Buy toys made in the USA. Sick of buying electronic games where the toy does all the playing and the kid just moves his or her thumb? It's easy for grandparents to buy American made gifts – wooden toys for kids, fun outdoor toys, cool ride-on toys, and creative toys.
Buy Toys
Grandmothers and grandfathers should buy toys that are educational, beautiful, and real. Check out a few of these special toys that are American made. Just click on a few websites and all the "work" is done by the website people, so grandparents don't have to fight their way through crowds to buy a perfect gift.
There’s nothing wrong with Wii or HEXBUG, but it’s time for people in the US to simplify and let their children do something that requires a bit of imagination. This Christmas would be a good time to start.
Yackle Ball
A Yackle Ball is a cross between a Frisbee and a goofball boomerang. These balls can be found in Target and online stores. Yackle Ball comes in regular size (any age) and junior size (from 4 – 5 years old). Made in Troutman, North Carolina.
Wooden Toys for Children
Uncle Goose Blocks are amazingly beautiful, and great wooden blocks like these have really stood the test of time. See their Classic ABC Blocks with Canvas Bag (recommended for ages 2 and up) at Lindenwoodinc.com and other sites. Most parents feel that children under age 2, especially boys, would love stacking these blocks well before they reached the age of 2. Made in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Other great wooden toys such as Bugs Blocks, Antic ants Blocks, Sudoku Blocks and Egyptian Hieroglyphic Blocks are found at this website and similar online shops. So look around at specialty stores or Google for more ideas.
RoyToy.com
Another company for wooden blocks is RoyToy.com. The company makes products like Lincoln Logs that are constructed out of wood from sustainable forests. Made in East Machias, Maine.
IlluStory
Give the gift of imagination. The IlluStory craft kit allows kids of any age (including grandmas) to make their own real book with pictures, using their own illustrations. IlluStory has an internet “Story Web” to help guide a child through the story process. And then the book is published. This is a fabulous idea and is recommended for children over 5 years old.
Some moms and dads have several copies made and send the books to family members as gifts. Just imagine if a regular person went into his or her mom's attic and found a copy of grandmother's published book from 50 years ago? Amazing. Made in Sheridan, Colorado.
Ride-On Toys
Sometimes the best toys, such as ride-on toys, are going to cost a lot of money. So it might be a good idea if Santa and a couple of generous grandpas pooled their money together to get an amazing Christmas gift for a little guy or girl.
Pedal Toys
The Farmall M Pedal Tractor is much cooler than a regular trike. This adorable gift is a pedal toy that looks like a little tractor and is the right size for a kid who's 3 to 10 years old. Wow, it’s really fun just looking at this toy. The tractor comes in pink for little girls who dream of living on a farm. Made in Dyersville, Iowa.
Rocking Horses
These Champion heirloom rocking horses are ridiculously expensive, but they look like works of art. Why should a toddler get 20 silly presents from 10 different relatives? Instead, a family could get together and give baby a rocking horse worthy of a prince or princess. Made in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Grandparents should think of this type of rocking horse as a present for their grandchild, their great grandchild, and possibly beyond.
These are just a few of the best children’s gifts made in the USA. There is certainly a place under the tree for electronic gadgets, but why not help an American worker keep his or her job? And, of course, why not give a toy that requires a child to learn good old fashioned American ingenuity?
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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