Gifts for Elementary-School Aged Kids

This Christmas, LEGO is moving from under the tree to on the tree! With This book as your guide, you'll make classic globe and barrel ornaments, all out of LEGO, as well as original gingerbread houses, a merry Santa, arcade cabinets, and many more. Packed with step-by-step instructions for 15 charming builds, The LEGO Christmas Ornaments Book is the perfect family activity this holiday season. $16.52; Amazon

Fun with Stitchables introduces young crafters to the fun of simple embroidery. Quick and easy cross-stitch sewing cards are included with punched holes for easy stitching, as well as a 16-page project book with instructions for designing your own unique stitching patterns and color combinations. A project gallery shows examples of what the hand-stitched cards can become once they are complete: everything from ornaments to greeting cards! The simple stitching patterns taught in this book promote growth and development, hand-eye coordination, as well as creativity and imagination. Fun with Stitchables will entertain and delight crafters of all ages and inspire a lifelong love of embroidery. $15; Amazon

We love these #StarWars plastic scale model kits that are positionable, walkable and complete with sounds! The model kits take up to an estimated 60 minutes to assemble, keep kids engaged for hours after the last piece is clicked into place, and utilize ABS plastic that provides durability, easy assembly, exceptional detail and interactive capabilities. It's like having two toys in one because once you assemble you can also play with them! $20-$30; Target

Moving away from the concept of a doll that looks like the child, the Global Girl collection comprises the beautiful cultural and ethnic differences that children embody in themselves, along with that of the friends and family in their lives. Since this generation of children is growing up in a more globally connected world, these dolls will pique their interest and excitement about other cultures at a young age and help prepare them for the future. Dolls available inspired by France, Argentina, China, USA, Russia and South Africa $90; Global Girls

We love this beautiful new coloring book by Margaret Peat. Let’s Color Together brings a new level of engagement to the coloring book craze by featuring beautiful spreads specifically designed for two people to color and enjoy at once. One side of the book when laid flat will face each person without tearing a page out of the book! It is the perfect opportunity to sit down, connect, and share some fun with your kids! $12; Amazon

Know a kid who loves helping in the kitchen? This kit is the perfect gift for #kidswhocook! The measuring cups and spoons are color coded so children can instantly recognize the correct measurements while following the recipe cards. These detailed recipe cards are also designed with young culinary artists in mind, filled with colorful illustrations, fun facts, nutrition, extra kitchen activities and safety tips. Recipes include: Very Vanilla Cake, Egg & Cheese Brunch Soufflé, Golden Chicken Nuggets, Zesty Zucchini Fries and Super Smoothies! The gift that keeps on giving—cooking is a life-long skill that presents many teaching opportunities like following directions, measuring and encouraging new foods. $40; Amazon

Our kids love every kit of Shape Mags they can get their hands on! The Magnetic Stick N Stack Tiles are educational and entertaining products that are fully compatible with other brands that have a higher price tag. Why pay more when you don't have to? Many other consumers agree; the Junior Set currently ranks #3 in Amazon’s Magnetic Toys category, and most of the site’s recent verified purchase customer reviews give five stars. The products have won in the Brain Child category of Tillywig Toy Awards, as well as a Parent Tested Parent Approved award from ptpa.com. $30 and up; Toys2Discover

Paper Holiday—the sixth in the PaperMade series—is an instant holiday classic. Each page has a unique design that's pre-cut, scored, and beautifully illustrated. Ornaments simply punch out and fold up into 3D shapes with easy-to-follow instructions right on the page. Each design has paper hooks in different sizes and colors, that hang on a tree, mantle, cubicle, dorm room, or any place that needs holiday cheer! Paper Holiday combines paper craft with advanced paper engineering so no glue, tape, or tools are ever needed! Plus, Paper Holiday ornaments aren’t fragile—they won’t shatter and don’t need special storage! Everyone ages 7 to 101 loves making PaperMade holiday ornaments and you will too. $12; Amazon

These festive reindeer headphones are the perfect gift idea. Who wouldn't want to wear antlers while listening to music or movies. Santa's reindeer will appreciate the environment friendly material and parents will love the built-in volume-controlled circuitry that ensures the sound is within levels recommended safe for young children’s eardrums. The cute removable Christmas reindeer horns are twistable, bendable and stretchable. $17; Amazon

Do you kids love to create? I remember making these melamine plates when I was a kid. It's one of those nostalgic gift ideas that will last much longer than a drawing on paper. Kids will enjoy their creations whenever they eat! $14.99; Amazon

We love a good subscription box, and this one's just for the kiddos who like to get crafty! Your kids will be kept busy all while learning STEAM skills and creating toys and items that they can actually use when the project is complete. There are boxes available for different age groups, starting at age zero on up through sixteen and older. $25+; KiwiCrate

The Cookie Crafter™ playset is a battery operated fun and easy to use way for kids to make unique cookie creations using graham crackers and decorations from home. Kids place a graham cracker on the base, shape with the designed-for-safety cookie crafting tool, decorate and enjoy! The Cookie Crafter™ playset is recommended for kids ages 6 and older. $20; Jaks Pacific

We love our Build and Imagine sets around here. And now there are some awesome accessories to continue the fun, including a Slumber Party Magnetic Accessories Extension Pack and a Career Dolls set! I also have my eye on their Draw & Build Dollhouse with four dry-erase markers to create your own scenes. ($14.99; BuildandImagine)

This unique three ball set is sure to entertain and delight little ones ages 6 months and up. Fun Z Balls incorporates different and distinct characteristics, promoting exploration, sensory play, as well as enhancing gross motor skills while also introducing concepts of logic and early science. Each ball rolls differently to stimulate little ones for hours of fun and laughter. Children will squeal with delight as they try to understand why one ball rolls in the pattern of a Z, another rolls to the side, while the third rolls smooth and slow. $30; Amazon

Naptime has never been so cozy and fun! Little ones can snuggle into their incredibly soft, luxe nap mat from Janiebee at naptime – at school, Grandma’s house or at home! Made with gorgeous details, including a fabric tie closure and an extra thick minky pillowcase. Janiebee Nap Mats offer children a clean and cozy place to rest, and once naptime is over, simply roll up and tie closed! Offering a beautiful array of bright prints and designs for both boys and girls, Janiebee Nap Mats are made in the USA with quality fabric, stitching and care. Personalization and custom nap mats are available, and designs change seasonally. Machine washable and dryer safe too! $89; Janiebee

he KWID Learning Watch teaches kids to read digital and analog time by displaying them together so kids can connect the two. The KWID also teaches time management skills, thanks to a digital hourglass timer that is great for tracking privileges, chores, tooth brushing time and more. When the digital hourglass empties, a song plays and a cute animation pops up. In addition, kids can control the playing of different entertaining animations when they push the “kid” button that is just for them! $30 Claessens Kids

Inspired by classic Hot Wheels track sets, Hot Wheels PlayTape opens up a universe of open-ended vehicle play that's as simple and unbounded as “Unroll, Stick, and Race!™” Not just for kids, Hot Wheels PlayTape also gives Hot Wheels adult fans and collectors a way to display prized vehicles in their “natural habitat.” The product is made in the USA and the stickers leave no residue when removed. $20; INRoadToys