2009 Holiday Gift Guide: ELEMENTARY AGES

Little Passports Subscription ($10.95-12.95/month)- A Little Passports subscription is a ticket to an exciting global adventure with fictional friends Sam and Sophia, who find a magical scooter in a garage that takes them all over the world. The first month we got our Explorers’ Kit, a suitcase filled with a letter and picture of our new friends, a map, activity sheet, some stickers to use to customize our suitcase, and a passport. The kit also came with a secret code to access an online Boarding Zone for more games and activities. Each subsequent month your children are sent a package containing a photo, stickers, a letter, and souvenirs from the next country Sam and Sophia visit. Little Passports is a unique concept that helps children begin to become global citizens since it introduces other cultures, history of the country, and world languages to kids in an age appropriate way. There are 4 different subscription options available. Purchase monthly (Jetsetter Package), an entire year (Globetrotter), 6 months (Adventurer) or 3 months at a time (Traveler). Each package begins with the Explorer’s Kit as your first month. 10% discount off the subscription price with the code travel10. I was given a 2 month subscription to try out Little Passports but paid for our subscription to continue since we love learning with Sam and Sophia. I also attended a party by Clever Girls Collective at Blogalicious where I received a discount code for Little Passports.

Easy Bake Oven & Snack Center ($29.99)- More than anything, Little Miss Techie wants to learn to cook. She’s tired of being my sous chef and is ready to make real food with the challenge of using the stove and oven. Rather than give her full reign over the kitchen at age 5, she started out using the Easy Bake Oven & Snack Center to get her feet wet. This classic toy allows kids to make tasty snacks like cakes, brownies, and cookies that bake thanks to a 100 light bulb (not included). The oven comes with 3 different mixes, 2 baking pans, 2 utensils, a pan pusher, 2 warming cups, and recipes/instructions. We’ll be stuffing her stocking with more mixes because watch out Top Chef, here comes Little Miss Techie! I received an Easy Bake Oven & Snack Center for review purposes.

Classic Abigail Jewelry Box from Pottery Barn Kids ($39)- Every little girl needs a place to keep her precious jewels so why not start her off taking care of her treasures by placing them in this gorgeous white wood painted box that is just the right size for starting a jewelry collection. Felt lined with pink polka dot print, an interior mirror to admire her gorgeous self, and a ballerina who dances to Fur Elise, this jewelry box can be made even more special with personalization (extra $6.50). Older girls would appreciate the Medium Abigail Jewelry Box ($59). Both items ship free through the Pottery Barn Kids website.

Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Kit ($11.95 from Amazon)- A energetic stomp is all you need to send these foam rockets soaring! This holiday season we are going to be gifting the kids with the glow version of the Stomp Rocket so the fun can continue after the sun sets for even more endless fun. Approved by mom and astrophysicist WhyMommy of ToddlerPlanet fame and uber-cool mom Stimey! While you are at it, add some Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Refills to your Amazon shopping cart to help you get closer to the $25 you need for free shipping.

Disney Digital Books ($8.95/month or $79.95/year)- If you love Disney characters and stories or you have a reluctant reader, Disney Digital Books may be key in engaging your child in reading with some of their favorite characters in an online library that contains 500+ digital books. Children can listen to the stories as they read along as words are highlighted on the screen, practice writing their own stories using the Story Builder, build their vocabulary to access words they don’t know through the dictionary, and print out certificates noting their reading accomplishments. Interested? Read Amy’s full review on TeachMama or take advantage of the free trial of 7 books, 1 Look and Listen, and 1 Story Builder. **Win 1 month of Disney Digital Books and a tote bag full of Disney hardback books courtesy of Disney Publishing! I was invited to preview the books and over dinner with Yves Saada, Vice President of Digital Media for Disney Publishing Worldwide, education idols, Gail Lovely, and the always fabulous Amy from TeachMama where I was given a free month subscription to Disney Digital Books.

The Snow Day by Komako Sakai ($16.99)- This winter we will be wishing for snow days like the young rabbit in the book who wakes up to find that indeed it is a snow day. Beautifully illustrated, this peaceful story is a comforting read that’s full of anticipation and satisfaction. A perfect gift for young readers. Ages 4-8 **Scholastic is offering one very lucky Tech Savvy Mama reader a selection of books customized according to their child’s age! I received a set of Scholastic titles for review.

I-Dog Soft Speaker ($34.99)- Last year I reviewed the original I-Dog but this year a new cuddly plush version joins the originals as the one that kids can cuddle up to as they rock out to their favorite music. Plug in an MP3 player into the dog and music will come through the built in speaker. Like the original I-Dog, this one also features colorful lights on its face as it plays favorite tunes. Compatible with most portable music devices, I-Dog requires 2 AA batteries that are not included Ages 5-8 **Win your very own I-Dog Soft Speaker courtesy of Hasbro! I received an I-Dog Soft Speaker for review purposes.

The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson ($16.99)- Far, far North, where the nights are longest and the stars shine brightest, Santa begins to prepare for his big night of giving. With its luminous illustrations and heartwarming story, bestselling author Lauren Thompson’s latest work is destined to become a holiday classic. Ages 4-8 **Scholastic is offering one very lucky Tech Savvy Mama reader a selection of books customized according to their child’s age! I received a set of Scholastic titles for review.

I SPY Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles by Jean Marzollo ($13.99)- I SPY books are a favorite in our house that can occupy Little Miss Techie and Captain Computer for a long time. Sitting together with the book on their laps, she reads the riddle while they search the pages for hidden objects – clocks, nickels, pickles, frogs, and others – among double-page spreads filled with holiday delights! Ages 4-8 **Scholastic is offering one very lucky Tech Savvy Mama reader a selection of books customized according to their child’s age! I received a set of Scholastic titles for review.

Klutz: Christmas Velvet Art ($19.95)- This fabulous book combines 2 things that Little Miss Techie loves- Christmas and art. This fun activity book comes with eight pages of festive velvet designs, beautiful punch-out ornaments, fun greeting cards and more! The napped velvet makes it impossible to go outside the lines, so coloring comes out crisp and clean, while also being so pleasing to the touch. Ages 4-8. **Scholastic is offering one very lucky Tech Savvy Mama reader a selection of books customized according to their child’s age! I received a set of Scholastic titles for review.

The Sound of Kwanzaa by Dimetrea Tokunbo ($16.99)- The lively verse and colorful illustrations guide you through the seven principles of this festive holiday. Come close, gather round, and discover what Kwanzaa is all about through this great hardback! Ages 4-8. **Scholastic is offering one very lucky Tech Savvy Mama reader a selection of books customized according to their child’s age! I received a set of Scholastic titles for review.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 4: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney ($13.95)- There’s just something about Diary of a Wimpy Kid books that make them among the most requested books in our school library. At a recent Scholastic Book Fair, the newest installment had just come out and all 50 copies sold out well before the book fair ended. If your kid loves Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, add Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Days to their collection this holiday season.

Hershey’s Yum Drives (aka Hershey’s Miniatures USB Memory Sticks) ($14.99-29.99)- Hershey’s Minatures-inspired memory sticks are the perfect way for your tween/teen to bring documents to and from school as they spend time working on them as homework. With designs in the form of Hershey’s, Krackel, Mr. Goodbar, Twizzlers, and Bubble Yum these 1, 2, or 4 GB memory sticks have a lot more personality than those boring single colored ones that everyone else at school has.

Build It Rocket Kit ($6.99) from The Pajama Squid– ($6.99)- There’s just something about a great project that brings out a child’s creative best. The Little Experience Build It Rocket kit available from The Pajama Squid’s online store provides all the pieces to create one wooden rocket and the opportunity to create something that is all their own. 4-10 years. Thanks to Cool Mom Picks, Pajama Squid is offering 10% OFF your entire online order until 12/31/09 with code: CMP10


Build It Bird Café Kit from The Pajama Squid ($18.99)- This holiday season demonstrate goodwill towards friends of the feathery kind by building your own backyard bird house. The Little Experience Build It Bird Café Kit includes wooden bird feeder parts to glue together and paint. Kit includes paints, brushes, paint palette, wooden parts, glue, varnish, and even a splash mat to protect your home’s surfaces from wayward paint, glue and varnish. Don’t forget the birdseed! 5-12 years. Thanks to Cool Mom Picks, Pajama Squid is offering 10% OFF your entire online order until 12/31/09 with code: CMP10


Polarn O. Pyret Performance Snowpants ($92.50)- When it snows, kids have an amazing ability to stay outside for as long as humanly possible. Polarn O. Pyret’s Performance Snowpants feature the best engineering and design of the best ski wear in these high tech snow pants for your child. Features include wind-resistant and waterproof trousers with removable, adjustable logo shoulder straps, soft fleece non-pill lining, inner lining in Thinsulate (soft synthetic fabric with excellent thermal-insulating properties), and breathable fabric with taped seams, a dirt and water-repellent finish, adjustable inner waist and ankle for best fit, snow lock at ankle that can be attached to the jacket, 3M reflectors, and pockets have striped reflective zipper pulls. Oh, and there are elastic ankle cuffs and stirrups to make sure the pants stay tucked into the boots and pre-bent knees ensure your kids won’t be walking around like those kids in A Christmas Story. Now if they only made adult sizes, I could stay out as long as my kids! Use the code VIP23 for 25% off all full priced items (including these awesome snow pants!) at Polarn O. Pyret. I received a selection of clothing samples from Polarn O. Pyret for review and won a Windfleece Jacket via their Facebook contest.

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Thanks for entering and good luck! Feel free to browse my other gift guides for other holiday suggestions for toddlers, preschoolers, teens & tweens, adults, teachers, CDs & DVDs, and iPhone apps.