2011 Stuffers, Birthday Treats & Other Small Gifts 2011 Stuffers, Birthday Treats & Other Small Gifts
Fun doesn’t have to cost a lot! So if you’re looking for a last minute gift, or even just a little something you can stuff in a gift bag, these gems are high in play value, and they’ll barely make a dent in your pocket book.
My First Green Toys Stacking Cups (6m+, Green Toys)
Besides being environmentally friendly, this food-grade plastic contains no BPA, Phthalates or PVC - which is especially important as the rounded edges on these beakers make them popular chew toys. We also love that the toy is dishwasher safe, and the cups are "volumetrically" proportional.
Brainy Baby Animals Book (12m+, The Brainy Company)
Our testers loved using the tabs along the top of this colourful board book to flip the pages - especially to a favourite spread. Featuring real-life photos of animals, this is a great book that's sturdy enough for toddlers, but also interesting enough to appeal to their older siblings.
Triazzle® Kids Puzzles (2+, Be Good Company)
Our testers found these flat-edged triangular pieces easier to place than regular jigsaw puzzle pieces, and the large bold graphics made it a cinch to match each piece to where it belonged.
Safari & Farm Animals - 2 Puzzle Set (3+, The Purple Cow)
Vibrant pictures, sturdy pieces and a tin box. Our testers were impressed by the high quality of this puzzle set, and loved that the back of each puzzle is marked by a different pattern for easy sorting.
Crayola Color Wonder Metallic Paper (3+, Crayola)
One of the coolest Color Wonder sets we've seen. Instead of the typical colours, this marker/sheet combo creates bright and shiny metallic hues: blue, purple, green, yellow or orange as indicated on the marker used. Note: the shimmery effect does eventually fad to regular colours, but it’s spectacular while it lasts.
Mini Lalaloopsy™ Dolls (4+, MGA Entertainment)
With their brightly coloured outfits and cheerful-looking, button-eyed faces, these adorable mini figures have even more appeal than the original and highly popular 12" (30cm) dolls. Even small as they are, their heads rotate, and they are articulated at both shoulders and hips, offering lots of possibilities for play.
Bug Out™ The Speedy Scramble for Slugs and Bugs! (5+, Out of the Box Publishing)
Chaos reigns as players simultaneously scramble to be the first to rid themselves of cards by matching the bugs on the table. Fun, and very popular with our testing families.
Captain America Hero Mask (5+, Hasbro)
Exceptionally well designed. Parents love the large eye holes for good visibility, kids love that it’s comfortable enough to play in. And the fact it's a superhero, just makes it even better!
Bizu Beads (6+, Spin Master Toys)
Our testers loved these funky beads and the clever way you string and snap them together. But the coolest thing about these bracelets is that when you take them off, a quick twist transforms them into a cute little friend.
Redakai (6+, Spin Master)
The holographic animation is jaw-dropping, and the card design is equally impressive. As the cards are stacked on top of each other, a mix of see-through areas and opaque graphics create a quick visualization of the effect each new card has. It’s an excellent game, but its ultimate success depends on whether friends also have cards and like to play.
Pom-Pom Monster Salon (8+, Klutz)
The included Wrap and Snap tool makes it really easy to make the pom-poms. But it’s the tips and ideas that turn your kitchen table into a monster salon. Do a make-over to give your pom-pom monster bushy eyebrows, pig tails, bangs, an extra tall beehive doo or even a spunky Mohawk.
The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers (10+, Scholastic)
The search for clues starts up again, this time buried in the Medusa painting by Caravaggio. Read the book, and use the clue cards to puzzle through a whole new online mission. As absorbing and enriching as the original series!