Timeless Gifts for Kids

We know how hard it is to pick gifts that children will love that span any century. Here are gifts your child can use at home or take to camp (mom guilt free).  Your fellow parents here at Samson Historical put together a list of some of the items we love to gift and that will get you the best value on Cyber Monday. 

1) Wood Cup and Ball - A classic toy for children of all ages. This wooden blast from the past is the perfect size for stuffing stockings. Do you need something for a more a coordinated team? The wooden ring toss ($36) is perfect for pairs. - $8 before sale

2) Books - Our family loves to give and receive books over the holidays. The day after Christmas is spent on the couch with leftovers and a new book. We have added several hardback picture books for elementary age students over people like Thomas Jefferson, Prudence Wright, and Deborah Sampson.  We also carry a collection of the Who Was books ($5.99) for young readers. $18.99 before sale

3) Journal & Pen - The leather travel journal comes in either large or small and contain a laid linen paper, which is thick enough for notes or even sketching. Both sizes include a spot to hold a pen or pencil. Bone, horn, or wood turned pens ($10) and a bottle or package of ink ($5) round this out to a complete set. Though we prefer a handmade brass porte crayon ($28). The long lasting leads minimize mess and maximize sketching ability. In fact, many period paintings show artists using a porte crayon! $32 before sale

4) Small Frail - These little baskets are by no means fragile. They are the perfect period correct way for small reenactors to carry their treasures. They work just as well for gathering rocks and pine cones as they do packing a snack and water to take to play with friends. These hold up well to childhood roughness and use.  $28 before sale

5) Buckle Shoes - This is the gift that keeps on giving! Every child needs a good pair of buckle shoes for camp and we are happy to provide kid tested and approved leather buckle shoes in red or black, both come with buckles. As parents, we know how costly constantly growing feet can be. This is why we have developed a special program for returning and replacing children's shoes. Details are available here. $95 before sale

6) Winter Cloaks & Capes - Each cloak and cape is made from a dense high quality wool to keep the water and chill away. For the young ladies we offer a blue wool or red wool hooded cloak with silk ties, just like mom's. For the young gentlemen we have a child sized caped black wool cloak, a smaller version of our men's black cloak. This fastens with a durable hook and eye to stand up to adventures. All three options come in sizes XS through XL. The forgiving sizing makes these a worry free gift they can use for a long time. $100 - $175 before sale.