Group gift for kids ages 2-11? Reader Q&A

My nieces and nephews from Israel are on their way visit grandparents. My 2 year old son will probably not have a chance to visit but would like to send something to them while they are here. Any ideas for a gift to help entertain the 2 …

Group gift for kids ages 2-11? Reader Q&A
My nieces and nephews from Israel are on their way visit grandparents. My 2 year old son will probably not have a chance to visit but would like to send something to them while they are here. Any ideas for a gift to help entertain the 2 to 11 year-olds? 
Thanks for any suggestions! -Katie It's awesome that he wants to send his cousins something for them to do while they are visiting. The wide age range means we need to find something safe for the youngest but that will still hold the interest of the older kids. Here are a few suggestions I think are fantastic. -Christina



I like the Kids' Garden Activity Cards by Barefoot Books since it gives the kids something to do while at their grandparents, encourages them to play outdoors and can be pretty self-directed, especially with the 11 year old in the lead. Plus, the cards are very sturdy, should the 2 year old decide to uh, "play" with them on his own.

There's a new line of LEGO board games that are super fun, and if your group skews to the older end, an imaginative game like Creationary could keep them busy for a very long time. 


For the baby, take a look at Green Toys building blocks which are environmentally friendly, and should keep the littlest from trying to swipe all the smaller Lego pieces. 


One good craft project can keep them all occupied for a while on a rainy day, so check out this post about projects for kids which features the fun and yummy Zebra Cupcakes and cute kits from The Little Experience (photo at top). 


If your kids are into stickers as much as my kids, they will love Klutz's Incredible, Outrageous Sticker Book which should keep them occupied, especially if they'll be spending a lot of time driving from relative to relative. 
Have a great visit!

More in KidsView all picks →

shannon hale princess in black book and author

Q&A with children’s book author Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale is the bestselling author behind The Princess in Black series. It's a favorite early chapter book series for kids ages 5–8 and boys love it as much as girls do. Her newest book, Princess in Black and the Trick or Treating Trouble, comes out just in time for Halloween. We talked with her about it as part of our Q&A author series and asked about a few of her favorite things too.

Explore Build-a-Bear

Some Not-So-Spooky Fun this Halloween

How can Build-A-Bear be used for Halloween costumes? Let kids create a spooky Build-A-Bear sidekick to incorporate into their costume, which can help the costume be enjoyed beyond Halloween.

Q&A with children's author Sophie Blackall

Q&A with children's author Sophie Blackall

Cool Mom Picks readers, we are so excited to launch a new series for you. We are obsessed book lovers over here at the CMP headquarters, and we have a particular soft spot for children's books (even though we're moving our kids into coll…