Winter is coming — for real. Before you settle down in front of the fireplace with your blanket and hot cocoa, check out these ideas for inspirational gift giving. Moms and dads everywhere will soon be faced with a ton of indoor time with their kids, so help them keep everyone’s bodies busy, minds sharp and sanity intact with these clever products.
Forest Friends domino set
Dominoes are fun and versatile. Quirky wooden dominoes featuring forest animals, gnomes, trolls and greenery are the bomb. This set comes with 96 pieces, which can lead to a whole lot of fun. (Magic Cabin, $40)
Harry Potter wizard chess
Whether your kids are already decent chess players or it’s completely new to them, the Harry Potter angle of this particular chess set will probably spark an interest (even though you’re a family of Muggles). (ThinkGeek, $49)
Giant keyboard
This at-home music maker is every kid’s dream — really. Who wouldn’t want a gigantic, colorful keyboard you can play with your feet? Parents and kids alike will dig it. (Hearth Song, $80)
Toddler trampoline
For the younger set (who are literally bouncing off the walls right now), we invite you to give their parents a break with this toddler indoor trampoline. The kids will burn off energy and Mom or Dad may have time to grab a cup of coffee. Win-win. (Amazon, $40)
Indoor play tent
If the family you’re buying for has plenty of indoor space, grab this setup ASAP. The neat thing about this indoor tent combo is that you can combine them all together or set up one piece at a time — also, it’s easy to dismantle, so you can take it over to Grandma’s. (Amazon, $27)
Pokémon Monopoly
Here’s another board game with a huge pop-culture appeal. This is a twist on classic Monopoly — instead of buying properties, you’re catching Pokémon and battling with your fellow trainers. Perfect for a family who has a powerful love of all things Pokémon. (ThinkGeek, $45)
Indoor snowballs
Snowball fights are a ton of fun, but at what cost? Who wants to get bundled up, go outside and possibly get cold and wet? Enter this bucket of non-snow snowballs. These “snow” balls get excellent reviews, and reports say they’re soft, they sound like snowballs when they land and they’re machine washable. And yes, you can still have hot cocoa after you’re done playing. (Amazon, $36)
Ball pit
If the kids on your list love playing in ball pits (and really, who doesn’t?), then an at-home ball pit is sure to be a huge hit. Be sure to grab a set of balls when you buy this for your brother’s kids because it doesn’t come with any, and that wouldn’t be much fun. (Amazon, $20)
Ladder toss game
If the family on your holiday shopping list has the space, definitely get them this ladder toss game set. It’s fun for little kids up to Grandma and Grandpa, and when the sun comes out again and it’s time to head outside, it’s the perfect take-along for family get-togethers. (Amazon, $33)
Puzzles
Puzzles are always a great choice for families, and there are tons of options. Tons. From regular jigsaw puzzles to super-cool 3-D challenges like this nifty Statue of Liberty, puzzles always make a great gift. (Amazon, $13)
Indoor hockey puck
You will not want your personal hockey team (read: your kids) to use an actual hockey puck in the house. Like, ever. Instead, grab one of these ingenious carpet pucks, which glide on carpet and bare floor — and claim not to injure your baseboards (or your kids). Hockey stick not included. (Fat Brain Toys, $5)
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