Kids can . . .
Bluff or block
Be king or queen of the castle
as soon as they build it themselves. The durable cardboard Calacastle is a playhouse, a castle, and a blank canvas to paint, large enough for small children to walk in, crawl in, and play in. The towers have removable tops, giving kids a secret place to store treasures and toys. $99; ages 3 and up; creativetoyshop.com.
Fold and fly
a small, bold, zippy paper airplane each day in 2009. The 365 Tiny Paper Airplanes page-a-day desk calendar includes instructions for folding a full-color plane using each day’s calendar page. Each design is based on one of 30 airplane models, including the Eagle, the Spitfire, and the whirlybird-style Twister. $12.99; calendars.com
Sleep tight
wearing New Jammies snuggly PJs. Made of 100 percent organic cotton and snug fitting to conform to CPSC standards, the long-sleeve shirt and pant set comes in playful and colorful patterns such as the game of jacks, golf, or fruits and veggies. Sizes 12 mo.–6; Jacks for Jill set $33; newjammies.com.
Laugh out loud
playing the tabletop game called Guess What I Am! Players put their faces through the cut-out space of a mystery card, transforming themselves into one of 30 silly characters. With each roll of the die, players ask yes or no questions, such as "Do I play sports?" or "Do I have have fur?" to gather clues from the other players about their identity. Ages 3 and up; $17.99; guesswhatiamgame.com.
Unleash their imaginations
wearing U*Neaks sneaker-style shoes. Each pair of these customizable sneaks has clear side-panel windows that allow kids to change the look of their shoes by simply changing their socks. Collectible sock prints include flowers, rainbows, hearts, dinosaurs, sports, camouflage, and more. Shoe sizes 3-8. $34.99-$39.99 for the shoes; $4.99-$5.99 for each pair of two-sided socks; uneaks.com
Whip up food
using the Playful Chef Deluxe Cooking Kit. Each kit contains kid-sized tools, five laminated recipe cards, and a denim tool-belt apron for easy storage and handy access. Each component is packed into a backpack that also contains lessons in kitchen safety, age-appropriate cooking skills, science, measuring, nutrition, seasonings, clean up, and the fun of eating and sharing what you create. For ages 6 and up. $39.99; playfulinc.com
Brush up on their academic skills,
get extra practice in areas of difficulty, or get ahead in areas of strength with Brain Quest® Workbooks. Each workbook includes curriculum-based exercises, games, and activities in all subjects. As a bonus, there are 150 stickers, a certificate of completion, a pull-out poster that ties directly to a popular subject, and a Brain Quest game. Workbooks available for grades PreK-4th. $12.95; workman.com
See what the buzz is about
reading Bee & Me by Elle J. McGuinness. The tale tells of a boy who overcomes his fear of bees and learns how bees benefit the world. And, as children flip through the pages, the animated windows embedded in the illustrations appear to be in motion. For all ages. $16.99; andrewsmcmeel.com/accord.html
Strap on some fun
with a pair of Skorpies™. Kids wear their own shoes and glide over bumps and cracks in style. The smaller wheels and bearings help maintain low speeds, and an adjustable footplate lets the skates "grow" with a child's shoe size. For ages 5-8. $69.95; coming in October at skorpion.com
Go green
with Hugg-a-Planet's Organic Foundlings. The shell and interior of these toy animals—teddy bear, elephant, rabbit, bunny, dog, puppy, whale, and turtle—are made with 100 percent organic, pesticide-free, unbleached cotton. The animals' eyes are embroidered to help ensure the safety of young children. $9.95–$29.95; huggaplanet.com/foundling.html