Best Gifts for Ages 5-9

Give Your School Age Grandchildren Gifts They'll Love

You'll be a hit with your grandkids when you spring for this Schleich castle. There are lots of castles on the market, but this one zooms to the head of the pack because it is unbelievably sturdy and can be arranged in different configurations. Of course, it is designed for the Schleich knight figures, so you won't have to worry about what to buy for birthdays for a while. This is a toy that won't be outgrown quickly. In fact, it is fascinating enough to get Grandma and Grandpa down on the floor to play with it.

If you have a budding scientist in your family, this is a great toy for learning about electronics and circuits. With some help, your little Einstein can build doorbells, radios and even electronic games. The circuits are embedded in plastic parts which snap together easily. There are a lot of small parts, so if your grandchild has younger siblings at home, you may need to keep this toy at your own house, or at least that can be your excuse!

Every kid needs a sleeping bag for sleepovers at Grandma's house and for the occasional camping trip. These bags by Bazoongi are soft and cuddly, with exteriors of 100% cotton and poly-cotton interiors, much nicer than those slippery sleeping bags. They come in several prints that are cute but not babyish, such as butterfly, reptile and camouflage patterns. While not heavy enough for cold-weather camping, these bags are great for indoors and for warm-weather camping.

Four years ago I bought three Razor scooters for my grandkids to ride at my house, and they have been used almost every time the grandkids visit. They are sturdy and practically maintenance-free, and they don't take as much storage room as bicycles. Riding them looks like so much fun that once in a while I take a spin myself.

You and your grandchildren may have seen these gadgets when you visited museums. A thousand or so metal pins are suspended from a small frame so that they create the impression of an item pushed into them. This is the large model, but it is still not large enough for anything much larger than a hand. It is a toy that will be picked up time and time again. There's just something mesmerizing about it. It is fairly heavy and will break if dropped, so choose it for fairly mature school-age children.

From 1973 until 1984, Schoolhouse Rock taught kids about grammar, government, science and a host of other topics. This compilation of the ground-breaking series was done for the 30th anniversary and contains all 46 songs, plus bonus material. My daughter, who teaches government in high school, uses "I'm Just a Bill" in her class, but kids shouldn't have to wait for high school to be exposed to these lessons set to catchy tunes. It's an educational DVD that at least three generations will enjoy.

From the company that is known for well-made educational toys comes this attractive version of mancala. Said to be the oldest game in the world, mancala is played with stones or marbles and a board divided into compartments. Grandparents may have played it with an egg carton and stones, but this version is much more attractive. Grandparents will also like the way it reinforces math and strategy skills.

This is the toy that makes rush hour gridlock fascinating and fun. The player must arrange plastic vehicles in the formation specified on a challenge card, and then maneuver the red car out of the gridlock. It's a little like Battleship, but has four levels of difficulty and can be played alone or with another player. It comes in different versions and with add-ons, so talented drivers can keep honing their skills. This game is used in math classes at some schools, so of course grandparents will love to see the grands trying it out.

Is there anyone, old or young, who can resist a bean bag chair? Ace Bayou remakes the classic with a bit of a twist. Rather than being a squishy ball, the chair is sculpted to form a seat. It's perfect for video gaming or watching TV, as well as providing a cozy spot for reading. Available in two sizes and lots of colors, it's light enough to move from room to room or to toss in a closet when it's not in use, although that may seldom happen.

Grandchildren are obligated to provide a steady supply of artwork for their grandparents, and that task will be lots more fun with this high-quality art set. It contains 24 colored pencils, 24 pastels and 6 tubes of watercolor, along with a palette and other items that will make your grandchild feel like a real artist. Forget about hanging your grandchild's masterpieces on the refrigerator. You'll probably receive pieces that are frameworthy after giving this art kit.

This toy is guaranteed to thrill your grandchildren and draw a crowd. Stomping on a launch pad sends a foam rocket whooshing high in the air. Be sure to pick up some extra rockets, as some are bound to land on houses or in trees. If the kids aren't supervised and play too roughly with it, this toy will break, but it's not a big ticket item and is well worth the money. My grandsons loved it.