Children
A PS4 Controller
12th March, 2023
This gift suggestion is for the casual gamer, not a console owner. Someone who likes to play a game occasionally on their laptop, phone, or iPad.
You can use a PS4 controller with a PlayStation, of course, but it’s also a bog standard Bluetooth device. They’re robustly built and have decent battery life. They charge via micro USB, so you probably have a suitable cable already. They’re officially supported in the Apple ecosystem - so you can game on your Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV. They’re often on sale. They have all the buttons necessary for emulated SNES/Megadrive games. They work great with Steam, and Steam Link is surprisingly viable. They don’t take up a lot of space. All of these aspects make them a good gift.
Hanabi
30th December, 2021
Hanabi is one of my favourite card games. It’s got a lot of good points:
- It’s a cooperative game - all the humans versus the game itself - which removes the stress of player-versus-player competitiveness.
- The game owner will not dominate the other players, both because it’s co-operative and involves some chance.
- There’s little setup required and the rules are easy to understand.
- The game feels different depending on the size of the group playing.
- There are suggested game variations, so it has longevity.
Writing about games is a bit like writing about sex - I can describe the mechanics, but you won’t understand why it’s fun until you participate. With that said: in Hanabi you see everyone’s cards but your own, and must work as a group to arrange them in order by colour. Each turn you can give people a little information about their cards, but there are limitations; not everyone will have enough information to always play 100% safe. You’ll have to make some educated guesses about what to play.
A Microscope
16th November, 2021
I have a vivid memory of a microscope I received as a child; thanks to eBay I can show you the exact model. It was excellent: the microscope had an optional stand, for use with slides, but was a solid self-contained item. You could safely slip it in your pocket and take it outside. The microscope’s light was pivotable, so you could directly illuminate your subject or bounce it through the stand for backlighting. Seeing the world at 100x was really cool.
Wreck This Journal
14th November, 2021
An important role for an uncle/aunt is fostering a little rebellion in their nieces & nephews. Not too much - don’t buy them drugs or The Anarchist Cookbook - but a book that encourages its own destruction is about right. Books are normally sacred, and need to be looked after; this one wants you to drag it through mud, roll it down hills, and glue things into it.
A Cuddly Mushroom
14th November, 2021
Cuddly toys are often poor gifts. Children have loads already; the line between “cute” and “horrifying” can be surprisingly blurry; there’s no way to tell whether a given cuddly toy will sing to their hearts. For adults, they take up space, and generally don’t double as cushions or pillows. They’re just large cute lumps.
Still, for the right recipient, this sleepy little mushroom is adorable. $49 from Urban Outfitters.
A Bum Bag
4th November, 2021
Sure, they had a fashion resurgence a few years ago, but that’s not why it’s a great kid’s gift. There’s an age range - maybe 5 to 9 - when you get a taste for independence. A bum bag is its own private universe, big enough to fit everything you need to survive: your favourite small toy, a chocolate bar, £2.50 in pocket money, a pen, an optic wonder, and some string.
A Yard of Popcorn
31st October, 2021
Popcorn’s easy to make on the stove. Get some oil as hot as possible1. Add enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pan, then put the lid on. Now keep the pan moving - shake it in circles2. It’ll start popping in a few minutes; when it stops popping, remove from the heat. Done! Great as-is, with a dusting of salt, or a dusting of icing sugar.
A UV Torch
30th October, 2021
If you’ve never played the “What’s UV-reactive in your wallet?” game, you’re missing out. Banknotes are a good place to start, sure - but ID cards, credit cards, and other things often light up too. Canadian passports are a full-on light show. Walk around the house in the dark, and discover what fluoresces. All for less than $5 including shipping (but not batteries).
Throw in a UV marker too. A permanent marker is good for adults, but there are cheaper versions for kids out there. (DealExtreme will sell you a 7-pack for $11; Amazon sells them for a little more.) For adults, this is now a security-conscious gift: you can postcode your expensive items. For kids, it’s a spy kit: invisible notes. Give the kid a magazine as well, and you’ve got a fun afternoon of “Guess how I defaced this celebrity”.