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This looks like a fun gift for an amateur stargazer.

The Stellarscope is a personal hand-held planetarium that charts the night sky on any day of the year. Just match date and time with the adjustable barrel for an accurate display. Comes with a pocket light for nighttime viewing. Imported.

2.5″ diameter, 5.75″l

$52.00, Buy it here.

If you haven’t finished your holiday shopping, keep in mind that shipping times for all online purchases are nearing the cut off times…that being said, these kits seem like a great gift for a hobbyist.
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Am I a complete dork for wanting one of these? (don’t answer that.)

* 51 bone-like pieces
* Snaps together, puzzle-style
* Realistic, mid-stride pose captures the dinosaur’s daunting stature
* Display it on its rock-like base, or disassemble for future use
* Includes educational color poster full of fun T-Rex facts
* No messy glue needed
* Easy to assemble

Plastic and metal, 36″ L

$49.95, Buy it here.

How fun does this look? If you’ve got kids, now’s your chance to buy this see-saw, though I’d recommend deducting it from their allowance. It’s never too early to learn fiscal responsibility, right?

Here, clever design, playful learning and the pride of building something yourself are combined. Shipped flat, the Tau See-saw components are pieced within the sheet of wood from which the parts were cut; the parts “unclip” from the template and are easily assembled by an adult. Should your child outgrow the toy, it can be disassembled and the parts clipped back into the sheet for storage.

Materials: Birch veneer
Children 3 years+
Meets all European standards for child safety.

57″ L x 24″ W x 27″ H

$799.00,
Buy it here.

These woodblocks have some excellent graphics.

This multi-faceted piece turns the concept of traditional alphabet blocks on its head by featuring an array of multi-functional patterns and colors. Not just a set of wood blocks, but two puzzles, numbers and letters, too. A great gift for all ages.

The Letters combine notNeutral’s favorite vintage and contemporary fonts. They picked the most distinct letter forms for each letter on two of the block sides. Basic equations can be solved using the two tone graphic numbers. The Apples are a signature notNeutral pattern that create a fun puzzle. The last two sides are a combination of two Season pattern elements, the flora and fauna elements with the tree structure.

12 wood blocks, Includes wood tray
Each six-sided block is 1.75″ x 1.75″

$36.00, Buy it here.

Clever interpretation…

Really simple and really well done the XO is a Tic Tac Toe game and yes, you might argue that there are a ton of them out there, but this one is special as it is played on a mirrored surface and the X and O are only half of what they should be. Why? Well, you are playing it on a mirror surface, hence no need for the other half.

$40.00,
Buy it here.

This deck will give you that sinister/unshakable look for your poker game (or Old Maid, if that’s your thing).

“A deck of cards entirely in black. The design, particularly for Jokers, Kings, Queens and Jacks, also add another unique touch. Play cards with design and style.”

$16.00,
Buy it here.

Check it. This dollhouse is made from recycled cardboard (= biodegradable) and has a handle for easy moving. Plus, it’s $35, which is entirely affordable considering Barbie’s Dream House costs at least three times that and hurts your eyes if you look at it too long.

“The first take-away home for kids on the move. For girls AND boys. MobileHome is blue outside and red inside. Easy to install. Easy to carry. With 8 secret rooms, stair openings and spy holes. And an attic for storage. For knights, pirates and princesses. For Japanese figurines and little dolls. Design, creativity, durability and play lie at the heart of the toys of Kidsonroom. For on the road, when staying over, for a day in the park, at home, or on holidays. Easy-to-assemble for hours of play. Easy-to-store: it folds down flat in its box. Earth-friendly: made from 100% recycled cardboard and is 100% biodegradable!”

Dimension: 8.75W x 14D x 18H

If puzzles have gone by the wayside, this is sure to bring back a little nostalgia, or at least a few itchy fingers. (Engage your brain folks!)

“Numbered limited edition of 250. From photographer Julian Hibbard’s “Fake & Familiar” series. Archival photographic C print backed with cardboard and professionally cut into 513 jigsaw pieces.”

21″ w x 15″ h

If you’re fond of puzzles, here’s one that will take a bit more time while you figure out what piece goes where.

“Who’s the best looking brainteaser of them all? 72-piece reflective acrylic mirror is stocking stuffer, conversation maker, mindblower.”

15″ sq.

I went to a Montessori school when I was growing up and I remember loving the pink tower and the way the wood sounded as the blocks clinked together on the shiny pink lacquer. I also remember how someone would always steal top block.

If you do have kids, the pink tower is used for introducing children to concepts of three dimensional size variance, weight differential and intricate stacking.

Whether you have kids or not, it’s a pretty cool looking sculptural object.

Instead of getting a kid an x-box, don’t you want to be the type of aunt or uncle that gives the brainy gifts that are also really fun to play with?

“As irresistible to adults as it is to children, MUJI’s New York in a Bag comes with nine wooden city structures and six wooden cars. Included are New York City icons such as the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Guggenheim Museum, and MoMA’s original 1939 building. The wood is from sustainable forests. Recommended for ages 4 and up.”

(This item’s link and price was updated 11/19/09.)

This is a great gift for one of those brainy types. It’s a puzzle with four identical pieces that can be assembled in a variety of ways.

I just love little puzzles. I think they’re a nice addition to any desktop and make for a great mental distraction when necessary. This particular one was designed by Charles O. Perry in 1967.

“Made entirely of Plexiglas, the manner in which light bounces off this three-dimensional desktop puzzle gives it a jewel-like appearance. A challenge to take apart and put back together, the puzzle comes in a felt gift bag. Perry is a renowned sculptor whose most prestigious work stands in front of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.”