City’s most iconic restaurant dishes, including Joe’s Pizza, Estela and Gramercy Tavern with 15% of proceeds directly benefiting ROAR. We think this may just be this year’s most perfect holiday stocking stuffers for foodies.
New York magazine has issued a spiral-bound collection of 50 recently published crosswords from master puzzle creator Cathy Allis. The collection also features a puzzle created by beloved American composer Stephen Sondheim, who was actually the magazine’s puzzle writer for its first issue in 1968.
Fanny backs are so…back, especially when they come with a built-in waterproof pocket that holds wipes and a built-in detachable changing pad. Kibou, a New York City-based company, which is short for ‘Keep it By You’ donates 1% of every sale to mothers and children affected by incarceration via Hour Children. PS-These can be worn as a fanny pack or crossbody if you prefer.
NYC cafe and bakery Maman is known for its delicious baked goods and effortlessly-chic atmosphere. This Cookies & Cookbook Box contains six of Maman’s famous Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookies, alongside the brand new cookbook, Maman: The Cookbook, All Day Recipes to Warm Your Heart. Owners Elisa Marshall and Benjamin Sormonte share the recipes of some of Maman’s best-selling baked goods and dishes alongside some brand new ones, and even give you tips on how to bring that Maman flair to your entertaining and decor.
If you need are looking for a gift for your little Picasso or Frida then look no further than these clever art kits, inspiring creative packs and must-have art supplies that will have little fingers creating masterpieces left and right. Just be warned—you may run out of display space. Check out our favorite gifts for artistic kids below.
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If they won’t eat their veggies, at least your little ones will play with them thanks to these non-GMO finger paints that are made with organic fruits and veggie extracts. Ages 3 & up.
This blank canvas / dream house is a must-have for budding artists, interior designers and architects. 30 blank “room” pages are waiting for a creative vision whether it’s full room mock-ups or pattern play. Ages 3 & up.
These markers take coloring to the next level thanks to some magical technology that allows you to erase or add designs to the first color. Ages 5 & up.
Tickle the ivories in a new, colorful way with this flexible (i.e. easy to store) keyboard. Comes with a color-coded songbook so even beginners will be able to bang out a ballad. Ages 6 & up.
Beginner amigurumi crochet kits, aka The Cutest Thing Ever are a great introduction to the world of slip and skip stitches—with easy-to-follow instructions, the hardest part is picking which kit to start with. Ages 9 & up.
Space and art take off with this set of nine plant-inspired chalk pieces (plus an extra one inspired by Pluto). Each ball is made up of various layers (just like the planets!) so as the chalk is used, new colors will be exposed. Ages 3 & up.
Who says art isn’t part science? This clever kit is all about building sculptures (hey there, future Michaelangelo!) but also adds the fun element of electricity to light up your masterpiece. Ages 4-7.
This DIY art kit contains a spiral-bound journal, 10-page watercolor painting pad, 8 watercolor paint tubes, 4 metallic pens, 4 brush markers, stickers, a paintbrush, and even a palette—everything you’ll need to inspire your inner artist. Ages 6 & up.
Little fingers will love the peel and stick as well as see their masterpiece come to life. What’s amazing about this sticker book is that it can be tackled in small doses, showing that not all masterpieces are completed in one day. Ages 5 & up.
The better question, when it comes to a gift like this, is what can’t you do with a bucket full of craft possibilities? Inside you get wooden craft sticks, googly eyes, pom-poms, fuzzy sticks, felt shapes and more to keep those busy fingers creating all day long. Ages 6 & up.
Even babies can get inspired by the artists who changed the world—from Calder to Chaplin—with this colorful chunky board set that depicts painters, sculptures, musicians and performers. Ages 0-5.
Physics but make it art. Thanks to these rainbow-colored popsicle sticks, little artists can explore the mathematical wonder that is Leonardo Da Vinci’s bridge. Of course, when not in use for building, they can be used for a million other creative pursuits. Ages 3 & up.
Graphic novels have finally gotten their due so give your kid the creative space to create their own comic book with this kit that provides blank cells, rubber stamps, ink pads and a storage box so they can take their creative pursuits with them, no matter where they go. Ages 6 & up.
These little packets of colored air clay will keep everyone in the house busy crafting and creating—whether it’s ornaments for the tree or little accessories to add to their imaginative play set-ups. Air clay is a great, multi-dimensional toy. A must-have for every family. Agest 3 & up.
Get ready to rule the runways with one-of-a-kind designs that budding fashionistas can create to make their own haute couture. Included are 5 fashion plates, crayons, tablet and 8 colored pencils. Ages 6 & up.
—Andie Huber & Editorial Team
Editor’s Note: Prices and availability reflect the time of publication. Images courtesy of retailers.
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It’s safe to say that every child’s education has changed significantly over the last year. While for some kids school might mean in-person, for lots of kids across the US, your child is either remote learning full time or in a hybrid-model. Our editors live, work and mom across the country so we have a wide-range of experience, from preschool pods to high-school hybrids. Here are some of the tips that we swear will help keep your family on track.
Jesseca, New York Calendar Editor, Mom to a 7th Grader and soon-to-be baby girl
Schedules!!! My daughter is in 7th, but keeping her to a schedule was super important. It’s so easy to get distracted at home, even at her age. Also, dedicate a space just for school work if you can so when they sit in that chair or at that table they know it’s time for school.
Partner
Jamie, Copywriter, Mom to a preschooler and two year old
Trying to keep a preschooler engaged in online learning is like waiting for a pig to fly: not going to happen. I nearly flew off the ground myself when we found a tool that he LOVES, combining learning and laughs—Osmo! This smart tool turns a tablet into an interactive learning game. The way that these lovable characters engage kids in games that sneak in smarts is unique in that it's one-on-one interactive. Osmo can "see" how he's doing with an activity and responds in real-time. This personal attention helps my kid focus, connect, learn and have a blast doing it. Math, spelling, reading, art, and even coding—these kits have it all covered, and they come in sets based on your kid's age, with options for ages 3-5 and ages 6-10. And now I can put my feet up for a sec and officially be "off-duty" as a teacher for a while.
Beth, San Diego Editor, Mom to a 4th and 8th grader
I try to schedule snack breaks/recess breaks/lunch around the same time they'll have them at school when it resumes. Also, dedicate a finite amount of time to each task to lessen burnout and frustration. If you're their first foray into "real" school, you want to make positive associations with the lessons, so if things aren't working, take a movement break.
My kids learn better when moving, so we'd walk the dog to learn multiplication tables (I'd quiz them while walking), or I'd have them bounce or kick a ball or dance around the room to learn facts. Sitting still can often be the enemy for kinetic learners. I know at school they may not have the liberty to move around, but may as well take advantage of it at home.
Don't ever underestimate reading aloud to them. I swear my kids are the people they are today because from a young age we read them all the classics aloud, including Charlotte's Web, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, all Roald Dahl's books and more. I think reading is the single most important thing a family can do together when it comes to furthering their education.
And, for those with young kids, I read a good tip. Pack their lunches in whatever containers they'll use when school starts to make sure they can easily negotiate all the lids, snaps, etc. on their own and to see what they can eat in what amount of time (i.e. a 20 minute school lunch break when they eventually return to the classroom).
Shelley, Atlanta Editor and mom to a 6th, 4th and 1st grader and preschooler
Western Chief
Our schools shut down last spring and I had four kids (my Kindergartner at the time was in a dual language program) at home distance learning from March until May. We crank up again soon. Here are some things that helped me:
1. Tequila has fewer calories than wine.
2. Most of my frustration was in troubleshooting the different platforms. Try to give yourself some time before they get started each day to boot up the computer, pull up the agenda, print out the worksheets, and pull together any supplies you need. In those early elementary ages, lots of the activities are hands-on, so you'll save yourself some headache by getting ahead of the daily rush to find Elmer's.
3. Schedule breaks, and force them away from the computer. Our teachers gave us a LOT of optional activities for them to do on the computer, and my kindergartener loved some of them. During his breaks, he'd want to play them—which led to burnout by the end of the curriculum part of the day.
4. Make them run around outside for a bit between breakfast and when they sit down at the computer, if you can.
5. Incentive charts to get you through the week worked really well for me. I think it helped mine keep track of what day it was during the week, and I just customized it for whatever I needed from each kid (not getting on recreational screens until after "school" ends, chores are finished, and some form of outdoor exercise completed for the 11 year-old, etc.).
Andie, Spoke Contributor Network Editor, Mom to a 1st and 6th grader
Did you know prosecco is also significantly lower in calories than wine?
But in all seriousness, I found the below attention-span breakdown incredibly helpful to know which can help set my own expectations. And, if something is causing frustration, abandon ship and try again another time. Break whatever you’re doing down into smaller/more manageable bites or do your own version in some other way.
Childhood development experts generally say that a reasonable attention span to expect of a child is two to three minutes per year of their age. That's the period of time for which a typical child can maintain focus on a given task.
Average attention spans work out like this:
2 years old: four to six minutes
4 years old: eight to 12 minutes
6 years old: 12 to 18 minutes
8 years old: 16 to 24 minutes
10 years old: 20 to 30 minutes
12 years old: 24 to 36 minutes
14 years old: 28 to 42 minutes
16 years old: 32 to 48 minutes
Amber, Managing Editor, Mom to a 4th grader
The designated place to do the work is key. We didn't have that for H and it made things harder, so we're setting it up now and getting his "input" on his own desk. My idea is to make a long desk that another adult can sit at next to him (but that's a whole other project).
Also, a big white board or printout for your daily meetings helps. We never went to the stage of having actual printed calendars but every morning we check in and say "What meetings do you have?" And coordinate the times, make sure he’s set up with a book or whatever he's supposed to be doing at the same time as a meeting I need to focus on. I want the whiteboard to make it clear to everyone in the house the times I am NOT available as well.
Try not to feel guilty if you are getting stuff done and your kids are online more than usual. We were like a zero screen time during the week family before Covid. Ha! I laugh in the face of February 2020-Amber.
Another tip is not exactly school-related, but allow your kids a time to hangout online with some of the other kids and just chat/share. Some teachers facilitate this, but we just coordinated directly with a couple of the parents.(There may be restrictions on your school's accounts being able to do zooms or hangouts.) But you can even just use Facetime with another parent, and let your kids build, play, color, talk to another kid while they're doing it to help form bonds. I'm usually in the room, but I try to give him some space to goof off with his friends. We also found we could use it as a motivator: if you want to do your google hangout with Oliver, by 2 p.m. on Friday you need to be done with xyz. So we scheduled those casual things for Fridays whenever possible.
Kate, Bay Area Editor and Content + Calendar Manager, Mom to 4th, 6th and 7th grader
My older two are pretty self-sufficient (YAY) but for my youngest (4th grade this year) we had to get everything all planned out on the weekend so he'd be in the right frame of mind when school started Monday morning. I had bins for each of his subjects (from the Dollar Store) and he would keep his book, workbook, homework and lesson plan for the week in there. This helped a lot so he wasn't scrambling to find assignments and getting stressed out. He'd just grab the bin for that subject and it was all there. It made him 90% self-sufficient by the end of the school year.
I also tried to be extra chill about it all because he puts a lot of pressure on himself already. So if there was an assignment that was causing a lot of stress for him, we'd just table it. If it meant that he was going to turn it in late, so be it. He'd work on these with his tutor or I'd let the teacher know that it was just too much and she was fine with that. For me, the mental stuff was more important than the actual classwork.
I'd get the kids learning to type sooner than later. I had them focus on this over the summer. This is the program we used.
I found that using a timer with my youngest was so helpful. He used a FitBit and was able to set the timer himself so that he could give himself a five minute break between assignments. He wasn't allowed to use screens during this time, had to be active or outside at least. It helped as a brain reset but was short enough so he didn't lose momentum.
It took a few weeks but we definitely got our flow going and now they aren't even worried about the online learning at all.
Allison, Seattle Editor, Mom to a two, nine and 12 year old.
One thing we're working on this year is figuring out "gym class" so the kids get exercise, have a chance to play and get to take a brain break too. With so many things being shut down, it's tough. But we're looking into horseback riding lessons and private swim lessons, maybe tennis or golf? Some of the lower risk activities where it's one-on-one with an instructor that's actually structured. My neighbor coaches Girls on the Run and he's planning on getting a program together for the kids we can all use. My kids need that time and I'm not good at making it happen, so I feel like I have to outsource it.
We're also trying to figure out how to supplement the arts at home (band, music, art they'd normally get at school) and really make it structured. My son plays saxophone and loves it. So looking for virtual lessons or a private instructor. Art kits are another hit with my kids.
Do you have other tips that worked for your family? Share this story on your social pages and add your two cents, and tag Red Tricycle. We can’t wait to see your ideas!
—Erin Lem, with invaluable advice from Jesseca Stenson, Beth Shea, Shelley Massey, Andie Huber, Amber Guetebier, Kate Loweth, Allison Sutcliffe and Jamie Aderski
Adoptive moms are not that different from any other mom. They have to care for their children, get upset, frustrated, and annoyed by their kids, and they love and brag about their kids.
Yet, an adoptive mom has differences from other moms. Adoptive moms add children of varying ages to their family. Moms may not know the child’s full background either. Plus, they have to go through life with the adopted child, navigating what it means to be an adopted parent and helping their child understand that as well.
The adoption process is challenging, and it can be confusing at times how to support those moms who are going through or have gone through that process.
Here are 8 things you can do to support adoptive moms, no matter where they’re at in their adoption journey.
1. Learn about the Adoption Process
One of the best things you can do is learn about the adoption process. If you want to support your friend, this certainly helps, especially if you don’t know much about it. While you don’t have to understand every detail, learning the basics will help you view adoption from your friend’s perspective.
Most adoptive moms are willing to talk to you about the process. Learning about adoption facilitates discussions with the adoptive mom because it allows you to ask informed questions and be enthused with her.
2. Understand That Parenting May Be Different
Biological children and adopted children likely will be parented differently. The mom is likely trying to find a new balance with their newly adopted child and find a parenting routine that works. An adopted child may have a background unlike that of a biological child. Consequences and other actions towards an adopted child may not work.
For example, sending a child to their room is a common discipline method among many parents. However, for a child who may have been abandoned or doesn’t view possessions the same way, leaving them alone for a time out could have negative consequences. An adoptive parent has to be flexible to meet the child’s needs.
3. Give Thoughtful Gifts
An adoptive parent probably isn’t directly going to ask for support or gifts. However, they will never turn down help or a meaningful gift. The gift could be a box of chocolates or an offer to help clean her home or cook a meal for the family.
When giving a gift to the newly adopted child, make it something small that the family can enjoy together. Some children aren’t used to having so many material items and may become overwhelmed. A gift card for a movie or an art kit would be perfect so the entire family can be involved.
4. Choose Your Words Carefully
Even if you have a lot of experience raising children, are good at it and could give your friend some advice, avoid it. Often, adopted children have a past trauma in their lives. They’re likely emotionally unstable, so traditional parenting doesn’t always work. The right thing could very well be the wrong thing when parenting an adopted child.
Additionally, be careful with your words around adoptive families. Avoid asking questions about the child’s past or how much the child cost. These children are not commodities, and their story is theirs to share.
5. Treat the Child as Human
Once the child arrives at their new home, it’s an exciting time, no doubt! However, that child is not a celebrity—they are human. Taking photos of the newly adopted child and pouring all of your attention on them while disregarding the mom’s other children isn’t healthy.
View the family as a normal family. Plus, talk openly with your own children that adoption and children who may look different are normal. This helps the adopted child feel welcome and safe.
6. Offer Financial Resources
Adoption can be expensive. Many families look for ways to reduce the cost of adoption. You certainly don’t have to give the family cash directly, but you can help with fundraisers or other ways to help them with the cost.
Attend fundraising events that the family hosts or ask if you can help organize a fundraiser for them. Any bit of financial help goes a long way, and the parents will feel appreciated and supported by your gesture.
7. Listen
One of the most important ways you can support adoptive moms is by simply listening. This is good advice for any relationship, but if you have a friend or family member who is adopting, listen more than you talk. Your friend’s world is drastically changing as she learns new knowledge through the adoption process.
You might feel uncomfortable with some topics, but your friend needs that time to talk and process. She is sharing because she wants someone to listen, not for someone to offer advice. Plus, by actively listening, you can better support, understand and communicate with your friend.
8. Support & Encourage Them From the Start When you hear that your friend is adopting, be there for them from the start. The adoption process can be long and draining, but it’s also rewarding and exciting in the end. Adoptive moms need all the encouragement they can get, so use these tips to support them!
Kara Reynolds is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Momish Magazine. A mom of four and matriarch to her big blended family, Kara wants nothing more than to normalize differences in family structures. She enjoys peeing alone, pancakes, and pinot noir - but not at the same time.
