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Unexpected Joys for Girls and Boys Our top 20 toy picks for this topsy-turvy year
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Happy Healthy Holidays Gifts that get kids moving
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INSIDE: DECEMBER PLAY LIST: 21 WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE HO-HO-HOLIDAYS
2020 Gift Guide
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Happy, Healthy Holidays 16 gifts that get kids moving! By Malia Jacobson Tired of prying kids off the couch? If you suspect your offspring have been less active this year, you’re not wrong. New research from the University of Southern California — emerging from one of the first studies on kids’ physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic — confirms that kids have moved less and sat more during this time. School closures and canceled activities widened the existing “exercise gap” between older and younger children, with older children being even less likely to break a sweat during quarantine. These popular holiday gift picks are sneaky exercise boosters in disguise, designed to spark both holiday joy and healthy physical activity. Wrap up one or a few and take a tiny break from your role as family fitness coach — holiday bliss! Here’s to enjoying some merry movement, together.
Baby years (0–2) Ikea Klappa Baby Gym, $35 (newborn and older) Tummy time is easier when baby is having fun. Ikea’s popular baby gym promotes visual development, healthy growth and hand-eye coordination for your littlest one. If your baby falls head over heels for the sweet
hanging toys (it happens), the ladybug, butterfly and frog are detachable for close-up play.
Playskool Fold ’n Go Elephant Tummy Time Toy, $26.99 (ages 3 months and older) Most baby activity mats are best used at home, but this one is good to go. Soft, crinkly and squeaky, this mat promotes sensory development with seven activities to keep babies moving. It’s also easy to stash in a diaper bag and port to relatives’ homes over the holidays. Little Tikes Classic Rocking Horse, $29 (ages 1–3 years)
Equipped with easy-grip handles and a seat that prevents falling forward or backward, this classic rocking horse is safe for newly mobile toddlers. It is also easy to clean and light enough to tote from room to room or from playroom to patio. For more rock-around-theblock adventures, download the Little Tikes Play Big Skill on any Alexa-enabled Amazon device. Baby Shark Dancing DJ, $33.88 (ages 2 and older) Dance out the stresses of the year with everyone’s favorite toothy aquatic tot. Baby Shark Dancing DJ plays six remixes of your child’s favorite song to turn any room into a dance
floor. Choose between game mode, dance mode and play mode to keep the dance party going all day.
Early years (3–5) Educational Insights – Nancy B’s Science Club Bug Discovery Lab & Incredible Insects Journal, $22 (ages 3 and older) Open playgrounds might be scarce this winter, but you can still keep your preschooler pumped up for outdoor exploration. This kit promotes STEM learning with a specially designed insect catcher that makes it easy to gather and examine creepy-crawlies up close, then safely set them free. Kids can record their findings in the enclosed journal, which is filled with fun facts, experiments and writing prompts.
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Antsy Pants Play Tunnel, $20 (ages 3 and older) When it comes to kids’ toys with staying power, the price of a $20 soft play tunnel may be the best money you can spend.
you remember from your childhood. This indoor/outdoor portable ball pit promotes movement, sensory development and motor skills. The 35 brightly colored balls include 10 filled with special surprises.
Elementary years (6–12) Throw Throw Burrito, $28 (ages 7 and older) When you need to burn off Taco Tuesday, pull out Throw Throw Burrito, an active board game designed to keep kids and families moving — and giggling. The newest game from the creators of Explod-
National Geographic Sky Rockets, $19.99 (ages 6 and older)
ing Kittens, this indoor take on
This affordable set takes learning to new
This foundational piece of play gear
dodgeball is suitable for kids, grown-ups
heights — literally. Not only is this a rare
promotes movement, imagination and
and family game nights.
creative play well into the school years. Use it on its own or to connect it to forts, tents or playhouses. When play is finished, it folds almost entirely flat.
My Gnome on the Roam Adventure Kit, $30 (ages 3 and older) Whether your child is a prolific poet or a reluctant writer, this highly giftable set
Scoot Drone Hand-Operated Indoor Flying UFO Toy, $35 (ages 4 and older)
promotes movement, literacy and making
Launching and following this hand-con-
ning “Gnome on the Roam” storybook
trolled drone will keep your preschooler active for hours. Scoot is made to use indoors without a remote, making it perfect for cooped-up kids on cold and
memories. The kit includes the award-winalong with a blank adventure journal, a colorless ready-to-be-painted gnome and a magical pen. “After reading the storybook,
battery lasts up to a year. Kids can
Blippi Ball Pit Mystery Adventure, $49.88 (ages 3 and older)
past, but that doesn’t mean your kid has to miss out on the fun
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rockets — they’ll just know they’re having a blast.
charging — the
hovering UFO-style drone.
a thing of the
exercising as they run to retrieve the
doesn’t require
tures) as kids launch and relaunch the
have become
into the air. Kids won’t notice that they’re
is water-safe and
protects little hands (and your light fix-
ball pits may
and launch foam-tipped rockets 100 feet
than most, this one
features a unique webbed shell that
but they were also germy as heck. Public
Geographic Sky Rockets set into the back yard or the nearest park just after dark
A fitness tracker that’s more kid-friendly
toys aren’t safe for little ones, but this one
total-immersion exercise and sensory play,
in at under $20 and makes the most of winter’s early sunsets. Take the National
Garmin vívofit jr. 3, $79.99 (ages 4 and older)
drippy Pacific Northwest days. Most drone
Remember public ball pits? They provided
STEM toy that incorporates physical exercise and outdoor play, it also comes
unlock games by completing physical families are encouraged to take their
activities and
gnome out to explore the world beyond
challenge friends
their own picket fence, to record their
and siblings to
story and to share it with the broader
activity competitions,
community via My Gnome on the Roam’s
while parents can
app and social sites,” says author and
manage chores, al-
creator Anne Armstrong, a mom and
lowance and screen time from the accom-
middle school teacher.
panying app. The band is designed to fit a smaller wrist; for kids 13 and older, consider the vívofit 3.
Teen years (ages 13+) Beats Solo Pro Noise-Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones, $299 Desperate to get your housebound teen up and moving? Gift these impressive headphones and you
can be sure they’ll want to go out and show them off. Sure, they’ll come in handy for remote learning and listening to music at home, but they’ll also encourage teens to take an extra lap or two around the block. For a more budget-friendly option, consider the popular, stylish, but less spendy Skullcandy Riff headphones for under $50. Nerf Rival Roadhouse XX-1500 Blaster, $24.99 (ages 14 and older) Getting teens outside during the winter takes a little parental ingenuity. Wrapping up this teenapproved toy will up your parental street cred — unlike other Nerf Blasters, this one is made specifically for big kids. It also comes with built-in safety features and doesn’t require batteries. Holy Stone HS110D RC Drone with HD Camera, $59.99 For a trendy, they-won’t-know-they’re-exercising electronics gift that won’t end up mangled and discarded come January, drop a drone in your cart. Teens’ step count will spike as they track this well-reviewed drone around the neighborhood. Its relatively long flying time and easy-to-use interface minimize the frustration factor.
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Just Dance 2021, $49.99 Sometimes, kids just need to dance. For a giftable game that keeps kids moving on rainy indoor days, scoop up Just Dance 2021. The twelfth game in the Just Dance series is set to release in November for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5. Co-op, kids’ and quickplay modes invite the entire family to bust a move. Just try to resist.
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Malia Jacobson is a health and family journalist.
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Unexpected Joys The Top 20 Toys for 2020 By Malia Jacobson This year may not have turned out the way you’d planned. In fact, it probably veered so far off course that it required an
do appreciate adorable, comfy clothing. Magnetic Me is known for silky-soft baby duds with hidden magnetic closures for
entirely new road map. But while 2020 presented significant challenges, it also offered some unexpected gifts in the form of curbside pickup, pen pals, neighborhood walks and more time at home with loved ones.
quick, easy changes. Its new “One World” print is inspired by a wish for global peace and health in 2020 and beyond; 10 percent of proceeds are donated to CARE (care.org), a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty by distributing food and hygiene kits, and empowering and protecting women and girls during COVID-19.
While we’ve been busy building resilience and baking sourdough, toy whisperers have been hard at work reinventing their collections and finding new ways to connect with customers. “Online shopping is a new venture for us, because we didn’t have a website before this year,” says Brittney Geleynse, co-owner of Clover Toys (clovertoys.com) in Ballard. “We’re very excited and we’re still adding to it!” The newest batch of toys and games focus on philanthropy, unplugged fun, soothing sensory experiences and neighborhood play. Read on for our top toy picks from this topsy-turvy year.
Early years (ages 0–5) Magnetic Me ‘One World’ Modal Magnetic Footie, $39 Newborns can’t play with toys, but they (okay, their parents)
Bunnies by the Bay Friendly Chime Baby Rattle, $10 Local favorite Bunnies by the Bay creates super soft, supremely giftable plush toys in its Anacortes workshop. “What I love about their toys for newborns is that they have sewn eyes and other features, so they’re not a choking haz-
ard,” says Geleynse. “Their new rattle line is plush, beautiful and sweet.” Dans La Jungle Stack-Up Cubes and Three Chicks by Moulin Roty, $26 Stacking cubes are a classic gift for the
2-and-younger crowd. This new set from Moulin Roty’s Dans La Jungle collection comes with a bonus: three sweet chicks that tots can tuck inside the cubes. Dans La Jungle Cascading Spinning Tops by Moulin Roty, $48 A whimsical take on the popular ramp-style toy, this item features cascading tops that
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twirl their way down three levels to the bottom. “We’re excited about Dans La Jungle toys,” says Geleynse. “This is very similar to a toy my daughter received for her first birthday, so when I saw it, I just fell in love.” Moulin Roty Storybook Torch, $16 This flashlight, equipped with colorful disks, projects images onto any flat surface. Little ones can put on their own storybook show; caregivers can incorporate stories into kids’ bedtime routines.
bility, versatility and a dash of superhero spirit. This three-piece set includes a double-sided mask and comfortable, high-quality finishes to take tots and preschoolers from rock star to superhero to dancing queen in style.
Elementary years (ages 6–12) Faber-Castell and Klutz #HatNotHate Quick Knit Loom Kit, $25 Older kids can create their own cozy hat and support #HatNotHate, an anti-bullying campaign founded by Shira Blumenthal to raise awareness by making, wearing and sharing blue hats. “This speaks to a need in our community, and it’s a great skill for kids to learn,” says Geleynse.
Peaceable Kingdom Smoosh and Seek Treehouse, $20 This new memory game by Peaceable Kingdom has a satisfying sensory twist: Players work together to find animal friends and “squish” their images into smooshy dough. “One thing I love about Peaceable Kingdom is that they will replace all missing or damaged game pieces, including the dough,” says Geleynse. Manzanita Kids Toy Mailbox, $49 Handcrafted in Seattle from kid-safe, sustainable wood, Manzanita Kids toys are satisfyingly tactile playthings made to last. “Our mailbox encourages imagination and helps retain bonds with friends and family that we just can’t see right now. Kids love ‘reading’ their mail and using the slot in the box,” says Manzanita Kids founder David Minnery. “We also offer custom letters, where you can pen your own letters to your littles!” Great Pretenders Super-Duper Hero Teal Tutu, Cape and Mask Set, $32 Thriving in 2020 and beyond takes flexi-
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it’s time for a new kitchen challenge. This kit lets gummy connoisseurs and budding scientists safely experiment with natural polymers, colorings and citric acid. Even better, they get to eat the results. Manzanita Kids Mod-Town Modular Building Toys, $54 The newest additions to Manzanita’s popular modular building sets, Mod-Town kits can stand alone or as part of a modular neighborhood, village or fantasy world. “Bigger kids love our modular building toys,” says Minnery. “The design is timeless, gender-neutral, and it encourages open-ended imaginative play for ages 4–10. All sets are cross-compatible so you can mix and match; they’re heirloom quality and meant to be passed down to the next generation.” Wham-O Snow Boogie Hot Dog Tube, $30 What better way to end 2020 than with a gift that promotes family bonding, outdoor
Manzanita Kids Wooden Educational Activity Board, $38 “We just released our new educational activity boards that we are very excited about. We have four designs for various developmental stages, all designed by my wife, Adrienne, a veteran elementary schoolteacher,” says Minnery. “The boards focus on fundamental math and language skills, and are also great as a go-anywhere activity board.” Bunnies by the Bay Toy Face Mask, $3 Get your child’s plush collection geared up for 2021 with this sweet stocking stuffer from Bunnies by the Bay. (This mask is sized for dolls and plush toys, and isn’t for use on humans.)
Thames & Kosmos Gross Gummy Candy Lab, $20 When your cookie monster tires of baking,
exercise and pure fun? This three-person inflatable sled features six soft handles, an eye-catching design and a soft, bouncy ride. Safe for ages 4 and older, this sled is ready for your neighborhood hill and light enough to tote over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house. Razor Party Pop Scooter, $49.99 Brighten your tween’s neighborhood strolls with Razor’s brilliant Party Pop scooter. Its multicolored lights will illuminate winter’s dark months and make it easier to spot your speedster on family outings.
Teen Years (ages 13+) MasterPieces Seek & Find 1,000-Piece Puzzle, $16 Puzzles are a perennial pastime that’s newly popular in 2020. This 1,000-piece puzzle offers an additional challenge hidden in the artwork to take your teen’s puzzle puttering to the next level. Eat2explore Global Cooking Kit, $24.95 This monthly subscription kit brings world cuisine to your kitchen with recipes from a new country each month — perfect for a homebound teenager dreaming of global travel. 1220_gage_1-8h.indd 1
Incohearent – Family Edition by What Do You Meme?, $20 The PG version of the best-selling Incohearent game, this family-friendly edition features 500 cards for hours of family giggles. Players 12 and older compete to decode gibberish phrases until one player wins … or everyone collapses from laughing, whichever comes first. Buffalo Games Apollo: A Game Inspired by the NASA Moon Missions, $29.99 From May’s SpaceX shuttle launch to July’s visit from the NEOWISE comet, 2020 sparked new interest in astronomy. This cooperative strategy game inspired by NASA moon missions allows players to walk in the footsteps of NASA pioneers. Teams collaborate to complete flight stages, overcome obstacles, repair spacecraft and finish their mission.
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TRADE KIDS’ STUFF FOR
Magneto Slot Machine Longboard, $79.99 With more people taking to streets and sidewalks, it’s no surprise that the longboard trend has picked up speed during COVID-19. Similar to skateboards and well-suited to cruising and racing, longboards are more popular than ever. This new release features a lengthwise slot running through the board’s center. The slot helps the board flex while in motion, for improved turning, better traction and more stability when pushing off.
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Malia Jacobson is a health and family journalist based in Tacoma.
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December Play List 21 ways to celebrate the ho-hoholidays By Devon Hammer
Check out many more happenings online at parentmap.com/calendar.
Step Afrika’s virtual Magical Musical Holiday Step Show
December is a month chockfull of seasonal traditions and holiday magic — and, boy, do we need these little tidbits of normalcy and celebration more than ever this year! Not all of the usual festivals and events we look forward to each December are happening, but some of them are! We’ve gift-wrapped some awesome virtual and in-person events to keep your spirits shining brightly this season.
1. Do sibling fights have you
ready to pull your hair out? Join ParentMap and positive discipline expert Julietta Skoog to learn how to foster lifelong friendships among your sweet little tyrants. Dec. 1, 2 p.m. Free. parentmap.com/live
Downtown Park to Redmond Town Center. Nightly, Dec. 3– Jan. 3. Free. parentmap.com/redmond-lights
3. Book your tix for a sparkling family stroll among beautiful and larger-than-life animal lanterns perched around Woodland Park
2. Bundle up, grab some
cocoa and take a stroll through Redmond while gazing at festive light installations. This year, enjoy Redmond Lights all month long on a walking route from
Redmond Lights
Editor’s note: Please remember to wear a mask when coming within 6 feet of anyone outside of your immediate household and follow all advisories related to safe recreating outdoors (parentmap.com/stay-safe).
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Highlighted Events for December
Dec. 1
| Tuesday
ParentMap Live: Together Forever Fighting Fair and Fostering Friendship Among Siblings Online parentmap.com/live
Dec. 13
| Sunday
Dec. 16
Virtual Hanukkah Storytime Online parentmap.com/ hanukkah-stories
| Wednesday
Step Afrika! Magical Musical Holiday Step Show Online parentmap.com/step-afrika
Zoo for the holiday season. Through Jan. 17. $23.95–$28.95; ages 2 and younger free. parentmap.com/zoo-lanterns
4. Load the fam into the car
for Fantasy Lights, a 2-mile drive through magical light displays set around Spanaway Park. Through Jan. 3. $15–$20 per car. parentmap.com/fantasy-lights
5. Celebrate Hanukkah
through stories and songs at a special Virtual Hanukkah Storytime presented by the Stroum Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and PJ Library. Dec. 13, 10–11 a.m. Free; books for purchase. parentmap.com/ hanukkah-stories
6. Feel the heart-pounding
beat and holiday magic of Step Afrika’s virtual Magical Musical Holiday Step Show. Gather the whole family for a viewing party on YouTube or Facebook. Dec. 16, 4:30 p.m. Free. parentmap.com/step-afrika
7. Explore the grounds of
Tacoma Nature Center on a guided nature walk around Snake Lake. Book a private family tour for up to four members of your household, and be sure to plan time to play at the center’s awesome natureinspired playground. Monday– Friday times available. $35 per family. parentmap.com/ tacoma-nature
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”; photo courtesy Pacific Northwest Ballet
8. Join KidsQuest Children’s
Museum at Bellevue Square for a COVID-safe take on the museum’s annual gingerbread event. Register in advance to go on a candy quest at the Gingerbread Candy Shoppe, then grab your gingerbread house kit to create and decorate your sweet masterpiece at home. Dec. 16–19, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $45–$50 per family. Additional kits available for purchase. parentmap.com/gingerbread
9. Climb aboard the Yuletide Express to visit Santa and his elves! Book your tickets for a 25-minute festive train ride through Snoqualmie Valley
and receive a special gift from Santa. Through Dec. 19, 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. $24; ages 1 and younger free. parentmap.com/ yuletide-express
10. Take a stroll around
Lacey’s Huntamer Park, which is all decked out in holiday lights. This year, the city’s tree lighting celebration morphs into a monthlong light display made extra-special with holiday singalongs and a recorded story read by the Jolly One himself! Dec. 1–31, 5–8 p.m. Free. parentmap.com/lacey-lights
11. Snowflake Lane won’t
have its usual musical parade
this year, but there will still be plenty of holiday magic afoot in downtown Bellevue between Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square. Nightly through Dec. 24, 5–9 p.m. Free. parentmap.com/ snowflake-lane
12. The show must go on!
It might not be live, but the chance to see the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s iconic performance of “The Nutcracker” is more accessible this year. Get together with your pod for a viewing party to enjoy this breathtaking Northwest holiday tradition. Streaming Dec. 18–26. $39. parentmap.com/nutcracker
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S P O N S O RED EVEN TS
Dec. 5–6, 12–13, 18–19 Yuletide Express Ride the 25-minute Yuletide Express aboard an antique coach from Snoqualmie to the Falls. Enjoy cookies, Santa and more! Advance tickets only, $24. Sat./Sun. for three weeks, then Fri./Sat. for final weekend. TrainMuseum.org
Dec. 2020 George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker Your holiday season may look a little different this year, but the magic of “The Nutcracker” can still be part of your tradition. pnb.org/nutcracker
Dec. 4–Jan. 3 Holiday Magic — A Festive Drive-Thru Experience Join us in Puyallup for a new drive-thru holiday event at the Washington State Fair. Breathtaking lights, whimsical holiday displays, sweet treats, Fair food and more. Select dates, Dec. 4–Jan. 3. thefair.com/holiday-magic
Warm Beach Camp’s The Lights of Christmas continued from page 11
13. You don’t have to give
up on visiting Santa this year. North Pole PR people are scheduling virtual or socially distanced family encounters with the big guy in the red suit — so you can keep your holiday tradition going. parentmap.com/santa-visits
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for Warm Beach Camp’s new “drive-thru” edition of The Lights of Christmas. Greet Santa and other characters and view the beautiful light displays while you stay warm and cozy in your car. Select dates through Dec. 30. $20–$25 per car. parentmap.com/lights-ofchristmas
16. Pop by Watson’s
Greenhouse to pay a visit to Donder and Blitzen during their annual vacation to Puyallup. Even during this nutty year, they’re still planning to come. Daily through Dec. 24. Free. parentmap.com/watsons
Dec. 5, 2020– May 2, 2021 Cruisin’ the Fossil Coastline Art and fossils collide in this exhibit on West Coast fossils and the remarkable stories they reveal through colorful murals, real fossils and more. burkemuseum.org
15. Venture to Stanwood
17. Meet Santa, check out his 14. Introduce your little ones to music and rhythm through play and dance. Join Music Center of the Northwest and ParentMap for a virtual Music Together class. Dec. 21, 9:30 a.m. Free. parentmap.com/live
sleigh, feed his reindeer and meet other exotic animals at Cougar Mountain Zoo’s annual Issaquah Reindeer Festival. Daily, Dec. 1–23 and 26–30. Price TBA. parentmap.com/ reindeer-fest
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Find more great gift ideas at parentmap.com/gifts. Devon Hammer is ParentMap’s Out + About editorial assistant.
TOGETHER S T N E M O M Y IL M A CELEBRATING F
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