As parents, we delight in watching our children’s eyes light up when they open all those brightly wrapped packages from Grandma, Grandpa and a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends.
But let’s face it, despite our verbal expressions of “Oh, how nice,” we sometimes want to cringe as Junior unwraps a fire engine with an ear-piercing siren, a lethal popgun, a 40,000-piece pirate set (for Mom and Dad to assemble now), or a year’s supply of Goop, Ooze and Slime.
Though the thought is always appreciated, too often it seems the gifts our children receive are the ones that scream “fun” on TV commercials and toy-store shelves but are destined to wreak havoc in the home.
With that in mind, this year we searched for the coolest treasures for children. Read that: gifts that would put a smile on parents’ faces too.
“The best gifts for children are the ones that bring the children and parents together,” says Alexandra Kennedy, editor of FamilyFun. The magazine recently spent a year searching for toys that are exciting, imaginative and bound for classic status, not ones doomed to waste precious closet space.
“Nature kits, crafts and any activity that pair the child with his parent is alway appreciated because what kids want most is attention from their parents,” Kennedy says.
From Rollerblading dates and an afternoon at the movies to board games and craft kits, here is what we found:
Theater, theater
Tickets to children’s theater, musical events or movies will bring parents and children together to experience fun and culture, Kennedy says.
A stage version of “The Secret Garden,” Frances Hodgson Burnett’s delightful tale of a lively, willful girl, Mary, and how she finds happiness when she comes to live in a mansion on the Yorkshire moors, will make its Chicago debut Jan. 26 at the Shubert Theatre, 22 W. Monroe St. For tickets, call TicketMaster at 312-902-1500.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” at 2 p.m. March 13 at Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets are $5.50 to $22. For more information on the orchestra’s family concert series or for tickets, call 312-435-6666.
Lions, tigers and bears
Membership to an adventuresome and fun place-the zoo-is a good way to express to children on your list that you know they like to have fun and appreciate their taste in outings.
Annual memberships at Brookfield Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoological Society are about $45 for the whole family. At Brookfield, membership includes free admission and parking, a chance to see exhibits first, a 10 percent discount on purchases at the zoo store and a subscription to the zoo’s newsletter. Call 708-485-0263, ext. 341.
At Lincoln Park Zoo, where admission is free, membership includes free parking and benefits similar to those offered by Brookfield.
More expensive memberships are available for other packages, including behind-the-scenes zoo tours and exclusive events. Call 312-935-6700.
Time out at the tube
Don’t overlook the new video releases as great kid-and-parent-pleasers. Just about every 8- to 13-year-old girl is a fan of The Baby-Sitters Club book series. A must-have is the “The Baby-Sitters’ Special Christmas” (Kid Vision, $14.95). It’s the newest in the 10-video series featuring the wholesome fun and adventures of seven best friends.
Thomas the Tank Engine and his pals are making their debut in the all-new “Shining Time Station Holiday Special” (Kid Vision, $14.95) and available at video rental stores.
Little helpers
Young children love playing house, so why not give them everything they need to keep their special little place neat and tidy-and help teach them to share the chores?
The “My First Housekeeping Set” ($29.95, includes shipping, from the Toys to Grow On catalog; 1-800-542-8338) includes a sweeper, mops, pretend soaps and the whole cleaning works stored in its own cupboard.
When given a chance, most kids love to cook and show off their homemade creations. Now, kids can have 12 months of mouth-watering fun through membership in the COOK IT! CLUB, which is geared to 3- to 10-year-olds. For $13.95 a month or an annual membership of $149.95, children will receive each month a package filled with recipes and cooking tools for everything from a Mexican fiesta to homemade snack recipes.
To order call HearthSong at 1-800-325-2502.
