Bring up the sinking Dow Jones or the flailing housing market with your kids and watch their eyes glaze over in boredom. But hint that the latest economic woes might affect their holiday haul and you’ll have their rapt attention. Being more budget-conscious this season is on the minds of many families, but that doesn’t have to mean disappointing kids who made Santa’s list. Check out our list of 30 great gifts under $30 and make frugality an annual holiday tradition.
Ages 0–3
1. Baja Scout by Sprig Toys
The Baja Scout is made from eco-friendly Sprigwood, a 100-percent-recycled bio-composite material that looks and feels like plastic. The best part: everything about this car is kid-powered, including the lights — no batteries necessary!
$24.99
2. Baby Stella
Super soft and cuddly, Baby Stella is the plush product of local company Manhattan Toys and makes the perfect first doll for babies and toddlers.
$29.99
3. Bilibo
Is it a seat? A hat? A sled? This award-winning plastic shell lets your child’s imagination make the call.
$27.99
4. Zimbbos Elephantastic Pyramids
A roll of the dice determines how many of the colorful characters — which range from green elephants to orange clowns — you have to stack during your turn. Kids develop hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and counting skills while flexing their creative muscles at the same time.
$29.99
Ages 4–7
5. Crayola 64-count Crayons
Is there a better gift than the choice between fuzzy wuzzy brown, burnt orange, and atomic tangerine? With 64 creatively named colors, this box of classic crayons offers endless artistic options.
$7.99
6. Wham-O Hula Hoop
Wham-O celebrated the Hula Hoop’s 50th anniversary this year, making it the perfect time to introduce your child to this active, classic toy.
$3.99
7. Cabbage Patch Doll
Since we’re celebrating anniversaries we can’t overlook the Cabbage Patch Doll, which blazed onto the scene 25 years ago as the must-have gift of the ’80s.
$29.99
8. Fancy Nancy
To popular book character Fancy Nancy there’s no such thing as too much glamour. Your Nancy-in-training can exercise that right in a variety of sparkly, colorful dress-up pieces meant to bring out her inner
fabulosity.
Hat, slippers, and purse, $9.99 apiece
9. Catapult
Deceptively simple, this catapult has a variety of uses: as part of a game, with other action figures, even to fire the soft bean bags at siblings when they get out of line. Comes with three bean bags to send arcing through the air.
$19.95
10. Pengoloo
Call it an eggspedition: Players use their memories to match colored eggs to gain penguin pals. It’s the classic game of Memory transported to the South Pole!
$29.99
11. Elia Mini Chair
Okay, this toy falls ever-so-slightly outside of our promised $30 mark — but it’s made locally! We just couldn’t resist this simple concept: Kids can easily assemble this cardboard chair (which supports up to 200 lbs.) and decorate it any way they choose. Durable, long-lasting, and worth the extra few bucks.
$34.99
12. Charlie and Lola Pink Milk Game
This simple board game has kids following popular cartoon characters Charlie and Lola in search of enough pink milk cards to land on the coveted “I’ve won!” spot. Pink milk moustaches optional.
$9.99
13. Sassafras Stilts
They grow up so fast … especially when standing on a few extra inches in the form of these rolling ladybug stilts! Thick ropes and a flat plane for small feet will have kids quickly clomping down the street on these old-fashioned favorites.
$10.25–$11.95
14. Lego Indiana Jones set
The revival of Harrison Ford’s globetrotting archaeologist has spawned a new generation of fans, and this series of Lego sets offers kids the chance to re-create movie scenes (and yes, mini Lego Indy comes complete with plastic whip).
$29.99
15. Hop Ball
There’s nothing scientific about it: The hop ball goes up and down. But oh, the hours of durable, bouncy fun!
$21.95–$26.95 depending on size
Ages 8–12
16. 2009 World Almanac and Book of Facts
Fact junkies will get lost in this latest edition of the World Almanac, which offers over a thousand pages of pictures, maps, news quizzes, and a special section devoted to the Beijing Olympics.
$12.99
17. Easy Bake Oven
Were all the toys better when you were a kid? This retro light bulb oven is still a crowd pleaser with kids who like all the steps in the baking process. Well, minus the cleanup part.
$24.99
18. Make Your Own Lip Balm
Girls have their hands in every stage of production, from mixing fruity combinations to decorating the various lip balm tins. A perfect winter project.
$16.99
19. Whoops
Forget Twister — this whole-body games challenges your balance and agility as players navigate a set course in search of different pieces. Easily adjustable for all ages and skill levels.
$19.99
20. Crocs Mammoth
Winter is no reason to put your Crocs on the shelf. It’s time to winterize! The Mammoth has the regular Crocs shape with a removable, washable, warm fleece lining that hugs the foot against anything Minnesota can sling.
$19–$29
21. Colorforms
This 350-piece Colorforms set is a nostalgic favorite re-created from the original brightly colored 1951 toy. Encourage creative minds with thousands of artistic possibilities.
$22.98
22. Clue
The suspects may be the same, but the likes of Col. Mustard and Mrs. White have gotten a modern makeover in this sleek new edition, which uses updated weapons and takes place in a swank celebrity mansion.
$17.99
23. Q-Ba-Maze
Budding engineers can create a never-ending array of mazes then send marbles tumbling through them. Invented by a Minnesotan!
$18.95 for a 20-pack
24. Smithsonian Be the Expert Game
Selected as one of the 10 best games of 2008 by Dr. Toy, Be the Expert puts kids in charge of the famed museum’s collections. Players sort through artifacts to figure out which pieces don’t fit and decode mysteries while they’re at it.
$14.95
25. Guinness World Records: The Video Game for Nintendo DS
Everyone’s favorite record book comes to life as kids compete in more than 35 challenges based on real world records. The quick-fire action can be played individually or in teams.
$29.99
13+
26. Minnetonka Moccasins
In case you missed it, moccasins are in, and this Minnesota stalwart makes some of the most stylish and affordable versions on the market — everything from the traditional beaded thunderbird design to fringed ankle boots.
$20 and up
27. The Office Trivia Game
Experience a day in the life of the Dunder Mifflin staff as you move from cubicle to cubicle answering trivia questions about Michael Scott, Jim and Pam, Dwight Schrute, and maybe even cousin Mose.
$19.99
28. Spreadshirt T-shirts
Teens can take their original designs public at Spreadshirt.com, which lets users customize all types of clothing with slogans, drawings, graphics, and even photos with the click of a mouse.
$18.90+
29. Classes
Teens may complain about being in school all day, but they won’t mind when you sign them up for classes that bring their interests to life. Community Education offers a variety of budget-friendly options (four belly dancing sessions for $22, a homemade lip balm course for $20, iPod digital music class for $24) while area stores like Cooks of Crocus Hill hit a culinary nerve with one-off classes for $10 (perfect holiday desserts, for example).
$10+
30. Passes
Cold weather is no reason for teens to stay cooped up. A pass to Wild Mountain’s snow tubing hill is just $15 for two hours, while a day pass to ski at Hyland park is $29. Third Lair Skate Park offers three-hour skate sessions for $11 for those who prefer bikes and boards.
$11–$29
