By Stephen Simpson
Analog is in. It might seem like video games, tablets and other electronic devices are all the rage, but kids in the Black Hills and elsewhere are finding their entertainment in other places. Sure, screens have their place. But low-tech has something special to offer. Ask any parent who’s ever watched their kids build entire worlds with a pile of wooden blocks.
For this year’s Christmas gift guide, we focused on toys that get kids moving, building, creating and thinking. Many are simple to learn but extremely difficult to master, giving kids something that can grow with them long after the wrapping paper hits the floor. By the way, bonus points if you buy these screen-free gifts locally! We’ve checked it out, you totally can. Shop local!
Easy to Learn, Hard to Master!
These are toys that are all skill-based. All of these selections are easy to play with, but extremely difficult to master. Simple designs, but hours of entertainment and the satisfaction of getting better with practice.
Yo-Yos
A classic for a reason. A yo-yo can be picked up and enjoyed within minutes, but learning tricks can turn it into a lifelong pursuit. Once kids master the basics, there’s always another trick to learn.
Rubik’s Cubes
Once you get the algorithm to memory, no cube is unsolvable. The humble cube is a great combination of spatial reasoning, memory and persistence.
Kendamas
These Japanese skill toys are a growing favorite for kids today. The goal looks simple: catch the wooden ball on one of the cups or the spike. It takes coordination, patience and plenty of practice.
Diabolos
Unique and impressive once mastered, diabolos are essentially juggling toys that spin on a string. Kids can start with basic throws and catches before working their way toward increasingly elaborate tricks.
Hacky Sacks
If you get good at hacky sack, you’ll always be able to make friends. It’s portable, inexpensive and surprisingly difficult to master. Better yet, there’s no scoreboard or complicated set of rules. Just keep the sack off the ground.
Beyblades
Three, two, one. Let it rip! That’s the familiar battle cry behind these spinning-top competitions. Kids can customize their Beyblades, develop launching techniques and battle them against friends.
STEM Kits
There are so many great options available now. Kids can build robots, launch rockets, explore circuits, conduct experiments and learn how things work while having fun. If you want the learning and fun to continue into the year, you can even get STEM subscription boxes so a new build or experiment arrives every month or quarter.
Puzzles
There’s nothing quite like a jigsaw puzzle, especially during a snowy day. Puzzles give younger kids a chance to practice visual recognition, problem-solving and patience, all while working toward a very satisfying finished product. Older kids and adults can work together on higher-count puzzle projects that might take days or even weeks!
Cup Stackers
A test of speed and accuracy, cup stacking turns a pile of plastic cups into a surprisingly compelling challenge. Kids can practice individually or compete against friends to see who can complete a sequence the fastest.
Jacks
This classic game can actually trace its roots back to ancient times. The basic concept has remained remarkably unchanged: toss, pick up and catch. It’s a deceptively simple test of hand-eye coordination.
Get Those Creative Juices Flowing!
These are gifts that let kids flex their creative muscles. Exploring creativity can lead to a lifelong love of creating. These are some of our favorite ways for kids to get their brains working creatively.
Spirograph
A few gears, a pen and some paper can produce an almost endless supply of intricate designs. Spirograph is part art project and part geometry lesson, with plenty of room for experimentation.
Magnetic Tiles
These colorful magnetic shapes quickly turn into houses, towers, castles, vehicles and whatever else a young builder can imagine. They’re especially good for open-ended play because there’s no single right way to build.
LEGO / DUPLO
Few toys have survived generations of children quite like LEGO. For younger builders, DUPLO offers larger pieces that are easier for small hands to manipulate, while traditional LEGO can grow with kids as their building skills develop.
Wooden Train Sets
A delightful combination of construction and pretend play, wooden train sets let kids build the track before sending their trains around the finished layout. Add bridges, buildings and figures, and the play possibilities expand considerably.
Wooden Building Blocks
Sometimes the simplest toys are the ones that leave the most room for imagination. A set of wooden blocks can become a skyscraper, a castle, a bridge or an entire miniature city.
Play-Doh
With a plethora of different kits and accessories, Play-Doh can become just about anything a child can imagine. The best part is that the finished product doesn’t really matter. Squishing, rolling, cutting and rebuilding are the whole point.
Marble Runs
The fun never ends with these gravity-powered construction sets. Kids build the track, drop in a marble and see what happens. When it inevitably doesn’t work, they get to rebuild it and try again.
Etch A Sketch
There’s something ridiculously satisfying about creating something beautiful on an Etch A Sketch. It’s also a sneaky lesson in patience and coordination, since every line has to be made with two little knobs and there’s no undo button.
Arts & Crafts Kits
This entry could actually fill its own article. From beads to clay, from paints and markers to paper crafts, there’s an almost endless variety of screen-free creative projects available. The key is finding something that matches the child’s interests and gives them enough freedom to make it their own.
Pretend-Play Sets
Sets like Maileg or Calico Critters can provide an extraordinary way for little imaginations to really stretch. A miniature setting, kitchen, dollhouse, veterinarian clinic or campsite can become the setting for stories that unfold differently every time the toys come out.