Pop on Pop: The Gifts That'll Keep Kids Geeky

Now that our turkey is digested and we're all done giving Thanks, it is time to ask for more. Tis the season of getting, and this is your FoG-PoP Holiday Gift Guide!

A quick refresher for context: I'm a geek dad with a little geek-girl in training, so these are my gift suggestions for children nerdy and nice. (Brats get socks--with a vengeance!)






The Gift of Music

With pop culture phenomenons like American Idol, Glee, Rock Band, and Guitar Hero highlighting the importance (and fun) of music and introducing kids to the greatest hits of their parents' childhoods, being a band geek is finally cool.

Any gift that encourages a child to make music of their own is a great idea.

Whether you get the kid a real or toy instrument, a music-based video game, a karaoke machine, or even just an iTunes gift card, know that you will be contributing to that kid's cultural rounding.



Heroes & Role Models

Boys and girls alike need heroes and role models to look up to and to count on to be there to save the day from boo boos and boogie men and the dreaded evils of naptime, and there are plenty of figurines of such heroes available in adorable, toddler-sized servings.

My picks for my Tot this year are the ever-expanding line of Marvel's Super Hero Squad figures and all things Wonder Pets.





Someplace to Hide

The world can be a big scary place, so younger kids love to have a special place of their own.

Makeshift forts and indoor tents are always a great gift idea--especially if said tent is shaped like something full of imagination-fueling awesome!





A Sweet New Ride

And when your youngling is ready to brave the big bad world, he or she is going to need a set of wheels to traverse the dangerous road ahead.

Why not set you kid up with a tricked out set of wheels like the Super Spider Trike?




Cosplay Training

Dolls are fun.

Dress-up is fun.

Dressing up dolls is fun.

But why settle for swapping out assorted sundresses on a boring old Barbie doll, or risk exposing your child to the bobble-headed trampiness and bad attitude of Bratz, when the new Moxie girlz can be decked out as sk8ter girlz, rockers, or furries-in-training?
Hell, why not skip the doll part altogether, and just buy your kid some costumes of her own?

Artificial Intelligence



What tiny geek wouldn't love their own droid?

Of course, technology isn't quite in line with most wallets to allow the average shopper to buy their kid a fully functioning robot--so why not settle for a Roomba-style helper droid; a walking, talking Little Mommy doll; or a giant rampaging, roaring dinosaur (pictured)?




Fisher Price's Imaginext

With everything from DC superheroes to "Land of the Lost" style explorers to magical princesses, the Fisher Price Imaginext line has become the go-to toy line for playsets, vehicles, and figures for all tastes and in every conceivable price range.

Stick within the Imaginext family of toys this year and you'll be able to stuff stocking with dragon-riding knights and cannibalistic aliens, while scoring big with mega gifts like a pirate ship, a fairy tale castle, or the Batcave.





Twilight


We all know that real vampires don't sparkle in sunlight, and werewolves don't tend to wax and oil themselves between full moons--but the ladies love them some Twilight. Try to hold back throwing up in your mouth at the checkout counter, and buy away, because at least your junior goth is being encouraged to read books--and may even check out other books, thanks to the series. Twilight may be crack for tweens and soccer moms, but reading is fundamental.

Fairies

Disney made a wise decision spinning Peter Pan's pixie sidekick Tinkerbell off into her own franchise of movies and merchandise. The "Disney Princesses" cover all the traditional bases for parents who don't want to think too far outside the box in raising their stereotypical girly girl who likes brushing her hair and pining away for a prince to sweep her off her feet.

That's all well and good. But Tink and her Pixie Hollow posse are a different sort.

They're magical fairy folk working behind the scenes to keep nature running smoothly. They're as green minded as you can get. They're doers--hardly interested in sitting around waiting for a Prince Charming to take them away. But most importantly, Tink and her fairy friends are a gateway to the bigger scope of fantasy--Elves, Goblins, magic, and monsters.

A child looking for fairies in the garden may grow into a tween reading Tolkien, a teen playing Dungeons & Dragons, and an adult creating her own stories of magic and wonder.


Arts and Crafts
The key with all of these geek gift ideas is that they somehow encourage a child to be creative, to use his or her imagination. That is what separates true geeks from the muggles and mundies--we've given in to our imaginations, escaped so deep into our fantasy worlds that we never fully return. So rather than slap a brand name or some official label onto your child's make-believe, buy them the tools to create something of their own. Crayons, markers, modelling clay, even a journal (if they're old enough to write)--you can't go wrong giving the gift of creativity.