Gift Ideas For Kids Of All Ages

A Shopping List That Keeps You Prepared During Party Season

(CBS) 

Ages 8 to 10:
Children in this age group want more complex things to play with ... as their own social interactions become more complex. Good items for this age group include more complex puzzles and more difficult games, including table and card games. Consider chapter books, favorite stories, children's recipe books, and diaries for older children.

Some specific suggestions:

Magic kit from Discovery Channel store, $25. This kit includes an instructional DVD and great fun tricks to wow their friends. www.discoverystore.com

"The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives" by Michael Buckley, $15. This mystery-meets-fairytale is great for children in this age group. www.booksofwonder.com

Cards from Eames Office, $20. These cards let kids play builder instead of go fish. Each colorful card has interlocking slots around the perimeter. www.modernseed.com

Ages 11 to 14:
Kids in this age group define themselves in terms of appearance, possessions and activities, so it's a good time to encourage individuality.

Some specific suggestions:

Sleeping bag from L.L. Bean, $45. Kids this age may be over camping in the living room, but this sleeping bag is perfect for sleepovers. It's cozy and isn't decorated with cartoon characters. www.llbean.com

Camera from Lomo, $55. Tweens might tear themselves away from their computers with this fun camera. Its eight lenses let kids take a series of shots — a horse running, their best friend laughing — and then turn them into one artsy checkerboard photo.

iPod case from Fred Flare, $50. It has a vintage look and feel, as well as storage space for the things a tween must carry around. www.fredflare.com