- Robin's Fabulous Treehouse
- Calafant, $25
Are the kids trying to decide whether they're in the mood to color a picture or build a model? Why choose? This craft kit from German toy company Calafant brilliantly blends the two favorite creative pastimes. The precut cardboard pieces fit together pretty easily (though young children might want a little slot-and-groove help from Mom or Dad), thanks to pictures-only instructions. And when their earth-friendly recyclable treehouse (other options in the line include a castle, a pirate ship, a race car, and a fire engine) is built, they can use the included nontoxic markers—or whatever else they have on hand—to make it their own. Several of the kits, including the treehouse, come as completely empty canvases for those ultracreative types who prefer a blank sheet of paper to prerendered coloring books. —Ages 4 and up
