We’ve all been there: Between the endless school concerts
and bake sale parties, there’s never enough time to get your gift shopping
done. To help you out, we called a few of our independent Hudson Valley toy
stores to get their recommendations for all of the kids on your list. Want more
ideas? Make time to visit the stories listed. As we found out, there’s nothing
toy store owners love to do more than talk about toys.
FOR KIDS UNDER 5
Janod Scooter Balance Bike ($125)
Balance bikes - a two wheeled bike with no pedals - are a
great transitional toy for kids who have mastered their Big Wheels and
tricycles but need to improve their balance before graduating to traditional
two wheelers. Linda Cox from Tinker Toys in Woodstock is particularly enamored
with this wooden scooter made by Janod. “It’s very stylish,” she said. “I love
how it looks like your child is driving their own little moped.”
Hape Beauty Belongings Playset ($25)
This beauty case has got everything a little girl would need
for going out, with one important qualifier: “None of it works!” says Rebecca
Rothstein from Little Pickles in Red Hook. “It’s all pretend, so they can get
all dressed up without the mess. And at this age, using your imagination to
create your own world is a very important skill to develop.”
Magna-Tiles ($120)
These magnetic building tiles have 
built up quite a legion
of fans,
including Elena Rose from Land of Oz in Rhinebeck. “Magna-Tiles are
the BEST,” she exclaims. “My girls are 4 and 7 and our whole family loves
playing with them. We play with
Magna-Tiles in my home every single day, and that’s not an exaggeration.” Rose
notes that the 100 piece clear colors set is a perennial best seller at her
store.
FOR KIDS 6 - 11
Plan Toys Creative Dollhouses ($140 - $210)
If the plastic doll house you played with as a kid didn’t
quite make it to hand-me-down status, invest in one that your kids will be able
to pass on to their kids one day. That’s why Dave Tate of Enchanted Toys in New
Paltz recommends the ones made by the Thai company Plan Toys. “They’re
expensive,” he admits, “but of all the wooden dollhouses out there, these are
the highest quality ones.” They’re also made out of sustainably-grown
rubberwood, water based inks, and formaldehyde free glue, which makes it one of
the eco-friendliest dollhouses around.
Ridley’s Magic 15 Amazing Tricks Magic Set ($35)
Give your kids this on Christmas morning, and before bedtime
rolls around they’ll be astonishing you with these mind-blowing magical tricks.
“It creates its own special event, perfect for the holidays or any cold wintry
day when the whole family is stuck inside together,” says Rothstein. “The kids
get to put on a magic show, and the parents get to be amazed. Plus, the parents
always enjoy learning how to do the tricks as much as the kids do.”
Comic Book Kit by Kid Made Modern ($15)
After our story last month on graphic novels, you might have
a few new comic books fans around your household. So why not get them started
on learning how to make their own? This kit comes with 2 blank comic books and
enough stencils, templates, and stamps to keep your budding Jack Kirbys busy
for hours. “It gives you everything you need to make your own comic book,” says
Cox. “It encourages you to be artistic.”
FOR KIDS 12+
Board Games ($26 - $42)
“Ages 12 and up can be tricky,” admits Land of Oz’s Rose.
That’s why she recommends board games that are intricate and engaging enough to
hold the attention of both parents and teenagers for hours at a time. Let that
old Monopoly set keep collecting dust in the attic and get something the whole
family can learn together. Rose particularly loves the fantasy game Munchkin
and Settlers of Catan, in which players discover and then settle an
ever-changing island.
DrawLamp by Doiy ($42)
What kids wants a lamp as a gift? Well, if it’s a DrawLamp, 
probably more of them than you think. “It’s not just a lamp,” says Tinker Toy’s
Cox. “You can draw anything you want on the shade, so it makes the lamp look
like anything you want it to.” And what teenager doesn’t like to have that kind
of power?
Awesome Animation by Kiwi Crate ($33)
In the early days of movie making, animators used a device
called a zoetrope to turn drawings into movie pictures. Now, with Awesome
Animation, your kids can create their own animated cartoons using the same
techniques. “You get to be creative and artistic, but it also teaches you about
science,” says Little Pickles’ Rothstein.
Land of Oz
41 E Market St, Rhinebeck
(845) 876-1918
Tinker Toys
5 Mill Hill Rd, Woodstock
(845) 679-8870
Enchanted Toys
15 N Front St, New Paltz
(845) 255-1429
Little Pickles
7505 N Broadway, Red Hook
(845) 835-8086