gifts for exuberantly eccentric eight-year-olds

 

Assorted Ototo Spaghetti Monster tools, so they can learn to make their own buttered noodles.

An avocado to stuff with surprises, like a couple of Maria Tallchief golden dollars or a fifty-pence coin from Narnia.

A lockable Gerstner mini chest, for assorted secret and precious treasures.

A clear lock that comes with picks to challenge nimble child fingers and scheming young brains.

Zach Weinersmith's Bea Wolf, an epic tale of the triumph of youth (and one of the most absolutely delightful books we read in 2023).

The Turning Tumble, a marble run that is actually a computer, to demystify magical screens.

Polymer clay, to make the tiny accoutrements desired for last year's woodland kingdom, which is sprawling across the top of two bookcases these days.

A Calcifer mug to keep minty-honey tea hot (or Totoro or Jiji). 

An Otamatone, which is a Japanese toy synthesizer that looks like the happy offspring of an eighth note and a salamander, so that they can perform retro hits.

Runamok syrup infused with edible mica, to make waffles glitter.

A pack of pencils by Duncan Shotten that sharpen into rainbows and a book that explains what to draw and how to draw it.

Cozy kicks that will always be easy to spot in the boots-off pile.

A leafy green they may actually be willing to embrace.

*Editor's note: All eight-year-olds I have met are, in fact, exuberantly eccentric! It is a great age.

*

One more indulgence: These funny gift guides are an annual delight to compile for all of you anonymous folks out there. I don't make any money from them—no affiliate links, no placements, nada! I'm an online renegade!—but if they have brought you joy or amusement, please consider making a donation to Doctors Without Borders. I'm donating what I can, too, and holding the people of Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan in my heart. Thank you.

gifts for sweet and salty seven-year-old storytellers

A kite to color, then fly.

A kid-sized headlamp, to encourage under-the-covers reading, and a book worth staying up late to read.

Mysterious riches via a grab-bag of 25 coins from around the world.

Yoto's clever mini audiobook player, with Kate Winslet's cracking Matilda, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci doing Steig, forever friends Frog and Toad, plus cards to record their own stories.

A real fountain pen for satisfyingly messy penmanship practice.

MoonShine Suds handmade rainbow crystal soap, to get the ink from the fountain pen off. 

A kalimba for composing pretty tunes whenever inspiration strikes.

Areaware Moon chalk, for making interesting lines.

A subscription to Mishou, an arty magazine for kids and their grown-ups to enjoy together.

A snake that needs a hug, for the ever-expanding Jellycat collection.

Marbles for holding the whole the solar system in your hand.

A set of blocks for building a woodland kingdom.

gifts for singular six-year-olds

A gift full of gifts that takes forever to unwrap (a perennial favorite).

A book that doubles as a planetarium (plus the amazing true story of two street dogs who went to space that's a repeat read around here).

Kid-safe tools for creating cardboard kingdoms.

All-natural colors to make baths an immersive art experience.

A huggable pinecone.

Guilt-free glitter to stick to everything.

A trio of books with surrealist prompts that encourage you to draw the story: The Secret Life of Bananas, What Happens to Night During the Day?, and Hocus Pocus. 

Oodles of pretend food and tricky brussels sprouts.

A clever clip-on wallet for stashing found pennies and assorted treasures.

Bandanas full of science facts about everything from snakes to scat to clouds and constellations. 

A science(ish) project that combines two favorites: crystals and trees.

And filed under I never would have guessed: Two six-year-olds I know (including my own) want pretend washing machines more than anything for the holidays. (This despite the fact they have no interest in helping with the actual laundry.) The children have spoken?

gifts for practical and fanciful four-year-olds

 

A cheery Duckhead umbrella to brighten rainy days.

Bluebird hankies from Poketo to dry tears and wipe noses.

Hammer time! Haba tap-and-tack.

For practicing wobbly letters: a Musgrave Choo-choo Jumbo pencil and an all-weather reporter's notebook.

Grimms blocks magnets paired with a magnetic tray/pizza pan/cookie sheet to pass the time on long drives.

For the child entranced by technology: an old-school cassette recorder with enticing buttons to push and fascinating tape mechanics (or the more kiddo-friendly Lil Mib voice recorder).

Harlekin spinning tops: a perfect, pocketable amusement.

For newly independent brushers: a toothbrushing timer, to help keep those pearly whites nice and clean.

Squishable, sparkly rainbows: Land of Dough swirly glitter dough (with semi-guilt-free biodegradable glitter) or a kit to mix up a batch of your own. (In stock at Fox & Kit.)

Manitobah mukluks for keeping small toes toasty and dry on wintery days. (I have a pair in grown-up size; they are marvelous.) Mittens on a string are a good idea, too.

A maybe-magical balm for "poetic badgers and other restless wanderers." (My kiddo loves this stuff.)