Forget the toy store, Mom and Dad. If you're looking for new and creative ideas for gifts for your children this year, head straight to the place that specializes in kid-size fun: a hands-on, no-holds-barred children's museum, aquarium or science center. Their gift shops are packed with all kinds of gifts parents feel good about buying everything from "endangered species" stuffed animals accompanied by a book of facts, to bird bingo, to craft kits to build-your-own dinosaurs.
You don't have to say these gifts are "educational" in nature that's between you and Santa but what kid wouldn't love a box of jumbo insects, books filled with scientific experiments, or puzzles fitting together prehistoric creature parts?
Wildly creative play
"City Museum is all about fun in an uncommon environment for kids of all ages and, in the gift shop, we strive to choose and develop items that reflect the experience," says Stephanie VonDrasek, gift shop manager of the St. Louis, Mo., attraction recognized by the yellow school bus teetering atop its roof. The roof, by the way, is now also home to a four-story Ferris wheel, rope ramp slide, rope swing, Splash Pond and praying mantis. "Fortunately there's a lot to draw from."
At a museum known for unleashing exuberant and creative play in a funhouse-style romp of a room, it comes as no surprise that the gift shop is chockfull of kits of all kinds (praying mantis model building, crystal growing, construction, eco-science) and ranging in price from $7 to $32 each; exclusive items like snowflake cutting books ($15), messenger bags, totes and wallets constructed from repurposed City Museum outdoor banners ($10-$40) and recycled bottle cap jewelry featuring museum images ($11-$30); and a roster of top sellers including City Museum t-shirts tie-dyed by museum artists ($25), rubber band shooters ($6-$10) and water pistols ($3.50), wooden snakes ($5), modeling clay ($1) and artist-made and vintage jewelry ($10-$50).
"We want to help provide a tangible link to a memory of a kid's visit," says VonDrasek. "The inspiration to create or build is one of the most common and wonderful things that visitors take away from City Museum."
Future science guys and girls
Nurturing future scientists is the St. Louis Science Center and its ExploreStore gift shop, a veritable storehouse of educational items that spark visitors' interest in technology and science, just as the museum strives to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning. Full of science toys, puzzles, books and kits, the shop offers gifts that fire up people's imaginations and spark a desire to learn while having a great time at it.
"When visitors leave with purchases from the gift shop, they leave with items that ... encourage kids to continue their learning," museum spokesperson Beth McClure said.
Because of the nature of the gift shop and the museum, everything stocked on the shelves and stacked on the tables are distinctive: meteorite jewelry (from $29.99) makes a statement about fashion and geology; Magformers Magnetic Building Sets ($25.99-$79.99) let kids build structures using different magnetic shapes; and Quadrilla Mazes ($39.99-$69.99) make it fun and challenging to build mazes for marbles out of oddly shaped wood pieces. And then there are all the gross-out gifts, which kids seem to be special fans of; that relate to the Center's GROSSOLOGY exhibition.
McClure predicts that top sellers this year will be the gift shop's science and technology books, puzzles and games with options for every age group: "Keep Your Brain Fit: 101 Ways to Tone Your Mind" ($9.95); "The Hand Book" ($19.99), which includes a skeleton hand to build; "TIME's Planet Earth: An Illustrated History" ($29.99); Eco Game Bamboo Puzzles ($11.99); The Way Things Work game ($29.99); and Konexi: The Gravity-Defying Word Game ($34.99).
"Our gift shop has hundreds of items that you won't find anywhere else in the area," McClure says, noting Astronaut Suits ($54.99) and Helmets ($49.99) for kids, plus a full stock of eco-friendly or "green" toys, books and puzzles, not to mention kits that will encourage young minds to explore water-cleaning, solar power and windmill generators ($14.99 to $49.99).
Got a budding builder? McClure says the First Time Clock ($19.99) for younger kids and Robotics Three Working Robots ($44.99) for more advanced students will both challenge and entertain as kids bring the parts to life.
Extending enjoyment
At Albany, Ga.'s, Flint RiverQuarium, which features a unique blue hole spring, open-air aviary, and more than 100 creatures of the deep, items in the gift shop are selected not only as a fun way to remember a visit but for their educational value as well.
"Children can purchase an item that they have recently viewed in the exhibits, so when they get home they'll be reminded that they've seen a rare albino alligator named Moonshine who cannot survive in the wild on its own," says Vicki Churchman, member and volunteer services manager.
A couple of the more unusual items the gift shop stocks are the Triops ($6.50), prehistoric monsters also known as dinosaur shrimp that kids can grow in their own fish tank, and Dig and Paint Science Kits ($8.99).
"With the kits, kids can be archeologists and paint their own rain forest animal or fossil," says Churchman.
The hands-down favorite among kids is the gift shop's albino alligator ($6.50), a plush replica of Moonshine, who can be seen in the aquarium's "Alligators: Dragons in Paradise" exhibit and is one of fewer than 100 such alligators. Plush snakes ($10.99), including a rainbow boa, a corn snake and a Burmese python, are also big hits.
"Children can be wrapped in their favorite snake without getting hurt," she says. "These stuffed animals are 54 inches long."
Unique to the RiverQuarium's gift shop are its blue sequined purses ($13.99), each with a turtle tucked inside. The river turtle is the official mascot of Albany. The turtles live in the Flint River that rushes along Front Street.
Tuck these kid-pleasing gifts beneath the tree
No need to make a list or check it twice; the work has been done for you by "Santa helpers" Stephanie VonDrasek, Beth McClure and Vicki Churchman.
Toddlers
City Museum picks:
— Animal Grabbers, $2.50 huge among this set
— Die-cast School Buses, $3.50-$10
— Wooden School Buses, $5-$22
— Brightly colored, articulated Poison Dart Frogs, $9-$17
"Creative Construction ($32) makes a great wooden construction kit for older children (age 3+)," notes VonDrasek. "It's a little higher-end but well-constructed and with a great deal of play value."
Flint RiverQuarium picks:
— Chatter Box Bug, $7.99 squeeze a little lady bug that makes noise
— Sea Otter Floor Puzzle, $ 8.99 put together a floor puzzle in a shape of an otter
St. Louis Science Center picks:
— Zig Zag Zooms, $17.99-$74.99
— Imaginets, $34.99
— Lil' Chuck airplanes by Tonka, $11.99
Elementary-age set
City Museum picks:
— Ball Pit! T-shirts, $12
— Magnetic Mosaic Kits, $22
— Tree Blocks $25-$49
— Kustom Metal Building Kits, $7.50-$15
— Crystal Growing Kits, $10-$15
— Quartz Mining kits, $11 encourage creative expression
— "Diabolos ($6-$15) are enjoying a surge in popularity," adds VonDrasek. "That might have something to do with visiting kids being inspired by the Everyday Circus that performs daily at the museum or by the MoYo yoyo club that meets and demonstrates on most Saturdays."
Flint RiverQuarium picks:
— Aquatic Veterinary Set, $10.99
— Aquatic Truck, Trailer with Jet Ski, $10.99
St. Louis Science Center picks:
— Hows and Whys of Science Kit, $39.99
— Galaxy Planetarium Night Light, $44.99
— Green Science Kits, $17.99-$29.99
Tweens
City Museum picks:
— Tie-dye T-shirts, $25
— Ball Pit! T-shirts, $12
— Coin purses/wallets made from rubber tires, CD cases and cassettes, $9
— Bottle cap necklaces, $11-$15 for both sexes
"We expect City Museum jersey scarves ($20-$22) to be very strong for the holidays," says VonDrasek. "Rock 'em Sock 'em Robot rings ($7 for four) are a great stocking stuffer, as are the Diabolos."
Flint RiverQuarium picks:
— Butterfly Mood Ring, $2.99
— Magnetic Wrap Around Bracelets with glass beads, $6.99
St. Louis Science Center picks:
— Telescopes, $79.99
— Brain Teaser puzzles, $14.99-$24.99
— Rock Tumbler, $59.99
Find out more:
— If you can't get to any of these great museums this holiday season, find one near you at: www.childrensmuseums.org/visit/us—members.htm
— Or check out the toys at:
Museum Tour: www.museumtour.com
Learning for All Ages: www.learningforallages.com
Klutz: www.klutz.com
Discover This: www.discoverthis.com
Stuffed Safari: www.stuffedsafari.com
Educational Insights: www.educationalinsights.com