Ditch the electronics with these suggestions from toy, gift and hobby store winners in this year’s Best of NOCO contest.
Toys for toddlers
Wooden ABC blocks
Little ones can sort, stack and spell with these classic blocks, says Brittany Baron, owner of Marley & Moose, a Berthoud shop that sells environmentally friendly, battery-free toys that encourage kids’ development. ABC blocks have been created for centuries by various companies and are always a good choice for toddlers, she says.
Banwood vintage tricycle
Banwood’s tricycles offer a gentle introduction to riding, with a vintage-inspired design and sturdy craftsmanship that encourage confidence, balance and hours of outdoor play, Baron says.
Toys for elementary schoolers
Fugglers
Children’s author and toy designer Louise McGettrick created “Funny Ugly Monsters” by sewing dentures onto teddy bears, says Howard Wasserman, who owns Curiosities, a quirky gift store in Old Town Fort Collins, with his wife, Amy.
“Fugglers are designed to be intentionally unsettling and chaotic,” he says. “They are so ugly, they are cute.”
Catan Junior
This board game offers a simplified gateway to the immensely popular Catan series, which teaches skills related to resource management, strategic thinking and planning for the future, says Gary Sproul, owner of The Haunted Game Cafe in Fort Collins.
Monchhichi
Gen Xers may remember these plush and plastic, monkey-like dolls that were created in Japan in 1974. They’re known for their cuddly bodies and habit of sucking their thumb; they were even named from a mashup of the word “monkey” and the sound of a baby sucking on a pacifier (chhichi), Wasserman says.
Toys for teens and adults
UGEARS’ wooden mechanical puzzles
Baron recommends UGEARS’ puzzles because they require problem-solving skills and patience with their wooden gears, levers and moving parts.
“These puzzles challenge curious minds, spark creativity and deliver the quiet satisfaction of building something that really works,” she says.
The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship board game
Rather than creating competition, this board game encourages players to work together as a team. The game’s challenges develop skills such as communication, planning and supporting others, Sproul says.
NeeDoh
These colorful, sensory squish toys can be stretched and squeezed before snapping back to their original shape.
‘“They can be focus tools for both children and adults, particularly those with anxiety or ADHD,” Wasserman says.
