Made in the USA: Holiday Gifts for Kids

American Icons, Featured Article, Made in America
on November 22, 2013

You may not have the Gimbel’s Santa to tell you where to find the perfect holiday gifts for the kids on your list, but we can help you out. Our Made in USA Christmas gift guide includes perfect toys for toddlers to tweens.

green-toys-tractor
Green Toys Tractor ($19.99) and Rocket ($24.99)
Mill Valley, California
greentoys.com
Age 1+

What happens to all of those used plastic milk jugs you toss in the recycling bin? At California-based Green Toys, they’re transformed into dishwasher-safe, eco-friendly tractors, rockets and more. Ready for any playtime payload, whether indoors or out, these may be the “greenest” toys around — despite their vibrant primary colors.
uncle-goose-classic-alphabet-blocks

Uncle Goose Classic Wooden Alphabet Blocks, $36
Grand Rapids, Michigan
unclegoose.com
Age 2+

Remember building towers and learning to spell your name with wooden alphabet blocks? Give your kids and grandkids the same experience with handmade alphabet blocks from Uncle Goose Toys, a 30-year-old Michigan maker of heirloom-quality, basswood blocks. Each set of 28 classic blocks includes a variety of animals, numbers, math symbols and four full alphabets. For older children, Uncle Goose also makes nursery rhyme, foreign language, Braille and Periodic table blocks.

Nalgene-grip-n-go

Nalgene Grip ‘n Gulp, $9.25 each
Rochester, New York
nalgene.com
Age 2+

Designed to survive being thrown from a moving minivan, the Nalgene Grip ‘n Gulp may be the perfect spill-proof toddler cup. Tiny hands easily the grip the indented sides, and the rubberized lid and mouthpiece make for comfortable sips. Kids will love the bright colors and pretty patterns, and moms will love the odor- and stain-resistant, BPA-free, dishwasher-safe plastic. A win-win for the gift-giver!

maple-landmark-memory-tiles-american-icons

Maple Landmark Memory Tiles, $24
Middlebury, Vermont
maplelandmark.com
Age 3+

Add a history lesson to your little one’s playtime with Memory Tiles featuring 12 iconic American landmarks. A take on the classic Concentration game, players match pairs of laminated wooden tiles featuring sites such as the Washington Monument, Independence Hall, the Statue of Liberty and more.

little-tikes-cozy-truck

Little Tikes Cozy Truck, $86.99
Hudson, Ohio
littletikes.com
Ages 1½ -5

When your toddler is ready to climb out of his ExerSaucer and burn rubber — or molded plastic — in his very first 4X4, Little Tikes Cozy Truck is the perfect solution. The durable truck combines the fun of the classic Cozy Coupe with the testosterone of a pickup truck. Toddlers will love the working doors and tailgate for hauling baby dolls and blocks inside and leaves and rocks outside.

glob-all-natural-paint-kit

Glob All-Natural Paint Kit, $18
Berkeley, California
globiton.com
Age 4+

Reveal your child’s inner Picasso with vibrant, all-natural paints from California-based Glob. The tiny packages of pigments transform into watercolors or finger paints depending on the amount of water added to each compostable cup. Made of fruits, veggies and herbs, the non-toxic, fruity-scented colors smell good enough to eat, but we don’t recommend it!

major-league-baseball-activity-books

MLB Activity Books, $7.99 each
Madison, Connecticut
hawksnestpublishing.com
Ages 5-10

Baseball season may be over for the year, but you can fill the emptycalendar days between now and spring training with activity books from Connecticut-based Hawks Nest Publishing. Each 60-page book includes dozens of secret message games, mazes, jumbled words, connect-the-dots and trivia about the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds or your favorite MLB team. Books available for 12 MLB teams.

artterro-art-kits

Artterro Felt Bug Kit, $19.99 each
Madison, Wisconsin
artterro.com
Age 7+

Inspire a love of art and science from an early age with eco-friendly, open-ended art projects like the Felt Bug Kit from Artterro. Each unique kit, crafted in Wisconsin with high-quality, globally sourced raw materials, yields up to seven fuzzy art bugs. Perfect for families with multiple kids or as a fun and educational sleepover activity. Open carefully! The double-duty packaging (printed in the U.S. with soy ink) can be used as a frame for finished projects.