gift ideas Archives - L.A. Parent

2024 Bundle: Baby, Toddler & New Parent Gift Guide

Published November 8, 2024

Holiday shopping is overwhelming enough as it is, especially if you have any new parents on your list. With so many new products on the market for babies, toddlers and new or expecting parents, it’s hard to know where to start. Our friends at the National Parenting Product Awards have done the work for us with their curated 2024 Bundle Gift Guide featuring over 90 gift ideas.

The annual guide is filled with the best baby gear, feeding essentials, favorite toys and more. This year’s gift guide includes best monitors, nursing must-haves and baby and toddler toys.

Every product included in this guide has been tested and evaluated. NAPPA Awards is one of the longest running award programs in the industry. It has been celebrating the best in family products for more than 34 years.

For more gift ideas check out NAPPA’s annual holiday gift guide HERE.

For more award-winning products visit nappaawards.com.

Best Graduation Gifts

Published May 2, 2024

By Elena Epstein

Dear Graduate

This book challenges the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” by changing it to, “What will you do when you grow up?” It asks 33 questions of graduates of any age about how they want to spend their time and what values they’ll develop. $15.99, ages 5-18 years, deargraduatebook.com

Troomi – Safe Smartphones for Kids

Provide kids with guardrails for safety and opportunities for growth, learning, personal discovery and preparation for the future. Features flexible safety controls that allow parents to customize their children’s phone based on individual needs. Give them everything they need (like apps for school), and nothing they don’t (like social media). $199.95, ages 6-16 years, troomi.com

SlideAscope

See how many symmetrical images you can create by sliding and rotating the tiles. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. Promotes strategy skills. $39, ages 8+, simplyfun.com

VTech Gabbers

Have a tweet-tastic day with this fluffy bird buddy. Go on adventures together by sliding the fabric-covered magnetic egg under your shoulder sleeve and perching your new friend on top. Press the bird’s tummy to hear it repeat and tweet things you say in a funny voice. Listen to the little songbird sing when you press the music note on its wing. Shake the bird around or turn it upside down for funny sounds. $14.99, ages 4+, vtechkids.com

Flat 2 Fast Card Racers

This toy transforms from cards to superfast racing cars with the press of a button. No pull back needed. Portable and fits perfectly in a pocket or backpack for on-the-go play. $12.99, ages 5+, lukilab.com

Marvel WordARound

A fast-paced card game that challenges players to see who can read the word-wheel the quickest. From Spider-Man to Captain Marvel to the mighty Thanos, you’ll have to use your Marvel trivia knowledge to recognize the words and call them out first. $14.99, ages 10+, amazon.com

First Crafts Pets Carnival Collage Sensory Craft Box

Unleash your child’s imagination. Watch as they explore a vibrant carnival of textures, shapes, colors, and sizes to craft delightful pets and party-inspired creations. Inside your kit, you’ll find a craft ideas book brimming with inspiration, alongside over 1000 pieces, including glue, safety scissors, illustrated templates, a convenient art board, and essential art supplies. Everything you need for hours of sensory collage crafting. $34.95, ages 3-8, mycreativebox.com

WordSnap

The word-building, puzzle game that doesn’t restrict your play with the confines of a gameboard. Octagonal soft-snap pieces let you craft words vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. As you build words, unique patterns emerge, offering players unlimited scoring opportunities. $26.99, ages 8+, buywordsnap.com

NAPPA Awards has been celebrating the best in family products for 34 years. For more product reviews and gift ideas visit nappaawards.com

Bitter Pickles — A New Family Game Created by L.A. Theater Artist

Published October 13, 2022

By Cassandra Lane

Bitter Pickles is a new passing card game created by an L.A.-based theater producer.
PHOTOS COURTESY CHRISTOPHER SEPULVEDA

A Los Angeles-based theater artist has created a unique take on traditional European card games such as Ranter-Go-Round and Cuckoo.

The new family friendly passing card game, Bitter Pickles, comes in bright, pickle-green packaging that shows off a grinning dill pickle. The fast-paced, simple-to-learn, deck card game is designed for two to 10 players and is suitable for ages 8 and up.

Christopher Sepulveda, a theater producer whose credits include “Mutt House,” says he developed the game during the early stages of the pandemic. “I took some time during the pandemic-related theater closures to create a new family-focused card game that I had been dreaming up for a while,” he says.

Each game set includes 55 full-colored custom playing cards, 30 “pickle chip” tokens and a rules booklet. Optional modular expansion packs allow even larger group sizes or longer play time. An online portal provides additional rules and play options along with opportunities for community interaction.

Bitter Pickles recently completed its campaign goal on Kickstarter. The game is now available for order at BitterPickles.com.

The Gift of Giving: Where to Shop and Give Back this Holiday Season

Published November 12, 2021

By Nina Harada

Shop thousands of handmade creations at the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show Dec. 3-4. PHOTO COURTESY HARVEST FESTIVAL

Shop for friends and loved ones at the many holiday markets and fairs throughout L.A. and give back to the community by donating toys, food and other items to local toy drives and food banks this season.

Holiday markets, fairs and pop-up shops

Sugar Plum Arts, Crafts, Antiques & Collectibles at OC Fair & Event Center Nov. 11 – 13 features thousands of handmade crafts from more than 175 artisans.

Flying Miz Daisy Outdoor Vintage Market on Nov. 13, also at the OC Fair & Event Center, will feature vintage, antique, repurposed and hand-crafted goods. Enjoy live music, food and drinks while you shop.

Support BIPOC and WOC businesses at Cal State LA’s LEAF program first-ever holiday Pop-Up Shop event Nov. 14 at HiDef Brewing Co. in Downtown LA.

Shop one of the many stores or holiday pop-up markets on Third Street Promenade. PHOTO COURTESY DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA, INC.

Jackalope: An Indie Artisan Fair returns to Old Pasadena Nov. 20-21 and to Downtown Burbank Dec. 11-12 with more than 100 local, hand-selected artisans. Browse jewelry, paper goods, art, food and more and get your holiday shopping done in one stop. The free festival is open to all ages.

Shop more than 24,000 American handmade creations at the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show Dec. 3-5 at the Ontario Convention Center. The annual holiday shop will feature strolling performers, an interactive kid zone, specialty foods, demonstrations and more. $4-$9 for adults; free for ages 12 and under.

Studio Channel Islands Art Center in Camarillo will host a Holiday Art Market Dec. 4- 5, featuring 40 different artists vendors, craft beer and kids activities.

Manhattan Village hosts their final pop-up shopping event of the year Dec. 4 with a special Holiday Market, featuring a curated collection of clothing, food, home goods and more.

Craft Contemporary will host their annual Holiday Marketplace Dec. 4-5 featuring music, complimentary refreshments and a curated selection of crafts and wares. Tickets include museum admission.

Downtown Santa Monica has a ton of stores you can visit daily, but they will also host a few pop-up markets for a truly one-stop holiday shopping experience. The Conscious Night Market will set up on the Promenade on Dec. 4 with goods from over 40 vendors, in addition to food trucks and free kombucha. And the SoCal Etsy Guild will host a pop-up shop Nov. 20 and Dec. 18, featuring local artists, crafters and designers.

Hoja De Mi Corazon will host its final Artisan Market Dec. 11 at The Collection at RiverPark. Browse an array of unique and handmade local products from local creators and artisans and then pop over to Santa for a holiday photo.

Unique Markets returns to ROW DTLA for the 13^th Annual LA Holiday Market Dec. 11 – 12, which features free drinks, photo booths, kids activities and more, in addition to their signature curated holiday shopping.

Toy and food drives

Help bring the holiday spirit to local children in need by donating new, unwrapped toys to the Spark of Love Toy Drive Nov. 10, 17 and 24 at The Collection at RiverPark. Or stop by The Collection on Dec. 3 for the Stuff a Bus event to donate a toy to help fill a bus with gifts for local children who otherwise might not receive a holiday present.

Donate grocery items and non-food items like hand-sanitizer, paper towels and can openers to The Zimmerman’s Can Drive Cruise-In event Nov. 20 benefiting the LA Food Bank.

Stop by The Collection at RiverPark Nov. 10, 17 and 24 for the Spark of Love Toy Drive. PHOTO COURTESY THE COLLECTION AT RIVERPARK

Bring a new, unwrapped toy to Redondo Beach Pier’s 11^th Annual Holiday Concert on Dec. 11 for the Love in the Mirror Toy Drive and enjoy family-friendly entertainment while you’re there.

If you find yourself driving through the magical, interactive winter wonderland, Night of Lights OC, don’t forget to bring a new toy for kids ages 1-15 to donate to the Power of One Foundation’s Annual Toy Drive from Nov. 26 through Dec. 17.

Get Ready for Summer

Published June 14, 2021

By Elena Epstein

PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN GIRL

**Kira Doll, Book & Accessories**: Travel to an Australian wildlife sanctuary with the 2021 American Girl of the Year and learn the importance of protecting animals and the planet. Accessories include an outdoor backpack with koala keychain and a wide-brimmed hat, plus a plush kangaroo named Joey. $170, ages 8+, americangirl.com

PHOTO COURTESY GLOBBER

**Junior Foldable Fantasy Scooter**: This three-wheel scooter just for toddlers features a folding system with a push button, a wider deck in a range of fun colors and patterns with an adjustable T-bar to best suit growing toddlers. $79.99, ages 2-5, globber.com

PHOTO COURTESY ZURU

**Crazy ZURU Bunch O Balloons Water**: This toy that fills 100 balloons in 60 seconds is now 100% recyclable! Each stem comes with a mix of multi-colored balloons. $7.99, ages 3+, bunchoballoons.com

PHOTO COURTESY WATERLINE TOYS

**Skim to the Pin**: This fun water game set features a floating target and two polyurethane discs with a comfortable thumb grip and rocker bottom that skips, skims, slides and jumps across any water surface. $39.99, ages 3+,waterlinetoys.com

PHOTO COURTESY VTECHKIDS

**Go! Go! Cory Carson Two Scoops Eileen Ice Cream Truck**: Pick your favorite treat with lights, sounds and songs from the show. Great for hours of role-playing fun. $19.99, ages 2+, vtechkids.com

PHOTO COURTESY LIT LEAGUE

**Lit League**: A subscription-based book club for kids. Each box includes a book, a vocabulary bookmark, four to five fun-filled activities, discussion questions and answers and the tools to enjoy a shared family experience or to participate in a book club with friends. $30.99-$36.99, ages 3-12, litleagueboxes.com

PHOTO COURTESY ROOST BOOKS

**Maker Camp**: Create with your kids using 20 classic and inventive projects. From soap carving and knot tying to building toy cars and junk robots, this book links techniques of the past with the present while offering the satisfying fun of making things with your own hands. $19.95, ages 3+, roostbooks.com

For more product reviews visit nappaawards.com

Gift Ideas Just for Mom

Published May 4, 2021

Elena Epstein

Moms Don’t Have Time To: A Quarantine Anthology

An inspiring collection of original essays by bestselling authors organized around the theme of five things moms don’t have time to do: eat, read, work out, breathe and have sex. This unique collection speaks to moms everywhere. $24.99, zibbyowens.com

The Parent’s Hoodie

A sweatshirt for three stages: pregnancy, to carry baby and post-baby stage. This unique hoodie can also be worn by dad as a baby carrier and hoodie. No insert needed, it features an integrated and adjustable extension with invisible zip and wrap-over. $99, love-radius.com

Clea Bamboo Long Sleeve Classic Pajama Set

This unbelievably soft set is made of premium bamboo fabric and can be worn from pregnancy through breastfeeding and beyond.$69.99, kindredbravely.com

Buggie Huggie Shopping Cart Tray

Take the stress out of grocery store trips with this highchair tray for your shopping cart. With safety features built in, it comes with an optional phone holder accessory to secure your phone for your child’s favorite shows and apps. $39.95, ages 1-4, buggiehuggie.com

Piper Recliner and Swivel Glider

Sleek, stylish and comfortable, this glider features smooth and gentle 360-degree swivel motion and forward and backward gliding. Free of chemical flame retardants and GreenGuard Gold Certified. $329, davincibaby.com

Bug Bite Thing

In just three easy steps, enjoy the outdoors more with this innovative, chemical-free product that alleviates the itching, stinging and swelling caused by insect bites and stings. $9.95, bugbitething.com

Milkmakers Bath Tea & Foot Soak

Made with just four natural ingredients, these pregnancy-safe bath sachets help relax tired muscles and moisturize dry skin. Calming botanicals such as French lavender and chamomile mingle with rolled oats and pure Epsom salts.$10.00, munchkin.com

For more product reviews visit nappaawards.com