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2016 Gift Guide: Early Elementary Ages (ages 5-8 or grades K-2)

November 17, 2016 By Leticia

As a former first grade teacher, my students spanned a wide spectrum of knowledge so I know that kids this age are the same way. Kindergarten through second graders are experience huge growth in their social, emotional, gross motor, and academic skills. Gifts that allow them to have fun while practicing what they know are always the best in increasing their confidence and self-esteem. Knowing your kids and their interests and skills should always drive your purchases and here are my gift picks designed to help you wade through the endless options for this age group.

2016 Gift Guide: Gifts for Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2 or ages 5-8) on TechSavvyMama.com

Reptangles by Fat Brain Toys ($27.95)

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Who doesn’t love a good challenge with endless possibilities? That’s what Reptangles provides while giving kids a chance to exercise fine motor skills as they find ways to construct polyhedra with these colorful turtle shaped building pieces. They’re also great for reinforcing math skills like patterning, sequencing, and geometry.

Razor DeltaWing Scooter ($99.99)

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This is not your older sibling’s scooter. Well known for their scooters, Razor has reimagined their popular scooter with a new design with three wheels. The steel frame features polymer wings to allow kids to stand or sit while riding this self-propelled scooter that uses low angle trailing casters that allow turning, drifting, and acceleration without ever having to push.

Hero Droid Star Wars Multi-Sport Helmet ($24.99)

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Kids this age are active so protect their heads while letting them embrace their love of Star Wars with this awesome BB8 multi-sport helmet that they can use for biking, scootering, and according to some users via the comments section, even skiing and snowboarding. I’m also a fan of R2D2. Too bad they don’t make these in adult sizes!

Tetris Link ($32)

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Parents who loved Tetris can teach their kids the fun of the game all over again through a non-digital game that can be played with a partner. Drop blocks (called Tetriminos) into the grid to link same colored ones together to earn points while blocking your opponent from doing the same. Points are deducted for leaving empty spaces in the grid to challenge spatial skills.

Boogie Board Jot ($21)

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Highly addictive to use in the best way, Boogie Board Jot is a LCD writing surface that can be written on and erased over and over again and feels just like writing on paper. Kids will love the novelty of using Boogie Board for drawing and writing and parents will appreciate that kids will want to write on it, helping them perfect their handwriting. Even practicing beginning math facts are more fun when done on Boogie Board!

Disney Classic Moana Doll ($19.95 at the Disney Store)

While the movie isn’t quite out yet (in theaters November 23), Moana is sure to be an animated hit this holiday season and characters and toys from the movie will be in high demand and potentially short supply making it a perfect time to order Disney’s Moana Classic Doll. Budget friend at just under $20, this poseable doll is clad in her signature island style for whatever adventures may be head but what’s even better about this doll is her packaging! The packaging turns into a boat so it can be used for playtime instead of immediately thrown in the trash or recycled! I applaud Disney sustainability for challenging their toy manufacturers to come up with smart packaging and hope that other companies will follow!

Pie Face Showdown Game ($24.99)

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Fans of the original PieFace game are in for more tasty and suspenseful fun when you load up the arm with whipped cream (not included!), count to 3, and see if you’re the first to pound the button to activate the hand to throw the whipped cream. If you’re too slow, the hand will move closer to your side and when it gets too close, will spring and fling whipped cream. Guaranteed laughs for the whole family. Just be sure to gift this with some whipped cream and some sponges so the kids can assist with game cleanup as they play!

Indoor/Outdoor Rope Ladder ($22.99)

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If you have a child who loves to climb, a rope climbing ladder can help them use their gross motor skills and burn some energy even during the colder months. I love this particular rope ladder because it allows you to adjust the distance between two rungs, especially helpful for shorter legs who need rungs that are closer together right now but will want them farther apart as they grow up.

Hot Wheels Track Builder System Power Booster Kit ($44.99)

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Kids who love racing cars will love the opportunity to build up to 4 different races to race with a friend. Stackable arrow shaped boosters propel cars as they perform stunts on speed loops. The included Builder’s Guide is bound to get kids thinking as scientists as they try to hack the track and build it for maximum speed!

Shrinky Dinks 10 Crystal Clear 10 Sheet Creative Pack ($12.05)

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If you loved Shrinky Dinks at this age, chances are your child will too! The Crystal Clear 10 Sheet Creative Pack includes 10 8×10” clear transparent sheets for your child to color, bake, and shrink all winter long.

Nintendo 2DS Yo-Kai Watch Bundle ($79.99 at Best Buy or GameStop)

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If your child is clamoring for their own gaming device, the Nintendo 2DS is the perfect choice for kids of this age. With the ability to play 3DS games (just not in 3D, hence the 2DS name) and almost all the features of its 3DS counterpart, it’s a budget friendly choice. Chances are if you get this for your child, they won’t even notice that they can’t play in 3D. Trust me, this is a good thing for their young eyes! Note: You can get the Nintendo 2DS from Amazon but right now they’re pricing out at over $94.90.

2016 Holiday Gift Guides on TechSavvyMama.com

Visit my other age appropriate gift guides for more gift suggestions:

  • Toddlers and Preschoolers (ages 18 months-5 years)
  • Tweens (grades 3-7 or ages 8-12)
  • Teens (ages 13+)

Specialty Gift Guides:

  • STEM Gifts for All Ages (preK-teen)
  • Subscription Boxes for Kids, Teens, and Adults
  • Gadget Lovers

Must-Read Gift Guides Compiled by Friends:

  • Gifts that Give Back by ThirdEyeMom’s Nicole Melancon

Samples were received for review purposes. Amazon Affiliate links included in this post. All images courtesy of the companies.

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Filed Under: Gift Guides Tagged With: elementary ages, gift guide, holidays, kindergarteners, parenting

Previous Post: « 2016 Gift Guide: Gifts for Toddlers & Preschoolers (18 months- age 5)
Next Post: 2016 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Tweens (ages 8-12) »

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Welcome! I'm Leticia, founder of Tech Savvy Mama and a DC Metro area dwelling mom with a tween and teen. With a background in classroom technology integration and school administration, I use everything I learned from teaching children, teachers, and principals as a professional blogger, social media strategist, and freelance writer.  Read more...

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techsavvymama

DC area blogger & middle school computer science teacher focused on edu, family tech & teens. ❤s= 🚀 #STEM 🏃 w #StJudeHeroes 🏝 #Haiti

Leticia Barr (she/her)
This year seems like the year of a million first d This year seems like the year of a million first days of school but today has been the best one yet! 🎉 Being in person with my 8th graders who elected to return to school felt amazing. They all said being in school was far better than being on Zoom! 👩‍💻 After not feeling like I had closure last year when schools closed and stayed closed, it is so nice to end the year this way before my students become high schoolers! 🎈
#monday #mondaymood #teacherlife #teacher #teachinginapandemic #teachersofIG #school #middleschoolteacher
18.30 {Sunday afternoons} Sunday afternoons are fo 18.30 {Sunday afternoons} Sunday afternoons are for baseball! ⚾️ We thought last fall would be the final season for his team that has been together since 2nd grade but I'm so glad they're back together this spring! Sitting in the sun watching my guy play baseball is one of my favorite ways to spend a Sunday afternoon! 🧢 
#sunday #baseball #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #bccbaseball #swing #fromwhereisit #ballparks #lovethisgame #playball #batterup #hit #homeplate #love #baseballmom #baseballfan #momlife  #youthsports
17.30 {Treat yo self} I always think about buying 17.30 {Treat yo self} I always think about buying bagels on Saturday mornings when I wander by post-workout but the honest truth is I'm starving and just want to head home and stuff my face and caffeinate. Today there wasn't a line so I felt like the universe was telling me it was a good day to treat myself to a bakers dozen and a tub of candied salmon cream cheese! 🥯 Even if your treat isn't carbs make sure you do something for yourself today!
💕
#saturday #saturdayvibes
#everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #treatyourself #bagel #callyourmotherdeli #freshfarmmarkets #dtss #dmv
#ad There have been times where I’ve struggled t #ad There have been times where I’ve struggled to comprehend the news over the past year. 📰 As a parent and teacher, I want my own kids and students to be news savvy but it’s difficult when not all the headlines, photos, and stories in the daily newspaper or on news sites are right for them. Fortunately, I was recently introduced to The Juice Interactive News Digest! The Juice provides fantastic unbiased content written by credentialed journalists that teaches kids in grades 5-12 about current events in an age-appropriate way. 🌎 Stories are the real deal and provide multiple opinions so kids can use critical thinking and media literacy skills to develop their own opinions. And as a bonus, The Juice’s multimedia content is highly engaging and keeps kids wanting to learn through videos on topics they’re interested in. 🎥 For more information, check out the link in my bio. ⤴️
#news #media #currentevents #medialiteracy #criticalthinking #teaching #learning
14.30 {Selfie} Fun fact: I used to be awful at sel 14.30 {Selfie} Fun fact: I used to be awful at selfies but practicing over the years, and watching friends who are masters, has definitely helped! A few tips:
➡️ If you feel like you're never looking in the right place, sunglasses can help. They hide your eyes and can take the pressure off. 🕶
➡️ Figure out what hand you're most comfortable using to snap photos. I'm right handed so usually take photos with my right hand but every once and awhile I switch. 👋
➡️ Find your best angle. Pro tip- higher is better. Go above your eye level. 👀
➡️ Stretch! Hold your arm out as far as possible. I'm short so my arms are short but somehow I make it work. 😂
➡️ A Pop Socket is your friend! Having something to hold on to definitely helps me stretch and get the best angle with less worry that I'll drop my phone. 
➡️ Practice! Get in the photo! You'll get more comfortable with your selfie skills. I promise! 
📸
#wednesday #selfie #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #selfietips #sanfrancisco #visitCA #latergram
13.30 {6 o'clock} This morning we were awake st 6 13.30 {6 o'clock} This morning we were awake st 6 am- much earlier than we have been in a long time because it was SAT day! 📝 SATs are hard enough in a normal year but during a pandemic, they've been scheduled, cancelled, and rescheduled and that can really mess with a teen. Surviving this day of testing was really about so much more so why not celebrate with cake! 🎂 And as you can see, Goldie thought she should get some too! 🐾
#tuesday #cake #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #GoldenRetriever #Labrador #puppy #dogsofinstagram #dog #rescuedog #labrescue
12/30 {Today I} Today I remembered I forgot to pos 12/30 {Today I} Today I remembered I forgot to post yesterday!  Perhaps that's because I was busy outside which just happened to be yesterday's #everydayphotoaday prompt. 😂 I expected it to be a rainy weekend but overnight storms made for a gorgeous weekend. ☀️ The first baseball game of the season was cancelled due to soggy fields and as much as I was looking forward to watching my guy play again, it was nice having the gift of time. 🕚 My husband and I had time to take Goldie for a long walk and swim and appreciate these gorgeous cherry blooms along the way. 🌸 How was your weekend? I hope you feel recharged for the week ahead! 💕
#monday #mondaymood #optoutside #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #cherryblossom #spring #bloom #blossom
10.30 {Saturday morning} I got up to start my day 10.30 {Saturday morning} I got up to start my day at Orange Theory but someone wanted to stay in bed! 😂🙄😂
#Saturday #mornings #everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #Labrador #puppy #puppylove #labstagram #doglover #dog #dogsofinstagram #rescuedog #labrescue #petsofinstagram
9/30 {Rule of Thirds} Chincoteague's Main Street i 9/30 {Rule of Thirds} Chincoteague's Main Street is like a step back in time and their library is always so charming! 📖 Even though the library is closed, volunteers decorate the windows each month with seasonal decor. 🌷Another favorite spot is the independently owned @sundialbooks which has stayed open during the pandemic. If you're planning a visit to the island, grab a pair of plastic gloves at the entrance to browse an amazing collection of new and used books. It's one of our favorite places to shop while in town! 📚
#everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #library #ruleofthirds #chincoteague #chincoteagueisland #civa #architecturelovers #smalltown #scenicvirginia #loveVA #esva
8/30 {Not a #TBT} Yes, friends, today was my first 8/30 {Not a #TBT} Yes, friends, today was my first day of school and it was so nice to be back teaching in person! 🎉 
I am incredibly grateful to be:
💉 fully vaccinated 
👩‍🏫 teaching such a hard working and patient group of middle schoolers
🐴 working with an incredibly talented set of colleagues
🏡 part of a community who cares so much about us as teachers. ♥️ 
I may have only had 1 student today but it was a start! I look forward to seeing more of students when the rest of my middle schoolers return in a couple weeks! 💕
#everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #teachinginapandemic #teacher #school #middleschoolteacher #STEMteacher #moco #mocomd
If you’ve ever judged someone for what appears b If you’ve ever judged someone for what appears behind them, then you know it matters! Today I’ve partnered with @corninggorilla to share 4 ways you can improve the background of your video calls. 🖥 Spoiler: 1 of the ways includes entering to win a @razer Kiyo Pro webcam designed with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3! 🦍 Known by gamers everywhere, Razer makes amazing accessories that gamers of all ages love but their products aren’t just for your teens! I took this photo with my Razer Kiyo Pro that is the envy of my middle school students. 📷 Yup, this teacher mom just won major points with her own teen and 8th grade students and you can too! Visit my post to learn how to enter to win 1 of 10 Kiyo Pro cameras and don’t tell the gamers in your life but 3 lucky individuals will also win the highly coveted Razer Iskur chair! Link in bio.
#bgshowdown #teacherlife #entrepreneur #worklife #workfromhome
7/30 {My happy place} This was the best thing that 7/30 {My happy place} This was the best thing that happened to our family during the pandemic! 💕 We've always loved to travel but when COVID cancelled last summer's plans, we decided to head to Chincoteague, a place we've always loved that feels like a world away from the DC 'burbs. 🏖 We had thought about buying a house in Chincoteague for years and suddenly it just seemed right. 🏡 This year we've taken advantage of being able to work and learn remotely to spend time making much needed repairs while visiting the beach, taking Goldie out for canoe rides, and enjoying all the sunsets! 🌅 Where is your happy place? Leave a comment and let me know! 🙂
#everydayphotoaday #aprilphotochallenge #chincoteague #chincoteagueisland  #islandlife #esva #civa #scenicvirginia #loveVA
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