Gift Guide - Holiday 2014 - #BOYSNEEDTHESE

As the Holidays approach and your shopping list starts to develop you might be finding some holes in the kid department. It can be so darn hard to purchase for kids that aren't yours...and for that matter...kids that ARE yours.

Boys vs. girls?  Is this toy age appropriate?  I've compiled a list above of gifts that will hit it out of the park this year!

These are just a guide and brands don't necessarily matter.  I'm not suggesting that my readers in California purchase a Minnesota Zoo membership, but am merely saying that a membership to a local museum/zoo/indoor playground is a GREAT place to start for a gift that will last all year!  

Happy gifting!
 - Jen

Here's what's on the list (all prices are averages taken from Amazon):

1 - Design and Drill - May look more geared to boys, but the pattern cards that come with it suggest GIRL.  $20

2 - BOOKS - I'm always tired of reading the same books.  My kids (2 and 6) are obsessed with seek and find books like "Where's Waldo".  Other great titles this year are "The Day the Crayons Quit" and the "Busy Car Book (series)" is fantastic!  $10-$20

3 - MEMBERSHIP!  My kids LOVE memberships to museums and zoos.  Places we can go year round an pay nothing.  Here are the places in MN that you can purchase a membership for about $100:
Minnesota Zoo
SeaLife Aquarium (Mall of America)
Children's Museum (Ages 1-6 are best suited)
Science Museum (Ages 4+)
Bakken Museum (Ages 4+)
Edinborough Park (Indoor play space in Edina)
Minnesota Historical Society (our favorite...multiple locations)

4 - Bounce and Sport Ball.  Large muscle activity that is relatively safe indoors...WINTER SAVIOR.  $10

5 - Plasma Car.  Have hard floors in the house?  GET ONE OF THESE!  $45

6 - Camera.  This one claims to project the pictures as well.  Kids love cameras of any sort.  I would suggest getting them a "REAL" camera (cheap adult camera) because then the pictures will have a decent megapixel count and you can print them!
$40-$100

7 - MAGIC SET - this one is new for Melissa and Doug and seems to be age appropriate for kids.  Axel would LOVE to unwrap this for Christmas!  $25