Posted in Hipsqueak blog by TOC Kids staff on Dec 30, 2012 at 10:00am
RNWW | Best of 2012
I'll Eat You Up I Love You So onesie It's about as classic as a line from children's literature gets, and we're sure thousands of parents have uttered it while chasing around their little wild things. Cool Sendak-inspired onesie available for $20 on Etsy.
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Matching game Forest Park boutique and design studio Binth created this matching game with charming graphics in licorice black, lemon-drop yellow and lavender hues. $25 at Binth, 7507 W Madison Ave, Forest Park (312-243-7326).
LÖMSK kids' swivel chair in blue Kids will love your eggsellent choice in seating with this convertible hiding space. $88 atIKEA.
Photo: courtesy of IKEA015.so.RNWW.IKEAeggchair1.jpg1404013
Leo the Owl Bank Piggy banks are all fine and dandy, but not even Babe is a cute as this little owl. He takes coin hoarding to whole new adorable level. $12 at urbanoutfitters.com.
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Made by Joel Paper Cities Printable paper cities by Portland-based artist Joel Henriques will have kids globetrotting without leaving the living room. The best part? They're free! Free at madebyjoel.com.
Photo: Courtesy of madebyjoel.com014.so.MadeByJoelPaperCities.jpg1166665
About Face This About Face game from eeBoo positions everyday objects as facial traits (olives for eyes, a light bulb for a nose). Kids can flip and rearrange them in hundreds of ways, and parents can help them make faces according to categoris, color, and more. $14.95 through eeBoo.
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Playmobil Future Planet line German toy company Playmobil envisions a green future where E-Rangers fight the wasteful Dark Rangers to conserve energy. A functional solar-powered fan and an infrared knockout cannon are among their headquarters' cool features. $20–$130 at Building Block Toys (3306 N Lincoln Ave, 773-525-6200).
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Plushform No. 1 Created by Shawnimals, this very cool plush toy is totally customizable: You can brush paint, spray paint it, marker it up or sew on it. Kids can design the toy they always imagined, or at least an approximation. $20 at Rotofugi.
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Modern Child table set Sew the design-geek seed early with this pint-sized, Mid Century-inspired set by Rockford-based designer Jessica Johnson. From $220 at Jessielee Designs Etsy shop.
Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Johnson015.so.modernchldtablesetx720.jpg1175869
Ditka Kids clothing Stacy Ditka, daughter-in-law of Chicago Bears coaching legend and Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, debuted her line of sporty kids clothing. Little fans can choose from an assortment of cotton, Chicago football–inspired T-shirts or onesies featuring vintage-style graphics. The screenprinted gridiron designs are available for boys and girls from six months to size 14–16. $21–$31 at ditkakids.com, Hip Hip Hooray (840 Willow Rd, Northbrook, 847-272-7459) and other local children’s boutiques.
Photo: Courtesy of Ditka Kids017.so.ch.tock.RNWW.DitkaKidsxSS.jpg18198610
Sock monkey T This Threadless toddler T, titled "Sock Monkey Just Wants a Friend" by Ronan Lynam, proves poor King Kong was just midunderstood. $18 at threadless.com/shop/kids.
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Chicago Monopoly There's no Baltic Avenue or Marvin Gardens in this Windy City-themed version of the the Monopoly board game. Instead, players buy property, build a skyline and then trade the skyline for a key to the city. Find blues, deep dish, home-town sports and other Chi-town staples along the way. $35 at the Field Museum Gift Shop, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr (312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org).
Photo: Courtesy of the Field Museum019.tock.RNWW.FieldMus.chicagomonopolycrp.jpg21962112
Timeline (by Asmodee) One of the best educational games of the last year challenges players (ages 8 and up) to lose their cards—each picturing one invention—by placing them along a group timeline in proper chronological order. This month, an expansion game of discoveries will increase the brainiac fun. $15 at Cat & Mouse Game Store.
Photo: courtesy of Asmodee015.so.tock.Timeline1.jpg15368613
DIY Romantic Star Projector Fill a room with heavenly bodies after you and the next Galileo assemble this projector. The star maker can even be set to track shifts in the night sky throughout the year, according to Infmetry’s website. $22 at Infmetry.
Photo: Courtesy of Infmetry014.so.tock.RNWW.InfmetryStarProjector.jpg10258614
Callet phone cover The last thing you want to see during a relaxing family day at the beach is Dad fretting over his wallet. The Callet—that’s cover plus wallet—keeps Dad’s iPhone, BlackBerry or Android safe while keeping his cash, cards and ID organized when he’s wearing pocketless swim trunks. Bonus: The Callet comes at a kid-friendly price. $20 at thecallet.com.
Doodle Chicago Astute parents might recognize the author name of kids’ activity book Doodle Chicago: Local journo Jerome Pohlen also wrote the Oddball Illinois travel guide and Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids, among other titles. Doodle Chicago, with illustrations by Violet Lemay, challenges kids to create various Windy City pictures that might include drawing Willis Tower, creating Frank Gehry–style sketches or rendering an El car. Great for tiny tourists and locals alike. $13 at Building Blocks Toys (3306 N Lincoln Ave, 773-525-6200).
Photo: Duo Press LLC017.so.ch.tock.RNWW.DoodleChicagoxSS.jpg18199116
I'll Eat You Up I Love You So onesie It's about as classic as a line from children's literature gets, and we're sure thousands of parents have uttered it while chasing around their little wild things. Cool Sendak-inspired onesie available for $20 on Etsy.
One of the fun jobs around the office is contributing to our regular "Right now, we want" feature on the blog. Basically, it's our weekly wishlist of cool stuff for kids and families. So we figured that with end-of-year sales happening, and gift cards burning holes in your sock drawers, it'd be fun to run through our favorite picks of the year.
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