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Top toys for every kid on your list
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Gifts that give back long after the holidays are over
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Gift Guide 2023
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SWIMMING
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FITNESS
Try something new like yoga, dance, HIIT, TRX, or personal training. Fitness inclusive memberships are available.
Learn all about the orchestra’s instrument families at Symphony Tacoma’s hand-clapping, foot-stomping, sing-along concerts made just for kids ages 2 to 8!
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WELLNESS EDUCATION FUN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS Preschool and Before and After Care programs include swimming, snacks, games, and so much more.
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Top Toys of 2023 for Every Kid on Your List
By Amber Guetebier
With the holiday season upon us, it can be a joyous time of year, a time for upholding traditions and making new ones. But when it comes to gift shopping for kids, sometimes the season can become a little overwhelming. You want a gift they’ll love, and you want one that will stand the test of time — and some rough play. The great news? 2023 does not disappoint, with plenty of outstanding toys that are durable, adorable and encourage creativity. We’ve gone through dozens upon dozens of toy catalogs, so you don’t have to, and the results are in: These are our top gifts of 2023 for kids, from babies to teens.
1/ My Woodland Friends squeaker set by Gund A soft plush play set that evokes forest foraging and woodland romps, it comes with four soft sensory toys: an acorn rattle, a crinkling snail, and squirrel and fox squeakers. They all come in a 7.5-inch soft mushroom house. Baby can practice putting toys in the house and store the little animals inside. There’s even a small handle at the top to take the set on the go. Ages: 0 and up Cost: $24.95 2/ Bath-time slide set by Matchstick Monkey A toy for the bath that helps develop handeye coordination while also being adorable? Yes, please! The little slide attaches to the bath rim or any smooth surface and can be angled in three different ways. Then drop the little animal rocks down the slide until they splash into the tub. Made from FDA-approved food-grade silicone and BPA-free PVC and PP materials. Ages: 6 months and up Cost: $24.95
Mudpuppy Pizzasaurus Shaped Scratch & Sniff Puzzle
3/ “Bee: A Peek-Through Board Book” by Britta Teckentrup A die-cut board book that takes children through the busy day of this beloved pollinator. With brightly colored illustrations, even the tiniest readers will discover how vital bees are. Cutouts make the book a tactile experience as they travel from flower to hive. Ages: 0–3 Cost: $9.76 4/ The Block Set from Lovevery A 70-piece collection of wood blocks in an array of colors, sizes and shapes, this set helps little ones build their spatial
My Woodland Friends squeaker set
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reasoning and problem-solving skills while having fun. A creative toy that allows children to explore stacking, sorting and creating, it’s built to last. Plus, it looks adorable on the shelf. Ages: 18 months and up Cost: $90
The Block Set
5/ Magna-Tiles Downhill Duo You can’t really go wrong with Magna-Tiles. This new 40-piece set won the Toy the Year Award for 2023, in part because of the creative way it boosts STEM skills for young kids. Kids can engineer elevated racing tracks and build vehicles to race on them. Ages: 3 and up Cost: $69.99 6/ Color-sorting rainbow from Mirus Toys A Montessori toy that brings the colors of the rainbow to kids’ fingertips, the sorting rainbow improves fine motor skills, spatial
Casa Azul set
understanding, concentration and counting skills. The rainbow is made of maple wood, and the little balls are felted wool. Although younger children may benefit from this toy, the size of the felted balls can present a choking hazard. For this reason, the toy is recommended for ages 3 and older. These toys are made to order, so we suggest ordering early to ensure delivery before the holidays. Ages: 3 and up Cost: $64.95 7/ Connetix 92-piece ball run pack For limitless play, this 92-piece set allows kids to make an epic ball run by stacking and connecting the magnetic pieces. The colorful set features 36 connecting squares and clear, fluted tubes so kids can watch one of the six rainbow wooden balls (in
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cluded in the set) as they zoom down the slides. There are also S-bend tubes, a split tube and special-effect stair soundscape tubes. Ages: 3 and up Cost: $109 8/ Yoto Mini The Yoto Mini is a portable, screen-free way to let kids listen to audiobooks, music, activities and educational audio. Kids use physical cards to play audio files. It even plays sleep sounds and white noise, and can be used as an “okay to wake” alarm. Use it as a Bluetooth speaker or connect to Bluetooth headphones. The audio cards are purchased separately. Ages: 3–12 Cost: $69.99
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9/ Little Partners 2-in-1 Folding Learn ’N Slide with climber A standalone, double-sided balance trainer brings active play to any room or backyard. It has half-moon hand and foot grips on one side and a smooth surface for climbing on the other. The beautiful natural wood design is a welcome change from big plastic toys. Featuring a two-in-one design lock for safe play, it also folds up for easy storage. Holds as much as 150 pounds. Ages: 2–6 Cost: $229 10/ Super Smalls Magic Power Potion necklace kit This creative kit lets children mix up a potion and then turn it into a necklace.The set includes eight ingredients, a booklet with five different potion recipes, a funnel to make pouring easier, and four potion bottles, so they can make necklaces for their besties, too. Ages: 3 and up Cost: $45
AGES 6-11
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11/ Casa Azul set from Follies A buildable playhouse inspired by Frida Kahlo’s iconic home, this set includes 25 pieces. Mix and match, and build to create a variety of pieces, including a little kitchen, an artist’s easel and a tiny house. The pieces are made of nontoxic, BPA-free, phthalates-free, lightweight recyclable expanded plastic, which rinses clean. Ages: 4 and up Cost: $179 12/ LeapFrog Magic Adventures telescope With its 110x magnification, kids can use this digital telescope to zoom in on the night sky or the world around them. There’s also a little 2.4-inch screen to view more than 100 NASA videos and play a variety of space-inspired games. Ages: 5 and up Cost: $99
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13/ Taco vs Burrito card game Invented by a 7-year-old, this card game is equal parts entertainment and strategy as you compete with other players to stack your taco (or burrito) with a variety of ingredients, from gross to delicious. Players can steal i ngredients, instigate food fights and stop plays. It takes only 15 minutes to play, so it’s the perfect response to “Will you play with me?” Ages: 6 and up Cost: $19.99 14/ Tech Deck 25th Anniversary 8-Pack Yes, Tech Deck has been around for 25 years (feeling old yet?), and this eightboard set includes graphics from some of the biggest skate brands. Use the sticker packs to customize each fingerboard. It also includes a limited-edition silver Tech Deck Dude. Ages: 6 and up Cost: $24.99 15/ Gund Rainbow Round Pusheen Squisheen An ombre pastel plushy that is utterly huggable, this 11-inch-round plush toy is made of pillow-soft fabric and looks like a plump little cat, complete with smile, paws and tail. Your kids won’t be able to stop squeezing it (and neither will you). Ages: 8 and up Cost: $35
17/ Mattel Barbie Dream Boat play set The Barbie craze continues, but if the Barbie Dream House is too big for your space or your budget, this adorable set has more than 20 pieces, including pool, slide and a dolphin. Ages: 3 and up Cost: $58.99 18/ Mudpuppy Pizzasaurus Shaped Scratch & Sniff Puzzle A 48-piece mini puzzle features a pizzasaurus: a creature with a dinosaur head and a pizza body. The body even has the scratch-andsniff scent of cheesy pizza. It’s just weird enough that your kids will love it. Ages: 8 and up Cost: $8.99 19/ Virtual Reality Oceans! gift set from Abacus Brands Kids can immerse themselves in the aquatic world with this set, which includes virtual-reality goggles, a 96-page interactive book and scratch-art supplies to make their own ocean animal art. Explore the ocean on a submarine dive and watch as jellyfish, whales, dolphins and other creatures swim along. Ages: 8 and up Cost: $59.99 20/ Woom Original bike Designed with kids in mind, these bikes are ultralightweight and ergonomically adjusted for easy handling by kids. The tires have
Mudpuppy Andy Warhol Soup Can
extra grip, and the handlebar brakes are made so that kids can apply them without excessive pressure. This year, Woom is debuting a range of limited-edition bike colors, including “atomic neon” and “cosmic blurple.” The bikes are made for children as young as 18 months and as old as age 14. Ages: 18 months–14 years Cost: starting at $249 21/ Mudpuppy Andy Warhol Soup Can crayons and sharpener You’re never too old for crayons, and this sophisticated kit looks great in any study space. The can includes 18 extra-thick crayons with Warhol-inspired names and a small crayon sharpener that fits inside. Ages: 8 and up Cost: $19.99
16/ Time Jumpers from SimplyFun Just launched in October, this riveting new board game takes you back in time to witness some of the greatest moments of the 20th century. Players move around the category portal collecting cards from different categories, all while learning about inventions, achievements and events. Now you really can party like it’s 1999. Ages: 8 and up Cost: $38
Woom Original
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22/ Thames & Kosmos Hydraulic Boxing Bots Build two boxing robots, then challenge a friend to a hydraulic-robot battle. This clever kit helps kids build engineering skills and learn about the physics, design and components of hydraulic mechanisms. Includes a scoreboard. Ages: 10 and up Cost: $49.94 23/ Galison “Foraged” 1,000-piece puzzle Fungi are all the rage, and this complex puzzle will bring your teens hours of enjoyment, or build it together as a family. The puzzle imagery was created by photographer Sherrie Sanville, aka Shroom Mama. When complete, the puzzle measures 27 by 20 inches. Ages: 10 and up Cost: $17.99 24/ Lego Insect Collection Older kids can still get a lot out of playing with Lego bricks. This amazing new set
display aspect will look great in their room. Ages: 12 and up Cost: $79.99
Lego Insect Collection
includes 1,111 pieces to make three different insects: a blue morpho butterfly, with adjustable wings and a buildable flower, complete with a honey bee; a Hercules beetle, with attachable wings and horns; and a fully posable Chinese mantis with a seven-spotted ladybug. Lego recommends 18 years and older for these kits, but tweens and teens will enjoy building these with you (or maybe without you). The increased challenge will keep their attention, and the cool
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25/ DreamController game controller designs Customize controllers for Xbox One, Xbox Elite, Nintendo Switch and Oculus Quest 2 with designs that include popular gaming characters, patterns and an array of options, such as rainbows, honeycomb, plants and flowers. Ages: 9 and up Cost: prices vary
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Editor’s note: Prices were current at the time of publication and are subject to change. Amber Guetebier is a freelance writer and editor and a mother with a penchant for pirates, plants and books, not necessarily in that order. Visit her at writhingink.com.
Located in historic Columbia City, Chrysanthemum curates new, vintage and gently used clothing, toys, books, and gifts. This family-friendly shop offers something for everyone, with sizes ranging from newborn to adult. chrysanthemumkids.com 4860 Rainier Ave S, Suite A New space - just 1/2 a block from our prior space!
@chrysanthemumkids
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11/15/23 6:10 PM
FRI DEC 1 + SAT DEC 2 10 AM – 5 PM
FREE!
HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK
Don’t miss the holiday giving event of the season! Find gifts for all ages at dozens of pop-up shops that support women’s and girls’ empowerment, refugees, global health, the environment & more. Enjoy family-friendly activities, and performances, & ways to take action on issues you care about. discovergates.org/givingmarketplace
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14 Gifts That Give Back Long After the Holidays Are Over By Amber Guetebier
Giving during the holidays can bring you comfort and joy. Purchasing a thoughtful gift that gives directly back through charitable organizations and actions can take joy to a new level. Whether you’re shopping for someone with a big heart or you want to know your money is going to an ethical company, there are plenty of places to support. From Indigenous businesses to supporting the Seattle Public Library, here are 14 gifts that give back with every purchase. 1/ Everest the Penguin While you can’t go wrong with any of the beautiful hand-knit creations from Cuddle + Kind, we think Everest the Penguin is always a winner. Handmade in Peru using sustainable, fair trade practices, he’s crafted from 100% cotton yarn and available in either 13-inch or 20-inch sizes. He’s nontoxic and hypoallergenic, not to mention soft as can be, but that’s not even the best part. For every doll purchase, Cuddle + Kind partners with a charity to donate 10 meals to end child hunger. It has established partnerships with several humanitarian agencies to distribute the meals, including Children’s Hunger Fund
Everest the Penguin from Cuddle + Kind
and World Food Program USA School Meals Program. The dolls are safety certified for ages newborn and older. Cost: $62–$85 2/ Light-up bath cubes Inspired by a child with autism who disliked taking baths, and his mother, who used the technology of Glo Pals to help him
overcome his fear, these floating, colorful, light-up cubes are full of personality, with adorable faces. Characters have bendable arms, light up and come with two corresponding light-up cubes. Choose from five colors, all of which correspond to a character: Sammy (red), Lumi (purple), Blair (blue), Pippa (green) and Alex (yellow). Every purchase supports Children’s
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of Mississippi (formerly Batson Children’s Hospital), in Jackson, Mississippi, which treats 150,000 children every year for everything from common illness to serious trauma and chronic illnesses. For ages 3 and older. Cost: $16
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3/ Splash the Orca hand puppet You’ll find Splash the Orca hand puppet, designed by Chris Kewistep of the Bella Bella Nation, in the online shop for the Squamish Líḻ’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC), which is located in Whistler, British Columbia. Every purchase supports this cultural center and museum, which works to share “two distinct cultures as a means to foster greater understanding of Indigenous peoples around the world.” No age is specified, but generally, plush hand puppets are suitable for ages 3 and older. Cost: $35 4/ The Alphabutt Book Jiggly butts, avocado butts — there’s ever so many butts in the alphabet! And who better to illustrate and celebrate butts than Huggies, the diaper company? This collaboration between Sourcebooks and Huggies focuses on diversity and inclusivity, showcasing a silly and sweet array of alphabutts. Not only is it a charming little book that is sure to elicit giggles, but a portion of the proceeds from each book goes to the National Diaper Bank Network. Ages newborn to 4 years. Cost: $15 5/ Henry the Highland Cow For every purchase of this soft, adorable Highland cow plushie, Follow Your Legend will make a donation to The Gentle Barn, an organization dedicated to the rescue and protection of barnyard animals. Best for children ages 3 and up, Henry stands 7 inches tall and is made of spandex and recycled polyester, and the box he’s delivered in is made from 100% recycled materials. Best for ages 3 and older. Cost: $32 6/ Mermaid night-light An adorable mermaid image is engraved, along with your child’s name, on an acrylic night-light that sits in a solid beechwood base. The base has a USB plugin, USB wall adapter and an on/off switch. You can customize with a child’s name and color preference: Choose between the multicolor option (red, green,
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dark blue, yellow, light blue, pink and white) or pure warm light. Lily & Spruce has partnered with Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, donating 5 percent of its online sales in support of Girls Inc.’s mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold. Cost: $34.99 7/ Snoopy beanie hat You may already be a fan of the knit hats from Love Your Melon, known for their removable, swappable pom-poms. New to the collection is this Snoopy-inspired baby beanie, complete with floppy ears. Love Your Melon donates 50 percent of the net profit from every sale to a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting pediatric cancer. Cost: $50
Let’s ensure no one goes without this holiday season.
8/ Bruce Lee “One Family” T-shirt These 100-percent cotton preshrunk shirts are exclusive to Wing Luke Museum, a Seattle-based art and history museum that focuses on Asian Americans, native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. The shirts feature a black-and-white photo of Bruce Lee on the front, with the back displaying his quote “Under the sky, under the heavens, there is but one family.” The T-shirt makes a perfect gift for a member of your chosen or biological family, with purchases benefiting the nonprofit Wing Luke Museum and its many outreach programs. Unisex adult sizing. Cost: $36
Scan QR code to learn more bit.ly/lahh-2023
9/ Disney Minnie Mouse birthstone earrings SallyRose has an array of jewelry, charms and accessories featuring your favorite iconic Disney, Star Wars and Hello Kitty characters, among others. These delicate earrings in the shape of Minnie Mouse can be customized by choosing your child’s birth month. Through the Jewelers for Children organization, SallyRose has donated directly to programs, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, that help kids affected by illness, abuse and neglect. Cost: $19.99
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5 Simple and Sustainable Gift-Wrapping Ideas
DECEMBER 1-3, 8-10, 15-17 & 20-23
Free with admission:
NEW! Meet Santa & friends at Santa’s Clubhouse NEW! Wonder Ferris Wheel Sugar Plum Merry-Go-Round Santa’s Express Train Let it Snow Experience ience and more!
In our efforts to be conscientious greenies, this holiday season presents us with the perfect opportunity to stop buying traditional wrapping paper (which is just going to end up in the trash) and commit to sustainable options. Here are some eco-friendly gift-wrapping ideas to keep the gift of giving going longer. 1/ Donate one of your many reusable grocery bags to the gift-wrapping cause. This will also save them from littering the backseat of your car. 2/ Seattle-based Tokki makes reusable cloth gift bags that are beautiful and affordable. Plus, you can create a digital card that gets passed along with the packaging. 3/ Brown paper grocery bags also make for easy (and recyclable) wrapping paper. Have kids stamp the bags with inked or painted pieces of fruit to make them all the merrier. 4/ For a little more pizzazz, try arranging a gift basket. A treat-filled basket makes for a great presentation, and the receiver can reuse the basket.
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5/ Get the kids involved. Have them make some original paintings and use the art to wrap gifts. Grandparents and other relatives will especially love it. — Madison Miller
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Bringing home the gold! ParentMap is honored to have received a variety of awards from the 2023 Parenting Media Association for excellence in editorial, digital, and design.
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10/ Bellden Cafe community subscription box Not only does Bellevue’s Bellden Cafe serve delicious coffee and food, it also contributes a portion of every sale to the Bellden Community Fund, which partners with local foundations to help protect the people and places Pacific Northwest families love. This includes homelessness prevention and outreach, art, trails, children’s services and more. The cafe’s community subscription box arrives monthly and includes one bag of Cascara Girls Coava coffee beans, roasted just for Bellden Cafe; one bag of PorchLight granola, lovingly made in-house by Bellden’s staff of refugees; one handpoured Charity candle; and a monthly book that focuses on a social cause, along with an engaging book club. Cost: $85 11/ New Phase throw blanket A beautiful wool blanket by Diné (Navajo) artist Jared Yazzie melds traditional woven Navajo rug designs with a special feature characteristic of Navajo chief blankets and Yazzie’s own unique contemporary style. The
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blanket is produced by Eighth Generation, a Nativeowned company that is a leader in the Decolonizing Partnership Model, described by Eighth Generation as “the gold standard for how companies collaborate with Indigenous cultural artists and entrepreneurs. The company is making a change that will last and that allows for fair wages and Indigenous artist representation across the board, so you can feel good knowing that your purchase is ethically sourced and held to this gold standard. Cost: $349 12/ Library card pillow The Friends of the Seattle Public Library (FOSPL) pay tribute to the catalog cards of yesteryear with this colorful take, a great addition to any book nook or tween bedroom. Proceeds go to the FOSPL, whose mission is to elevate and celebrate reading in the community, and to help fund books and programming at the beloved Seattle Public Library. Suitable for any age. Cost: $32 13/ World Wildlife nesting dolls These beautiful hand-painted wooden nesting dolls range in size from 4 inches to 1.5 inches, and there are two sets of animals to choose from: tiger/snow leopard/ red panda/sloth/ladybug or elephant/panda/polar bear/ tiger/penguin. The nesting dolls are “free with a $75 donation,” which goes directly to the World Wildlife Fund’s conservation programming, which directs 83 percent of spending directly to these activities. Best for ages 3 and older. Cost: $75 14/ ColorPop book bundle ColorPop Books strives to empower young readers by offering books that center on BIPOC characters and foster empathy and confidence in kids. Every purchase at ColorPop Books helps fund books to historically underfunded public schools across the country via DonorsChoose. Bundles include navigating tough topics, such as grief; featuring Indigenous, Latinx and neurodivergent main characters; and more. Bundles include three books, an activity kit, a collectible card and access to the ColorPop parent community. Cost: $45
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Editor’s note: Prices were current at the time of publication and are subject to change. Amber Guetebier is a freelance writer and editor and a mother with a penchant for pirates, plants and books, not necessarily in that order. Visit her at writhingink.com.
GIVE the GIFT of
EXPERIENCE
and fun and friends and adventure
Give the gift of experience this holiday season.
REGISTER TODAY! 2024 summer programs for Camp Colman, Camp Orkila, and BOLD & GOLD Leadership Expeditions are now open. LEARN MORE seattleymca.org/camp PA R E N T M A P / G I F T G U I D E 2 0 2 3 / 1 3
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2023 BIG GIFT Giveaway Enter for a chance to win one of 14 amazing gifts from ParentMap’s awesome local partners.
Over $3,800 in prizes up for grabs!
$200 gift card
Family pass plus a $25 gift certificate for Play Day Cafe or Museum Store
$100 gift card
$300 gift card
Two-night stay for four plus $150 dining credit and $100 Adventure Shop voucher
Four admission tickets + four ice skating tickets
$150 gift card
Family membership
Four Ultimate Combos including mini golf, arcade games, lazer maze and bowling
Annual Membership for up to four named members
$250 Comfort & Joy holiday special
Three-night stay in a 2–3 bedroom vacation home
Enter now:
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Submit up to one entry per day. Giveaway ends Dec. 17.
Two tickets to Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Four theatre tickets Sponsored by: