(Creativity for Kids $24.99) No glue needed to create a sparking night light with transparent “Big Gems” that will turn the bedroom ceiling into a lovely lightshow to gaze at as sleep comes. Putting the self- adhesive gems on takes some. Eye hand and fine motor skills and patience. Thekit comes with everything they need to turn this into a working lamp: 700+ transparent gems, diamond painting stylus, wax square, gem tray, diamond painting light wrap, lid with LED light and at

(Creativity for Kids $15.99) Here’s a STEM toy to fascinate and entertain them as they learn first hand about light refractions and constructing a kaleidoscope. It comes with two tubes and all the ingredients for making swirling optics. The kit includes the kaleidoscope tube and 2 swirling tubes and caps, special swirl gel, glow-in-the-dark stickers, confetti assortment, 2 gaskets, nozzle tip and instructions. Recommended for 6 and up. Ages: Early School Oppenheim Toy Portfol

(Janod $42) For future city planners and architects, here’s a clever 2-in-1 construction set with a 20-piece street map puzzle that has to be put together and serves as a base to build on. Kids can build a city of skyscrapers or a utopian city of their dreams. Buildings do need to fit into the grid and there are roadways and train tracks for vehicles to travel. The sixty- piece set includes small cars, trucks, and blocks that are solid wood and painted with water based paint

(Chalk of the Town $26.95) A craft kit kids will not only wear, but one they can change how it looks again and again. The tee shirt comes with a black “chalkboard” in the shape of a snowman. Kids use the special set of three markers that come in the kit to decorate their shirt in their own unique way. Let the markers dry and it’s ready to wear. Want to change the look? No problem. Use a wet cloth and wipe it off and design it again. The shirt is machine washable and comes in

(Juratoys $26.99) We’re always on the look out for bath toys that work and this 3-in-1-Splash Ball is full of promising activities that will keep toddlers happy in the tub. The big ball that holds an assortment of big plastic beads has a giant size suction cup that will stick to the floor of the tub. It will start as a fill and dump toys with lots of beads with varying textures that will go bobbing about and be put back inside the ball. As toddler’s dexterity develops, they w

(Janod $39.99 ) What could be better than one robot? How about three? This versatile construction toy with 53 wooden pieces has a variety of play values. First of course, there is the building by following the step by step clear directions. Or not. Once they get the hang of how the pieces work, the robots can be redesigned into unique and child designed new models. The kit includes a special screwdriver, the only tool needed to construct the robots, each robot , when complete

(Manhattan Toy $38.00 A toddler perfect soft fabric cradle is just right for baby dolls 12-15 inches. It’s light enough for toddlers to move from one room to another and unlike wooden ones they often try to climb into, this is only big enough for dolls. The hood attaches with Velco-style tabs and folds back or can be removed. The mobile fastens to the hood. A charming prop for early pretend play. This Soft Crib fits the new Playdate Friends dolls and so will the many multi-et

(Manhattan Toy $24.99 each) We don't know how you'll make up your mind—which one of these charmers will you buy? Each of these 14" all fabric dolls is so adorable! Girls and boys, multi-cultural choices in adorable removable cotton clothes. Each with a pet of its own. There's Alex with a yellow hat, orange pants with pockets and blue checked shirt. He has a teddy bear in overalls. Ellis has a sherpa style vest, olive overalls, boots and a bunny toy. Freddie wears a floral r

(American Girl $110 each for basic doll and book ) Say hello to Makena, Maritza and Evette, a multicultural trio of friends. Makena is a fashionable African American girl. Her hair is worn in long twisted style with golden butterfly barrettes. “See Me, Hear Me, Know Me”— that’s the motto on her shirt and title of book that deals with racial injustice. Maritza is Bolivian on her mother’s side and Mexican on her father’s side. Put that together and Maritza is an All-American gi

(eeBoo $ 23.99 ) Kids can never have too many art supplies. Tweens are likely to like this themed set, also featured in several eeBoo puzzles for beginners and advanced puzzlers. The detailed illustration by Jennifer Orkin Lewis features working women—a judge, RBG, to be specific, musician, scientist, architect, doctor and photographer—all of them working for a better world. The pencils are especially festive with their foil and colored striped wrappings. Ages: Tweens and Te