Tacoma Christmas - Dec. 18th is for the Kids
Christmas is fun for all ages but like at weddings and on picnics, the kids really make it special. They make the memories no one ever forgets. You know, the year the kids just wanted the box – and didn’t care what was in it. The random dancing. Chocolate handprints on the wall… oh wait. Too much information.
Ah-hem. So where to buy for the kiddos on your list? Teaching Toys in Proctor, Learning Sprout Downtown and Child Trek at Freighthouse Square are all great options. Really, there is no reason to fight the crowds to buy for the kids. These stores have something for every child on your list.
Teaching Toys
2624 N Proctor St
(253) 759-9853
Learning Sprout
809 Pacific Ave
(253) 274-0136
Child Trek
430 East 25th St., #3
800-406-8735
Filed under: giftguide, General
6 comments
M Mofo from the Hood December 18, 2008
Hey! Where do you buy that Ant Farm in the photo? Does that package include a mail-in form to apply for government subsidies?
Man, when I was a kid I would just go out into the garage and find an old glass jar with a lid and put some dirt and grass in it and then pick up ants off the sidewalk and drop ‘em in the jar.
P.S.: Ants are blind.
D Dave L. December 19, 2008
All these places are great, but I’m a loyal regular at Learning Sprout. They do have ant farms, “sea monkeys,” butterfly kits etc. They cover just about every toy category, and the education supplies and science-related kits are upstairs. By the registers they even have vintage-style tricks and gags, like the snapping pack of gum, money machine, disappearing coin, etc. Plus, they have frequent free “Play Days” and send out announcements via email. Plus a free gift on kids’ birthdays if they are on the list. Gift wrapping available. And a great, friendly staff.
I just used a jar, too.
M Mofo from the Hood December 19, 2008
I’ve been workin’ hard all year. I’m goin’ down to Learning Sprout to have a closer look at that Ant Farm. I’ve always wanted a little patch of land and some sharecroppers (what exactly do them ants grow?).
T Thorax O'Tool December 20, 2008
I know what ants build.
They remove sand, thus they build clear beaches. Remember “The Walrus and the Carpenter”?
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
“If this were only cleared away,”
They said, “it would be grand!”
“If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose,” the Walrus said,
“That they could get it clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
…now imagine if 3,000,000,000 ants swept if for half a year?
…That’s right. A clean beach with no sand. It’s no coincidence that English beaches don’t have much sand.
M Mike H December 22, 2008
Ant farms huh?
Read Sandkings by George R.R. Martin. You’ll never look at an ant farm the same way again. Copy of the short story can be found at:
https://www.jesuitcp.org/facultypages/rornelas/sandkings.pdf
K katie December 22, 2008
Here’s my story. We bought my son a Playmobil set for his birthday this summer at Learning Sprout. Well, he got the same thing from his grandfather. So, we stuck it up in the closet with the intent to return the set. A couple months go by and we take the set back to Learning Sprout. They wouldn’t return it. They have a 30 day return policy and would not even give store credit. This is with a fancy computer system that could tell them the exact day and time we bought the set. This computer system also tells them we are regulars who have spent more than a few dollars in their store. We leave with the set thinking now what. We head up the hill to Teaching Toys in Proctor. I explain our situation; mainly a Playmobil set that we do not need. They not only give us store credit for the set but next time I go back they apologize for not giving us the amount we spent at Learning Sprout (the set was more expensive by about 7 dollars). Talk about customer service. Such different experiences.