Toys - Tweens & Teens
Dream Frenz
Description: With an oversized, soft head and a tiny body that tucks inside, Dream Frenz® is a cuddly plush pillow, toy and comforting companion. Dream Frenz® are low tech by design. In a world where children are wired by toddler...
Two in One
When tasked with a school project to invent the perfect toy, Max took his love for sports balls and teddy bears and rolled them into one … literally. Buddy Balls (MaxLand Toys, LLC, $24.99, www.buddyballs.com, for all ages) transform from...
In the Pocket
Sydney Loew took the skills she learned in a 7th grade entrepreneurial course to a new level when she and her sister Toni, launched a business and created Poketti Plushies ($14,99, www.poketti.com, for the entire family), soft pillows with a...
Made for Cruising
Cruise SoCal style with the Y Scoot Cruzer by Yvolution ($79.99, Ages 7+, max weight 220 lbs., www.yvolution.com), a scooter and longboard combined. Its steel frame is hardwearing and longboard deck with grip tape ensures you won’t slip off. Heavy-duty...
Go Team
Give the gift of nostalgia with Electronic Handheld Games: Football, Basketball and Baseball (The Bridge Direct, $14.99 each, www.thebridgedirect.com, Ages 8+). These childhood favorites have the same ‘70s retro appearance, but improved sound effects and two play modes for one...
When Life Gives You Lemons
The Lemonade Stand Start Up Kit from Bizainy (www.bizainy.com, $29.99, Ages 5 and up, supervision required) will get kids off their screens and outside to enjoy the fruits of running their own business. Created by mother of two and former...
Magnetic Attraction
You don't have to be a science geek to embrace the magic of magnets. Electricity & Magnetism by Thames & Kosmos ($59.95, Ages 8+) breaks down and explains the magic in eye-opening 60 experiments. Kids can build circuits, contraptions and switches to...
Mix it Up!
Science buffs will get a "charge" out of CHEM C1000 ($64.95, Ages 10+), a professional grade beginning chemistry set by Thames & Kosmos. A detailed experiment manual provides an introduction to chemistry, safety instructions and walks you through all 125 experiments. Precautions...
Magic Sand
Sand play is great for tactile learning, so what if you could bring this activity indoors -- without the mess? Sands Alive by Play Visions ($29.99, Ages 3+ years) comes with 1.5 pounds of Sands Alive "sand" which feels like real sand...
Feel the Music
Ozomatli Presents OzoKidz ($15, Ages 4 to 10), a triumphant transition into family music on this disc, which is filled with rhythmically-rich songs that inventively mixes together a variety of musical styles. Great for a multi-cultural dance party. The spirited music is...
Good Dog
Zoomer (Fun for the entire family, $99.99) is such an endearing Dalmatian that it’s hard to believe this eager-to-please pooch is robotic. Kids can teach him to speak, sit, lie down, roll over or shake in English, Spanish or French. ...
Make Your Marker
Add panache to your paper with Marker Maker by Crayola ($29.99, Ages 8+ years). Ink, marker tubes, caps, tips and plugs along with tools to use help kids color their world with individual flair. Follow the mixing guide or experiment with...
Glitzy Glam
Fun to do and look at too! Glitter Toos ($15.95, Preschool and up) comes with 15 sticker stencils, 6 glitter colors and a nail polish-like bottle of glue for easy glitzy fun. Tattoos are permanently temporary: they last several days...
Creepy Crawlers
Like a Habitrail for bugs, HEXBUG Nano V2 Black Hole ($49.99 Ages 3 years+) has rubber techno insects climbing up, free falling and constantly finding new courses. Moving like real bugs these two busy Hexbugs with newly redesigned exo-skeletons scurry...
Go Girl!
Developed by a female mechanical engineer from Stanford, GoldieBlox ($29.99, 6+ years) was created to help girls develop spatial and problem solving skills and self-esteem, while boosting an interest in engineering, a field dominated by men. Using wheels, axels, washers and blocks,...
Putting the “Fun” in Fungi
The Young Scientist Series ($24.99, Ages 9 - 12)offers a variety of projects for older scientists. Each “set” contains three complete kits to be completed sequentially or individually. In Set 4, children actually grow bacteria and fungi and learn how...
Good Scents
Got a foodie or two on your list? Tinyhands Scented Food Jewelry (starting at $23) will make hearts sing and tummies rumble. Miniature treats include a lollipop, S’mores, salted pretzel, a variety of cupcake flavors and even a corn dog!...
Plane Fun
Paper airplanes soar to new heights with the Power Up 2.0 Electric Paper Airplane Conversion Kit (ages 8+, $16.99). Easily attach the propeller to the nose and watch your plane travel hundreds of yards. Requires three AA batteries (not included).
Freetoes by Freetoes Brand, Inc.
Freetoes ($7.99) were designed by an 8 year old girl named Kate “K8” who loved flip-flops and wanted to wear them even in cold weather. K8 started her own business using her allowance to make and sell hand altered socks. ...
EarZings
EarZings ($14.95) are the NEW PIERCE-FREE earring. They are not clip-ons, magnets or temporary tattoos but are a completely new concept of pierce-free. EarZings use a patent-pending coil design to comfortably secure to the ear. They are easy-to-wear and stay...
Fun with Tape
Our favorite craft company, Klutz, has introduced Washi Tape Stickers ($16.99, Ages 8 and up) a book that lets kids (and adults too) create fun, patterned stickers by tracing art on to special peel-off backing paper, covering it with washi tape, cutting...
Collegiate Care Package
Sure to bring a smile to any co-ed during midterm or finals week, Co-ed Supply,($20 - $35 per month) is filled with toiletries, snacks, school supplies and other college essentials. Comes with plenty of goodies to share with dorm mates...
Pedal Power
Add to bike-riding fun with the FUZE Bike Bubbler (www.fuzebikefx.com, $14.99, Ages 5+),a motorized bubble maker that streams bubbles as you ride. A full tank of bubble fluid lasts about 25 minutes. Runs on batteries, mounts underneath standard bike seats...
Good Sport
Athletes of all ages will look forward to wearing MoGo Mouthguards (www.mogosport.com, $11.99 - $19.99), the first flavored BPA-free mouth guard. Two sizes, adult and youth, provide professional-level protection and a comfortable fit. Choose from a variety of flavors, and...
Go Fly a Kite
Color-Me Kites (www.xkites.com, $11.99, Ages 8+) is a craft and activity. Children can decorate the kite with markers (included), then take their colorful creation on a test flight. Comes ready to fly with handle, line and a QuickClip that makes...
Get Fit
Burn off the holiday pounds with HOOPERSIZE ($39.95, Ages 6 and up),afitness kit that won’t feel like exercise! The easy-to-assemble hoop is heavier and sturdier than toy hula hoops, making it easier to hoop for longer periods of time. Instructional...
Learn Something New
Kids can play their way to Spanish, French, German, or Portuguese language skills with Quick Tap ($1.99, Ages 5 to 11), a high-speed app where players race to match foreign words to their English counterparts. Teaches more than 100 words...
Ready, Set, Accessorize!
Add a minor touch of elegance to your usual updo with Bloom Black Ties (2-pack, $34), a fashionable hair-tie alternative that doubles as a bracelet.