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Have you seen these MONUmini Architectural Models by Another Studio? Whether you’re fond of London’s landmarks or not, the tiny models are pretty detailed, and any one of them could make a great gift for someone who has a soft spot for England’s capital. Each kit has a sheet of etched stainless steel pieces (you fold and lock together), step-by-step assembly instructions and a short building history, all of which is held in an envelope that can be mailed as a souvenir or gift. Battersea Station and Tower Bridge are available from A+R ($28 each); those two plus the Post Office Tower (aka the BT Tower) and Barbican Tower are available straight from Another Studio (£ 15.00 each).

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Did you (or do you) ever play around with tangrams? Take a look at this version from Iacoli & McAllister. Simple and severe (in a good way), the seven flat shapes are rendered in laser cut birch ply with black and white no-VOC paint. It’s the sort of thing that you could leave lying out on a coffee or side table as a graphic sort of art piece, ready for a spare moment when you are able to sharpen your mental skills. Need it be mentioned that this could be an excellent gift?
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Puzzles! Why does it seem that kids and older people are crazy about puzzles and most of us young-to-middle-aged folks dismiss them as a pleasant pastime? Perhaps because we see ourselves as too busy? Hmm. Time to fix that.
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Do you have a decent knowledge of the various flags of the world? Maybe you’ve been caught unawares a time or two (or ten), but that can all be fixed with this set of playing cards. 52 different flags are shown on the cards, so you can play your card game and learn at the same time. That’s not all the flags, mind you, but it’s a start; the CIA has a Flags of the World Factbook if you care to see more.

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Lego-ish crayons? Of course! Why, that might just be the perfect prescription for getting those creative juices flowing again. Get a few packs and distribute around the office accordingly. Need I remark that these would be equally amusing to children? Maybe get a dozen packs instead, that way you’re prepared for any age group and all situations.
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Do you know a budding architect? Do you still enjoy playing around with building blocks? Either way, bookmark these building blocks of the achitectural classics. Each piece is magnetized to the base, allowing you to place blocks in whatever way you see fit. Be sure to check out the Chateau de Chambord and Neuschwanstein models (each $16.99); it looks like Amazon has all three.
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I think you need this, and now. What better way to distract yourself from the droll everyday office life than with a fun, vivid, spinning top that demonstrates color theory? Plus, it’s a reproduction of an original Bauhaus design, so you can say ‘Bauhaus!’ whenever someone comments on it. And, if a spinning top isn’t your thing, consider it as a gift (6 years old and up).
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Stay familiar with Roman numerals by using this set of dice. You might even rattle your opponents as not everyone can easily add up numerals, especially compared to the dots found on usual dice. History moment: according to Wikipedia, “the oldest known dice were excavated as part of a 5000-year-old backgammon set at the Burnt City (Shahr-e SÅ«khté), an archeological site in south-eastern Iran.”
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Let’s go fly a kite, up to the highest height… How long has it been since you flew a kite? Years? Decades? Change that answer to ‘days’ by considering one of these kites by Fredericks & Mae, or, if $64 is a bit too high for your taste, make your own.
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How fun are these chalk building blocks? The kit includes 7 wood blocks, a set of 6 dustless colored chalk sticks, a mini eraser and chalk sharpener. Whether you (or your favorite kids) draw windows and doors for homes and buildings or just your craziest patterns, the blocks will certainly be a new way to engage a little imagination.
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Let the games begin, or rather, que les Jeux commencent*! Dominoes, Chess, Pick-Up Sticks, and Checkers. The four classics all pack up neatly in this box that you can take on the go- the chess board is on the bottom of the box and the checker board is on the bottom of the lid. Could be a good thing to have on hand for your next road trip, or maybe just for those lazy summer days outside (of which you’ll have plenty, right?).
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Jump rope! Get in shape with a jump rope made from 100% reclaimed mountain-climbing rope and rubber handles. Since the materials are reclaimed, no two will be the same. A 6.5 foot (single) length is sold at Branch Home, but should you need a 10.5 foot (double) length, go directly to Urban Infant.
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These blocks are a bit odd- sort of like a concession between a kid (“I want legos!”) and an interior designer (“No, they’re too colorful!”). Don’t go getting ideas though- replacing a child’s toy blocks with tree bark and tea leaves- that’s what these blocks are made of- is bordering on plain meanness. However, these blocks could be an interesting decorative accent for an eclectic interior.
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Oh my, now the diehards of the design set can have an aesthetically pleasing Scrabble game. Scrabble enthusiasts might find fault with aspects of the board (no colors?!), yet there’s no argument that it’s, well, pretty. The storage case, magnetized gameboard, and tiles are made of solid walnut. Now available for pre-order, expected to ship August 2012.
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To most people, trying to improve the LEGO block would be like reinventing the wheel, but leave it to the designers over at Muji to not leave well enough alone and come up with a very creative toy series that combine the snap-together blocks with paper. Each of the six play sets includes a collection of LEGO bricks, paper, and instructions to construct example models. A specially designed hole puncher creates perfectly sized holes to fit the blocks. Current sets include; Basic, Move, Sea, Animal & Vehicle, Christmas, and Animals. Just to add my two cents, I would prefer to buy only the hole punch, provide my own LEGO blocks, and let my kids go wild with blank construction paper, crayons and scissors. Either way, you can count on these toys to provide endless hours of creative fun.
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