Top Ten Gifts For Kids That Inspire Creativity

One night while babysitting my friend's little girl, I handed her my iPhone to play with. Before I knew it, pictures were being taken, and calls to the UK were being attempted. While part of me admires the technical prowess a third year-old can possess, another part of me yearns for a simpler time, when children played with Lincoln Logs and made swords out of cardboard instead of playing Wii Sports Resort.

These 10 gift ideas (in no particular order) encourage creativity, and, with the exception of batteries for the shadow puppets, use nothing but good old-fashioned imagination.

1. Shadow puppets

Giving out a little hometown love. Made in Chicago by model maker Andrea Everman. Owly Shadow Puppets can make bedtime, or anytime after dark, that much more fun.

Multiple designs from dinosaurs, to fairies, to space-traveling rabbits can transform a flashlight and a bedroom into your own personal Shadow Theater.

Available online at Renegade Handmade, Mahar Dry Goods, and Etsy.

The book William and the Magic Ring, offers a more portable shadow puppet theater. Packaged with everything that you need to transform a hotel room, or a relative's less kid-friendly house, a pen flashlight allows your favorite youngster to take William, on a strange and wonderful excursion into a magical forest nightscape filled with wild animals.

2. Star House Wooden Block

Handmade by artist Heather Ward-Migner from sustainable poplar wood.

I have such a hard time buying my favorite kids plastic blocks. Sure, they're durable, and easy to clean, but I like to convince myself that any gift I give could last for generations. These sets of wooden blocks could certainely fit that bill.

Artist Heather makes each wooden toy by hand, burning the details in with a wood burner, paints them with non-toxic, Made in the USA watercolors, and finishes them with beeswax and jojoba oil. My personal favorites are the Hedegehogs, Rainbow bunnies, and Star House Rainbow and Clouds.

3. Custom Yarn Beard

Although the little one in your life isn't old enough to grow their own Gordon Fisherman's beard, let them pretend they have a full face of hair with this yarn beard from Mahar Dry Goods.

Handmade in the Pacific Northwest by Artist Erin Dollar, these yarn beards are available in eight colors and two sizes (in case your not-so-little one has a hard time growing more than a five o'clock shadow.) If a fuzzy yarn beard isn't quite your thing, be sure to check out Dollar's felt beards, also available in shocking pink.

Dress up suggestions include a pirate, gnome, lumberjack, or just a kid incognito.

4. Custom Peggie Superhero

Customize one of these wooden peggies for your favorite superhero, and they can save the world during playtime.

Each peggie is handpainted with non-toxic paint and sealers, just south of Shoestring's home in Boston.

For a DIY gift you can also buy a set of blank "peggies" and a set of Paint Pots With Brushes-18 Colors and your little Jack Kirby can create their own Captain America.

Princesses and other custom designs are available.

5. Weiner Dog Sweatshirt

It seems everywhere I look, dachshunds are a trend. Outfit your favorite little trendster in this super cute weiner dog sweatshirt. Handmade by finch designs in San Fransisco, the weiner dog is appliqued in lime green and brown ultra-suede.

While you're at it, throw in this set of "Bag o'Doxies." This handmade set by Sweet Little Birdie out of Baton Rouge, comes with five weiner dogs. Each dog comes with different color collars, so your little one can learn their colors, or just have a matching friend.

6. Knitted Viking Hat

Complete with bobbies, horns, and detachable braids, these Rhode Island handmade hats do double duty as a cold weather accessory and a dress-up piece.

"For the rough and tumble youngster in need of protection from more than just the elements."

Viking hats are hand knit from soft 100% cotton, and are machine washable. The hat comes in 3 colors (iron, wood, black), and the braids are available in five colors (blond, golden blown, dark brown, black).

Gladiator hats are also available.

7. Robot Wooden Matching Memory Game

I was recently at my in-laws, and my husband hauled out this game called Twinny. As I proceeded to stomp my competition with my stellar memory skills, I was struck by the beautiful illustrations.

Although it was a just a basic memory game, we played for easily an hour or more. In part because I had finally found something that I was better at than my husband, and his supremely smart mother, and in part because in the days of Wii and other high-tech games, it was fun in its simplicity.

Handmade in the Midwest with super-smooth 1.5 inch wooden discs that each have fun robotic images, and stamped with water-resistant, permanent non-toxic ink.

8. Ramones Finger Puppets

One of my all time favorite memories with my favorite little girl is hauling out my mini trampoline and putting on The Clash and the Ramones on the record player. We sang and jumped and danced for a good two hours. I can only hope that I sent her home exahusted, and with a newfound appreciation for British Punk. I certainly was seriously exahusted, but I already love The Ramones and The Clash.

These finger puppets are handmade in Brazil, and bring a whole new meaning to "fingerstyling."

Available in musical greats, like Nirvana, the Beastie Boys, The Beatles, and many more. Plus these finger puppets are magnetic, so they can stick to your fridge for storage after a rockin' playtime.

9. Felted Play Food

When I was little, one of my favorite toys was a wooden kitchen set that my grandpa built for me. I was amazed by the intricate detail. He even went so far as to cut little ice cubes out of plastic that fit into ice cube trays. The kitchen set still exists, and I imagine that these felt food sets would fit in perfectly.

Handmade in Western Michigan, the choices include allergy-free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and classic favorite green eggs and ham. If breakfast is more your thing, check out this bacon and eggs set from Etsy, made in Salt Lake City.

(Now if only I could convince my husband to stop asking if pretend bacon is Kosher.)

10. Scribble Chalk Mat

I can't count the number of times a friend has brought their kids over and I have had crayons and printer paper strewn across my floor. Problem is, my dogs seem to take that "non-toxic" label to heart.

That errant crayon can hide under the couch for days, only to surface at the worst times.

With adorable sock monkey fabric on the outside, chalkboard fabric on the inside, and a small pocket to hold chalk, this scribble chalk mat is the perfect solution. Stick this in the car, or a travel bag, and always be ready for on-the-go art projects. Wipes clean with a tissue or a wet wipe.

Story: Copyright 2009, Shoestring, LLC. Photo: iStock