Unique Children's Gifts

Selecting the perfect gift for a family who has just had a new baby or for a child's birthday or holiday gift can become quite a chore.  It seems as if children these days have so many toys and even worse, there are tons more out there for your personal toy-store-shopping confusion.  So how do you know what to pick when you want to give something that the child will love and Mom and Dad will not immediately banish to the garage or the re-gift bin?  I personally know that I love a good useful gift and as innocent as they are, it's often easy to pull the wool over your child's eyes and make him see that gift as something fun at the same time.  So, here are a few suggestions I have, things we have been given or have given to others.  This isn't to say that we don't love toys or other gifts when we recieve them; these are just some unique ideas that I have seen go over well throughout my years of giving and receiving gifts.  Leave a comment if you have any other ideas.  I love hearing new ideas!

A series of name books.  I just can't say enough about this idea.  It was actually one that was given to us by a librarian friend when both of our sons were born.  Select a series of children's books with the child's name either in the title or as the main character of the book.  This is a fun idea because you can certainly select books (style and quantity) based on your budget.  Also, as a baby gift, you can give some books that can be used sooner and some books that may be used later on, when the child is a preschooler.  I know I love having books on hand already as my child matures and is ready for different types of books.  For an older child to have the most fun with this, the books should probably be ones he/she can read now or can easily understand when someone reads them aloud.  You can get ideas by searching online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble for books containing a certain name.  As an example, here are what we received for our sons:

Benjamin:  The Tale of Benjamin Bunny by Beatrix Potter; Benjamin Bigfoot by Mary Serfozo; What's the Time? Benjamin Bear Learns to Tell Time by Anne LeBlanc; and Benjamin Bear Says Please by Claire Freedman.

Nathaniel (Nate): Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat; But Not Nate!: A Book About Opposites by Andrew Gutelle; and Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly by Judith Mathews.

Goodnight gift set.  This is another fun idea we have received and I have the generous and the more generous variations on this theme.  Basically, what this goodnight set will include is a children's book with a coordinating pair of pajamas in the child's size.  So, combine a fun book in a theme the child loves with a pair of pajamas in a coordinating fun print and you go from the dull gift of clothing to an exciting gift that is also practical.  You could find Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow and combine it with a pair of cute pajamas with monkeys on it.  Go crazy and see if you can find a coordinating pair of slippers or a blanket to give a more elaborate gift.  I'm telling you, if someone gave my son Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel with a pair of pajamas with steam shovels on them, he'd be one happy camper!  And along those lines, I don't see why you couldn't substitute a movie for a book instead.  Just don't tell our librarian friend that I suggested this. :)

Now what I have described is the generous version of this theme.  If you opt to be even more generous (and you want to save some time) visit Books to Bed , where you can find pre-packaged book and pajama combinations with actual characters from the books on the jammies.  These are super cute.  I think I'd have so much fun wearing Corduroy the bear pajamas to bed!  Do these come in adult sizes?? :)

Sheets, blankets, or towels.  No, this is not a typo.  Maybe this is just my children, but I can't even describe how excited they get when they see their fun bed sheets, comforters and throw blankets.  My one son has sheets with trucks on them (our construction worker) and the other son has sheets with sports balls on them (our jock).  They were uber excited to first get their fun printed sheets and immediately starting ripping them out of the packaging to put on their beds!  The same level of excitement is there for comforters with large trucks on them, throw blankets in a Thomas the Tank Engine theme, and bath towels with large monkeys all over them.  Call them strange, but these items have invoked more excitement than many of the toys they have received and nothing could be more useful.

Personalized books.  I See Me! is a really fun web site that specializes in personalized children's books.  You provide the child's full name and birth date and they make you any one of many personalized books.  We have received one for each of our children - Benjamin has My Very Own Name, which spells his name out with animals beginning with the same letters; Nate has My Very Own ABCs, which is a board book that creates an ABC book written just for him; and Abigail has My Very Own Fairy Tale, which makes our princess the star of her own fairy tale.  My kids love to read these books that are personalized just for them.

Baby gift-wrapping.  One unique way of selecting and packaging new baby gifts is to select several outfits and individually wrap them up in tissue paper and then place them all in a large box together.  Label them, "Something old; something new; something borrowed; something blue" and include sentimental, heirloom and newly purchased items.  Another labeling could be "Something for now; something for later," and you could include a newborn outfit in the first package and a 12 or 18 month outfit in the other one.

A lunchbox or backpack.  Especially if your child is in daycare or school, this could be something incredibly useful that they will also be excited about.  Select one that is very pretty for girls, is rugged and tough for boys and has fun motifs on it in themes such as princesses, trucks or sports.  Make a big deal about your child's new backpack or lunchbox when you take it out to pack it up for school or daycare the next day.  I guarantee she'll be showing her friends her new cool accessories!

Classic Wooden Toys

Some women have a thing for chocolate.  Or shoes.  Or purses. I have a thing for classic wooden toys.  Ok, let's be honest here and say that I have a thing for chocolate, shoes and purses, too :).  But seriously, I find myself drawn to displays or catalogs of adorable wooden toys.  I don't know if watching Little House on the Prairie most days during my childhood or the fact that, in general, I love vintage items, has anything to do with this fettish.  But whatever reason, I just can't get enough of them.  They just seem so classic, so sturdy, and I can picture my own grandchildren using them when they visit in another 30 years. I envision myself selling all of the modern toys we have when my kids outgrow them, but packing our wooden ones away in our attic as a reminder of these sweet innocent years in my babies' lives.  To me, nothing even compares.

With the holidays quickly approaching, I decided that I am going to do some additional posts with product recommendations, things we've used in the Martin household and have been able to compare to other items.  I've only been a mom for 4.5 years, but with the number of toys that have entered and exited this house, I feel that I definitely have some thoughts on some favorites that I would recommend to a friend if she asked me for ideas.

So, for the next few minutes, forget about flashing, talking plastic toys and put yourself back to a simpler time when toys were wooden and children were content to use their imaginations to play with them for hours at a time.  I love that several modern companies apparently share my fettish for wooden toys and market such a vast array of items with this classic feel.  Yes, these items are probably a little more expensive than their counterparts, but trust me, they will last a lot longer and are a lot sturdier.  So, to give my favorite companies some recognition, I have recommended a few favorites from each.  I hope this will touch your heart and help with your holiday shopping this year.

Parents/Battatt
Parents magazine has teamed up with Battatt to offer some really classic toys for kids.  Not all of them are wooden, but I must admit that I even love those since they are really classic and well-made, even if not wooden.  Since this is a post on wooden toys, though, below are a few favorites of ours in this genre.

Around the Block Wagon.  (4 months +)  I'd highly recommend this product.  It works as a very sturdy walker to prop a young baby at when he/she is learning to walk.  It will not topple over or collapse on them when they pull up on their own, as some less sturdy models will.  In addition, the 40 blocks inside the wagon are hours of fun for babies as young as four months old up until 4+ years.  My 4.5 year old still stacks these blocks and knocks them down with his trucks daily!



Busy Zoo Activity Center.  (6 months - 36 months)  Another fun, sturdy toy that has loads for Baby to do.  It's so sturdy that your little one who is not quite stable standing yet, can pull up onto this and it will not go anyplace.  So much to keep Baby occupied!


Raise The Roof Barnyard (3 years +) This barnyard is fun for multiple children to use at once. It has tons of animals and pens, troughs and other barnyard props to play with.  The best part is the working shoot, where they can send food pellets down the silo to the animals to feed them.  There are also working windows and doors. Plus, you can open the roof to allow more than just one or two children to be involved. And there are no batteries required which means the kids are responsible for all sounds and actions!

Haba
The Kringlering.  (3-18 months)This baby toy may look too simple to be enjoyable, but in actuality, I think that is why it's my baby's favorite.  Ever notice how babies will become attached to the simplest objects and leave their more "exciting" toys cast aside?  Well, babies like to hold, chew and shake things and this does all three without overstimulating the baby by singing, dancing or lighting up (imagine that).  It's hard, but pliable since it's made up of beads on a single sturdy string.  It shakes like a rattle without being overstimulating and it's bright and easy to hold.  Love the Kringlering!  Come on, I know you want to get one yourself just for it's uber cool name :).



Pushing Car.  (9 months+) I cannot say enough good things about this car.  It's expensive, yes, but is sturdier than most outdoor wagons.  This would be a great item to look for on Craig's List since it is lasting and that will help to bring the cost down.  It is a walker, a push car, a wagon, and is sturdy enough to carry a child in the front ( we know from much experience!).  Baby can use it for support as he makes his first steps, can be pushed in it himself, can tote his friend or his belongings in it, and more.  My 4.5 year old still has loads of fun filling this up with the help of his 2.5 year old brother.


Melissa and Doug
I don't even know where to start with Melissa and Doug, we have so many of their toys and just adore all of them.  All of their classic wooden puzzles are high on our list.  I would highly recommend them and remember that AC Moore and Michael's sell many Melissa and Doug products that you could buy with the 40%-50% off coupons in their weekly circulars.  Below are a few other, more unique Melissa and Doug toys that we love around here.  And from experience, I know that if you do ever have a problem with a Melissa and Doug toy, they will mail you a new one without even having to send the broken one back, no questions asked.  I actually called and complained about two products that were less than perfect, just because I had paid money for them so why shouldn't they be perfect?  They sent a new one right away and told me they didn't need the damaged one.  So, I did a patch job on the damaged one and have it at the grandparents' house for the kids to use there.  It has its flaws, but it's still mostly useable so it was a shame to throw it out. 

Geometric Stacker.  (9 months +) This is one of those toys that all kids who enter our house are drawn to.  I feel like I have just finished finding all of the pieces to it when - bam - it's taken apart again.  It's a great fine motor skill activity and I love that there are three different poles on which to stack the blocks, with the squares being more challenging than the other two. 



Froggie Face Rattle.  (3 months - 18 months)  baby will love this adorable froggie rattle and it also comes in a cute monkey version, too.  The eyes shake back and forth and the big handle make it easy to grasp and chew.  And come on, isn't this just the cutest?


Unit Block Sets. (2 years +).  Melissa and Doug has a full line of unit block sets that are as basic as you can get, but in my opinion, this makes them better.  They really encourage independent play and imagination, for even the youngest children.  They comes in big sturdy wooden containers with handles, for easy storage.  We have the Basic Unit Blocks, the Architectural Unit Blocks and the Deluxe Wooden Town Blocks.  They come out practically everyday at our house.Melissa and Doug Unit Block Sets


Radio Flyer
Town and Country Wagon. (ages 9 months +)  We love this wagon so much that we have not one, but two of them!  Yup, one for each boy in our family.  Actually, our original one was my husband's from the early 1980's, so yes, that makes it 30 years old and still alive and kicking.  It was in perfect condition structurally, just in need of a paint pick-me-up, so a few years ago I did this and - voila! - a "new" wagon for our first son.  When our second son came along, we saw how much our first son used this and knew that this wagon would last for years to come, so we asked for a second one for a birthday gift from his grandparents.  Now, each boy has his own, to use now and save for their own children later down the road. 

I must say that we prefer this wagon over others because of its rustic appeal.  Sure, it doesn't have individual seats and seatbelts like some of the others, but we love this about it.  We can fit three kids in this easily for a ride and it is also perfect for the boys to tote their belongings around in when they play outside.  The side panels come up for easy access and it's so sturdy.  I love watching each boy wheel his toys around to the other side of our property when they are playing together outside.  We even give our 10 month old baby a ride in the wagon by just placing a towel or blanket underneath her for some added comfort.

Purge Your Purse

I don't know about you, but as a mom of three who has basically traded in my designer purse for a diaper bag over the past 4.5 years, I am always looking for ways to streamline what I carry on a day-to-day basis.  However, I still want to carry enough mommy essentials so that I do not have to resort to using that unopened sample of Vaseline from after my son's circumcision as a makeshift lipstick when in a pinch.  So, I have looked around and developed a list of some of my favorite "Me Items," ones that I always have when I need a little Mommy pick-me-up.

One of my biggest tips is to use a little makeup bag or clutch purse to store your essentials.  You can place it inside of your diaper bag or purse without having to mull over what you want to bring each time you pack it and you can easily switch it between the two.  It's enough work to figure out what to bring for all of the kids that I don't need to utilize my (limited) brain resources for this, too.   I will often carry my "Me" bag all day long in my diaper bag when I'm out with the kids and then just switch it to a purse when I go to a Mom's Night Out with some friends.  Plus, it keeps everything in the same spot, making it easy to locate and protecting it from being covered in milk from leaking sippy cups.  And when it's time to go, whether with the kids or by yourself, grab your wallet, phone, and this clutch and the process of getting out the door in the morning becomes much more efficient and definitely shorter.

So, what's in a bag?  Here are my essentials that have helped me to purge my purse of unnecessary products, while still enabling me to carry some "Me" items, guilt and hassle-free.

A Travel Toothbrush holder.  This will hold two tampons for those urgent circumstances.

A package of gum or breath mints.  Sometimes having a big girl treat :) that freshens your breath in the meantime, makes the fact that you just ate lunch at McDonald's so that the kids could play on the Playland afterwards, just a bit more palpable.

Stila Convetible Eye Color.  I could go days without makeup but I know that I need to wear eye liner if I do not want to look tired throughout the day.  So, this is my favorite makeup item.  It contains a smooth eye liner, a smudger and an eye shadow all in one.  The middle of the pencil unscrews to reveal the coordinating eye shadow.  It's great for a quick refresher in the bathroom while Dad watches the kids fight over the free crayons and kids menu coloring pages at your restaurant table.



Travel Brush and Mirror.  I love this pop up brush with a compact mirror on the inside.  It's small and will fit just about anyplace.  God knows I have used this on many occasions after taking the kids on fun, outdoor playgroup activities when it is windy out, which resulted in my hair resembling some sort of bird's nest.


Bare Escentuals Quick Stick.  This is another lipstick alternative that is so perfect for everyday.  It is a pencil so it stays on for a long time and easily winds up when needed.   I love the deep casual colors and the fact that it is not greasy or fragrant so you still feel like you are not wearing any lipstick.  Plus, it will not come off the minute you kiss one of your little ones, either.




Oil Blotting Papers.  One such as the Clinique item below is something that is good to keep in your purse for those times when you find yourself sweaty and shiny from all of the energy you exerted at the park with Jimmy or at the Mommy and Me class with Susie.  Trust me, you will feel 100% less in need of an immediate shower if you run one of these over your face.

Eating Out With Children

We have three small children.  As I write this post, they are 4.5 years, 2.5 years and 10 months old.  Yes, they have the energy of, well, a 4.5 year old, 2.5 year old, and 10 month old.  If you have no children or yours are grown enough that you may have missed just quite what I mean here, think back to Tigger in the Winnie the Pooh books, bouncing on his tail, stuttering with excitement on what he has to say, hanging from trees, running from one activity to the next.  Yeah, that's basically everyday around here. (Have I resorted to comparing my three sweeties to fictional animals??)

So eating out can be a challenge with children.  They whine while waiting for a table for 5 on a Saturday night at a popular chain restaurant.  They balk at the menu that has nothing they like to eat on it.  They're messy.  They're loud.  They have to go to the bathroom NOW....right when you're about to take that first bite all evening out of your hamburger and precisely at the moment when the baby has just dumped a glass of water all over the table.

So what do you do?  Well, for one, take a deep breath and remember that God does not give you more than you can handle.  1 Corinthians 10:13 "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."  Next, once you realize that there is a way to dig yourself out of this kids-meal-sized mess you have gotten yourself into, remember that discipline and consistency are key.  Have every meal at home be representative of what it should be like when you are in public.  Let's see.  OK, deciding not to use silverware and instead eating "Rover style" out of the plate is not acceptable in a restaurant so this should be curbed at home.  Throwing a spoonful of peas at Little Brother because, well, he's the little brother and they're yucky anyways.  Yeah, not really the best idea at home if you want to keep the bottomless bowl of nachos inside the basket instead of on the floor while dining out.  Oh, oh, I have another one!  Screaming he doesn't want any when one of those scary, awful, green things, called - dare we say it - vegetables, is spooned onto your child's plate as a side dish.  Well, you know where I'm going with this...

Once you have tackled the basics of do's and dont's at a restaurant, eating out with your children could actually be an enjoyable experience.  Yes, I mean it, and I'm not just talking about the Cleavers or the Huxtables here.  Any regular family can make eating out with children doable and a pastime that everyone will look forward to.  Following are some products that we use in our family when eating out with the kids.  It makes our life just a little bit easier so I want to pass them along to you.

The Tiny Diner by Kiddopotamus.  We have it in green and blue and I have resisted buying another pink one for my daughter since the oldest no longer uses his so we have one for each of the younger kids to use.  We love it.  It suctions onto the table, provides a clean surface for baby to eat off of, and the trough catches all of the major food droppings so clean up is easier.  As a plus, the trough also doubles as a teether for any young babies who would just love to take a gnaw out of the table at any restaurant.  Now they can without you having to worry about all of the other babies who have gnawed in the same spot.  This makes a great and unique baby shower wishing well gift.

Sesame Street Folding Travel Potty Seat.  I cannot say enough good things about this guy.  It's a folding potty seat that goes in our diaper bag all the time for those times we are on to go and Junior needs to use the big scary (and dirty) potty.  It folds out in a snap, fits any toilet and provides a clean, toddler-sized toilet seat that they can easily use without falling in!  I love that it's so easy to use, that Dad can even help take the boys to the potty when (Murphy's Law) they decide they have to go to minute the food has just arrived at the table.  It's perfect for little boys who don't stand up yet (or have to do their #2 business, which, I will warn you, will happen at the most hectic times while out and about!) and for little girls of all ages.



Portable Kitchen Shears.  Such as the ones by Farberware below are one of my favorite diaper bag items.  I love that these come in a two-pack so you can keep one at home and take one to go.  These will make the process of cutting up plates of food for your little ones into bite-sized pieces while they fuss and whine that they are starving much easier!  They cut through food in a snap and are far easier to use than any knife, especially when you go to a place that only has plastic knives, such as fast food or pizza.  Cut through pizza in long vertical slices through almost the entire piece, stopping at the crust, and then trim in rows horizontally for a full plate of bite-size pieces in about 30 seconds.



Baby Buddy Bib Clip.  I LOVE this product!  It has saved us countless times when we have been out and about, sit down to eat with Baby, and realize that we have no bib to protect her lovely pale pink hand-knit sweater dress.  It turns anything into a bib, whether it's a napkin from the restaurant or a burp cloth from your own diaper bag.  Being a mom of three, I try to think of everything when we go out, but it's inevitable that sometimes things will be forgotten and that is usually a bib in our house.




Sassy On-the-Go Feeding Set.  This is one item that I try to remember to take with us when we are eating out or picnicking.  It is a large divided plate filled with three little ones, all with covers and equipped with a toddler-sized spoon. It is great when eating out at a busy restaurant, when the kids meal you are splitting between your two little ones arrives on one plate and the waitress quickly heads off to help someone else before you realize that you need another plate for the entree and some small bowls for the side dishes.  This works perfectly as an impromptu second divided dish so that both kids can start eating instead of waiting for the waitess to return.  It also has a toddler-sized spoon in case your littlest flatware users just can't get that adult-sized spoon into their mouth.