You’ve missed the shipping cutoffs from most everywhere (unless you are willing to pay ten times the value of your order in shipping!) and you still have some last-minute gifts to pick up for the kids. What’s a tired, stressed-out mom, dad, grandparent or relative to do? SHOP LOCAL, we say! Kansas City has so many neat, one-of-a-kind, locally-owned stores brimming with interesting gifts. Why not visit a few and put together a unique gift this year? We’ve got some suggestions to make it easy on you.
- Reading Reptile Books Basket or treat a lucky kid to a Thursday Story Time at Reading Reptile followed by “select any book you’d like and we’ll buy it”—what a neat gift!
- A Train-Themed gift: The Learning Tree (Leawood, KS and Prairie Village, KS) has some wonderful trains and train gifts. Thomas the Tank Engine is there of course, but so are lots of other choices. Include a certificate for a special lunch at Fritz’s at the Crown Center Shops. What kid wouldn’t love to have his meal delivered tableside by a train?
- Unleash your child’s inner mad scientist! HMS Beagle is a wonderful store in Parkville, MO–”The Ultimate Science Store” according to their website. You can introduce your child to science through a number of neat gifts from the basic chemistry set to a fantastic telescope. They even have a science club with meetings for K-8th graders! For the little ones–an easy introduction to science can be found by taking a trip to Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City in Shawnee, KS, featuring arts and sciences exhibits for kids ages 10 and under.
- GO RETRO! Moon Marble gift shop, located in Bonner Springs’ Moon Marble Company, has some great toys and games that have withstood the test of time…remember Pick-Up Sticks, Chinese Jumpropes and the wooden paddle with the red rubber ball attached? Find all of these and more!
- Enrollment in a class at one of the metro’s parks and recreation offices or community centers is a gift that will last weeks and even months! Your little one can try something new like a beginner’s martial arts class, a dance or ballet class or even try something exotic like fencing! What a great way to spend the winter months. Try Blue Valley Recreation or any of the parks and rec departments listed in our Classes directory!
- Don’t Forget the Music – How about guitar (or other musical instrument) lessons at the School of Rock (North Kansas City), the Toon Shop (Prairie Village, Lee’s Summit or Overland Park) or the Music House (Overland Park)?
- Give your kids the gift of fun and time with YOU by purchasing a Family Adventure Pass to Paradise Park (Lee’s Summit) – take a look at their ad on the right hand side of this page
- Stop by Laura Little’s Candies in Prairie Village or Topsy’s Popcorn (multiple locations) for sweet treats for stockings
- Order tickets to the Harlem Globetrotters, Dancing with the Stars or Sesame Street Live – all coming to Sprint Center in January (be sure to enter our drawing to win Globetrotters tickets too!)
- Shop Etsy Local for unique, handmade items created by talented Kansas Citians like KC Kids Fun reader Jenn (darling hairclips and bows), Kate Williams (crayon holders and pinafores), three red trees (terribly cute sock dogs) and Becky Kelly (very sweet paintings and prints for a nursery or little one’s room).
- The Supply Closet, with four locations around the metro, is the perfect place to find something for any child – books, puzzles, educational games and more! This isn’t just a teacher’s supply store – I frequent it for gifts and treats for the kids all the time.
Thanks to KellySue @ flickr.com for the Reading Reptile photo
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