Balancing Blocks
Balance these 10 faceted wooden blocks to create an amazing sculpture. Kids and adults alike will love the artistic approach to these nontraditional building blocks. Made from oak and tumbled in colored or or white water-based paint, they come in a handy white cotton bag.
To buy: Areaware, $48
Zoo Shape Sorter
Remember that (slightly boring) shape sorter you grew up with? This colorful, modernized version will totally capture your kid's attention. Little hands will be trained in coordination, and little imaginations will be encouraged to grow. The pieces are made from recovered wood and nontoxic paint.
To buy: Dwell Studio, $32
Molecule Building Set
Art and science go hand in hand with this attractive molecule building set. You can make your own molecule or design endless sculptures with all 24 pieces. And, once chemistry class comes around, your kid wil find it a helpful studying aid. It comes with six different colored balls and wooden sticks.
To buy: Ferm Living, $72
Alphabet Blocks
Teach your impressionable child the ABCs in style. You won't even mind having this block set strewn all over the house (or artfully placed on the coffee table). Six different Neutraface fonts are debossed on 12 kiln-dried blocks.
To buy: Heath Ceramics, $60
Luttoo Mini Spinning Top
Whether you're a child or an adult, spinning tops are just plain fun. Designed by Toronto-based Tahir Mahmood, each spinning top is handmade with Sissoo wood and finished with a colored resin application. Mahmood's vision is to compose modern stories inspired by ancient history.
To buy: Gretel Home, $21
Mad Science ABC Blocks
Every budding young scientist needs to learn her ABCs the mad scientist way, which means knowing that the letter R is for robots and Z is for zombies. Each block is made from an original pen-and-ink drawing that's been laser-engraved onto solid wood.
To buy: Xylocopa, $35
Modular Vehicle
This modular wooden vehicle easily pulls apart to make a truck, airplane or submarine. But don't let your kids' creativity stop there. The toy can be put together in hundreds of different configurations to make any kind of vehicle (real or fantastical) that they like. It comes with a rope, so it can also be a pull toy.
To buy: Manzanita Kids, $65
Planwood Sort N Count
Help your kid develop sorting and counting skills with colorful stacking balls from Plan Toys. They can be arranged in endless different patterns, taking up hours of fun.
To buy: KangarooBoo, $19
Blue Wooden Airplane
Children's imaginations will soar with this beautifully sculpted airplane designed by Ole Sondergaard. Hang it from the ceiling and dream of faraway places or fly it around the room to unknown destinations. It's available in red, black or blue, and in three different sizes.
To buy: Normann Copenhagen, from $43
PlayShapes Block Set
This 74-piece wooden set, designed by Zoe Miller and David Goodman, is playful and environmentally sound. Create endless 3-D formations, ranging from an expansive cityscape to a royal king's face to … whatever you can think of! Your imagination (and your kid's) will blow up! It's made from preservative-free rubber wood and nontoxic paint.
To buy: A Plus R Store, $158
Sirch Max Push Car
Your little kid will get a great workout and develop good coordination riding and pushing this award-winning car around. Beautifully sculpted from bent ash wood and handcrafted in Bavaria, Germany, this posh toy can be passed down for generations.
To buy: Baby Naturopathics, $173
Topsy Turvy Stacking Blocks
Little hands will have loads of fun balancing these brightly colored topsy-turvy stacking blocks. With endless color combinations and configurations, be prepared for hours of entertainment.
To buy: MoMA Store, $20
Voice Recorder
Kids will have tons of fun recording their sweet voices with a handcrafted machine (that just happens to look like a face). Let them hold down the bright red recorder button to capture 30 seconds of singing or laughing. Then, play it back, and adjust speed and pitch using the silver handle.
To buy: Brand New Noise, $48
