The kids will cheer for these holiday gifts from Seattle makers and beyond.
Add a whole new element to their train table with this unique set that mimics a roller coaster ride. A lift takes the two included cars to the top, where they then woosh down the track and around banked curves. $80 at brio.us
Enamel pins are right on-trend, especially for tweens, and this Seattle line of cute, tongue-in-cheek pins makes a statement on jackets or bags. Pin on a bowl of pho for local flavor, or a heart that says “Born Annoyed” for pre-teen droll. $10 at towne9.com
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen … But Roxie is the softest reindeer of all, with a striped furry coat, suede-like antlers, long eyelashes and dainty detailed hooves. At 20 inches tall, she makes a lovable companion for kids of all ages. $30 at Fireworks Gallery and
fireworksgallery.net
It’s a vest. It’s a backpack. It’s a cozy fleece backpack-vest created by a local dad for kids with places to go and cool things to pick up along the way. It has front pockets and two pouches on the back, and is available in sizes 2–6 in fun prints like spiders and ladybugs. $39.50 at j-stitch.com
Prism Island is being drained of its color and your child (playing as Mario) needs to solve challenges and use a paint hammer to splash color back onto everything. The role-playing game is sweet fun for the whole family. Rated E; for Wii U. $55 at amazon.com
Iscream Donut Microbead Pillow
This adorable 16-by-16 donut pillow offers a sweet place to relax. Squishy microbead fill contours to their body, while the hole in the middle gives it the fun feel of an indoor inner tube. $30 at Zumiez
No, no, it’s for them, not you. OK, maybe a little for you. You (and the kids) can celebrate the Fab Four with this excellent set featuring all the Beatles, their Yellow Submarine and even a Jeremy figure. $60 at The Lego Store and shop.lego.com
This fun DIY kit from Seattle contains everything kids need to create their own handcrafted striped mini creature: safety eyes, hypoallergenic stuffing, fleece, thread and easy-to-follow instructions. Add your own needle and scissors and — presto — they have their own cute, open-mouthed monster to love. $16–$18 at the MOHAI gift shop (South Lake Union) and etsy.com/shop/MrSogs
Your little doctor will see you now. This beautifully made, classic doctor kit from French toy company Janod comes with everything the young M.D. needs in a cute red bag: stethoscope, thermometer, reflex hammer, wooden tongue stick, syringe, otoscope with a magnifying glass, bandage roll, prescription pad and pencil, and medicine. $32 at Shine (South Lake Union), with 25 percent off on Fridays in December
Mayhem Here Paint Your Own Art Set
Encourage your budding artist with this unique set made in Woodinville by local artist Mallory Milke. The cotton canvases feature original illustrations inspired by Native designs and ornate zentangle patterns. Each kit includes a paintbrush and watercolor palette. Among the designs are a unicorn, elephant, giraffe and fox, and the wood-mounted masterpiece is ready to hang when finished. $20-$25 and at Monster Art & Clothing (Ballard) and etsy.com/shop/MayhemHere
It can be hard to find children’s musical instruments that both produce nice sound and are easy enough for young players. These pat bells accomplish both, creating the notes of the C major scale with a simple tap. They’re also sturdy and beautiful, mixing beech wood and bright colors. $150 at
uncommongoods.com
Seedling DIY Virtual Reality Viewer
Merge the fun of the physical world and the virtual world with this kit that lets kids get crafty while building a VR viewer. It includes embroidery panels, colorful yarn and embroidery floss, brass brads and more to make a unique viewer. $30 at Marbles the Brain Store (downtown) and seedling.com
Westminster Toys Hoop Shoot Basketball Play Set
Add this pop-a-shot set to the kid cave and be the most popular house on the block. It needs no tools for setup, and comes with a ball and air pump. $38 at Nordstrom
Your little builder will love this new block system that lights up via internal LEDs. An electric base (run by batteries or USB) powers the blocks built on top of it. And they’re compatible with Duplo bricks for more building possibilities. $30–$80 at uncommongoods.com
Melissa & Doug Wooden Brew & Serve Coffee Set
You love coffee, and they’ll love “making” it for you with this wood set that includes a K-Cup-style machine, with fun accessories like a milk carton, mug and sugar packet. $16 at Target
Don’t just play with RC cars or play with Lego. Create a programmable car that can be enhanced with your brick creations. These kits include a car body, wheels and six rechargeable SAM Blocks, which have specific skills such as acting as a motor or light sensor. Paired with the SAM Space app, kids can control the car’s speed, direction and more. $199 at samlabs.com
Kenzie Jaws Kick it with Mom Hoodie
Seattle kids need lots of hoodies, and this unisex style, made by local designer Kenzie Joslin, is a sweet, sassy statement on love and family. $35 at kenziejaws.myshopify.com
Kids will spend hours with this gorgeous book that features full-color illustrated spreads on animals from around the world, including facts about their social dynamics, physical characteristics, home environment and more. $30 at booksellers
Table-Time Look & Learn Mostly Math Tablecloth
Incorporate learning into everyday mealtime with this fun, educational tablecloth for kids ages 2–6. Created by a teacher, with charming illustrations by an artist from “The Simpsons,” it includes more than 20 math lessons and is printed on kid-safe PEVA that kids can write on and wipe off. $20 (plus 10 percent off with discount code UTakeTen) at amazon.com and tabletimelookandlearn.com
Zing! Stikbot Studio Pro Animation Set
Like in the movies, this set uses a green-screen stage to let kids create their own stop-motion animation. They can upload their own photos and animated backdrops or use the images provided in the app. Designed in Portland, the set includes two Stikbots, a tripod and two prop boxes for 3D effects. $20 at Fred Meyer and amazon.com
Note to readers: Store lists are not exhaustive. Please call for availability. Prices quoted are list prices. Savvy shoppers may find better deals.