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Chicago’s promoter’s ordinance: What the city wants, the city gets?
Published on 5/9/08
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Dream in color
Kukunest’s playful, modern graphics and vibrant hues will quell your kid’s desires for cartoon-character bed sheets. Even better, the 100 percent cotton, 200-thread-count bedding also meets European manufacturing standards that ensure they are free of harmful chemicals. Available at kukunest.com; from $70 for twin-sheet sets.
Shady business
Why give your budding artist Strawberry Shortcake to color for the umpteenth time when she can shade in Thurgood Marshall’s double chin? Chicago lawyer, mom and occasional TOC contributor Jenny B. Davis provides a quirky-cool civics lesson with the U.S. Supreme Court Coloring and Activity Book, which is chock-full of games and pictures to inspire little legal eagles. Available at Sandmeyer’s Bookstore, 714 S Dearborn St between Harrison and Polk Sts (312-922-2104) and supremecourtkids.com; $5.95.
Little Liberace?
Before you plunk down a wad of cash for a piano to see if your little progeny can tickle the ivories, make a smaller investment in Piano Wizard, a PC- or Mac-based video game that teaches kids as young as three how to play. The software comes with a color-coded piano keyboard, making it easy for even nonreaders to learn. Available at pianowizard.com or 877-742-6604; $149.95.
Word to your mother
Junior can speak his mind—and hone his spelling skills to boot—with this fun Pinsetter Spelling Set from local design studio Coudal Partners. The set includes 87 letter and number pins that can be affixed to just about anything, plus one heart pin in case he feels like telling the world i ™ mom. Available at coudal.com/pinsetter/index.php; $29, plus $2 shipping, customizable sets available for $1 per pin.
World of possibilities
Inspire an early love of Mother Earth with Ki, a soft foam toy designed to teach kids about the world and its elements. It’s made up of six components—one sun, one Earth, two dolphins and two trees all attached by Velcro—that can be played with individually. Available at Equilibrium Energy + Education, 47 W Polk St at Dearborn St (312-786-1882); $30.
Go ahead, play with your food
The Constructive Eating utensil set comes with a forklift fork, front loader spoon and bulldozer “pusher”—just the thing for rolling those peas around on a plate. All have textured handles for easy gripping by little hands. Available at Multiple Choices, 4612 N Lincoln Ave at Wilson Ave (773-334-6900); $18.95. Flyingpeas.com.
Round and round she goes
For little girls who love to wear dresses, it doesn’t get any better than Twirlygirl, former Chicagoan Cynthia Jamin’s line of pretty-as-can-be, customizable dresses made of a hodgepodge of colorful fabrics. The flowing frocks—which are reversible—encourage plenty of spinning and smiles. Available in sizes 2T–10 at twirlygirlshop.com; from $70.
The very cuddly caterpillar
Got a toddler who makes you read The Very Hungry Caterpillar over and over (and over) again? Get him one of the amazingly soft World of Eric Carle plush toys (beware: The butterfly is a pull toy that plays music) to give him some extra hang time with his favorite storybook characters. Available at FAO Schwarz at Macy’s on State Street, 111 N State St at Washington St (312-781-1000); $20.
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