Kids’ Corner
GiBoard Balance Trainer
The GiBoard balance trainer looks like a skateboard without wheels. A strap stretched over the maple platform begs balancing atop. Take a wobbly step onto the nylon strip and like an instant, miniature slackline, the board engages your proprioceptive system as you work to stay upright. The practice improves balance, motor control, and sensory processing, so you can use the toy for play, study breaks, or while the kids are at school to strengthen core muscles and prevent injuries. $200; giboardus.com
Lily & River Indoor Climbing Structure
Are your children or grandchildren constantly climbing the walls? Phoenix-based, family-owned Lily & River has a solution: the Little Dome. Tastefully and sustainably designed, the indoor wooden climber for little ones ages 2–6 is small enough to fit in the playroom and large enough to throw a blanket over and transform into a cavernous fort. From $400; lilyandriver.com
The Folio Society Limited-Edition Book Classics
Renowned for its heirloom-quality book editions, The Folio Society introduces a limited-edition collection devoted to The Tale of Peter Rabbit ($495) that reveals how the book came to be. Included in the nine-piece set is a facsimile version of the 1901 maquette Beatrix Potter handwrote and illustrated, as well as a typed version she had privately printed and the story’s first commercial run from 1902. Among new children’s releases from the publisher, The Night Before Christmas ($60) features a glow-in-the-dark binding of Santa and his reindeer. foliosociety.com
FAS Pendezza Table Soccer
Aptly named Ghost, this foosball table in tempered glass from Italian makers FAS Pendezza seemingly floats atop its white or black conical stand. Italian design firm Basaglia Rota Nodari continues to push the envelope in table game design with this latest iteration. The crystal-clear playing field is like an apparition printed with two goal boxes, a penalty arc, and a solid center circle, crisscrossed by corresponding players and metal finishes. $9,470; available from artemest.com
Mark & Graham Rummikub Tile Game
Family-favorite Rummikub now looks as cool as it is fun to play. Remade by monogram specialists Mark & Graham, the tile game comes in an acrylic box with a transparent neon pink, orange, or blue lid that can be personalized accordingly. Each set comes with four clear acrylic tile racks and a full game set of 106 opaque tiles. The company has upgraded other game-night classics, including Chinese checkers, dominoes, and backgammon. $300; markandgraham.com
Bijou Build Outdoor Climbing Structure
Preserve the precious resource of your backyard with a swing set that does not take over. With Bijou Build, the play structure goes up as easily as it comes down. Two tepee-like structures included with the Mainstay Duo Rambler version can house a swing or pile of lounge pillows with a rope bridge suspended in between for climbing. Children can work their muscles and imaginations into the night, as solar-powered LED twinkle lights are among the available accessories for the sets. From $600; bijoubuild.com
Public Bicycle
The classic, big-ticket holiday gift: a shining two-wheeler topped with an oversize bow. From Public, the Internet-based makers of high-quality, classically designed bicycles for adults and children, kid bikes are sold in four sizes based on age. The company’s Ready to Ride shipping ensures the gift arrives assembled and with simple adjustments, you can get excited recipients going within 15 minutes. From $220; publicbikes.com
Smol Inflatable Play Houses
Redraw what comes to mind when you think of a bounce house. Save the ginormous, Disney character-driven versions for the school festival, and welcome Smol into your family playroom. The Salt Lake City–based company makes residential-size, air-filled structures in neutral colors. Popular designs Tumble and Rainbow stand 6 feet or 8 feet wide, and are available in neutral, blue, pink, and limited-edition sage colors. From $490; playsmol.com
Kodo Kids Art Kit
Expert in making playful, open-ended objects for young children, Kodo Kids created the Art Basic Kit, which is anything but basic. The set of carefully curated sand tools fosters creativity and early literacy, and includes a tray, rakes, a mirror, a light panel, writing tools, rolling pins, and plexiglass rollers. $510; kodokids.com
Sabo Concept Blocks
Build Rome in a day with the Italian Ancient City Blocks ($160) and Castle Building Block ($125) sets from Ukrainian toy maker Sabo Concept. The family-owned company produces wooden toy designs with clean, aesthetic lines and thoughtful color choices, including olive and light pink for Castle Block sets. Both minimal and sophisticated, well-crafted wooden blocks will spark new ideas and stand the test of time. saboconcept.com
