Gift Idea Of The Day: Handcrafted Toys For The Holidays

Ah, the holidays! A time to relax with friends and family—and also shop frantically for the perfect presents. But, relax. There’s no need to stress this holiday season because we’ve dug through every store and site to find the best gifts for everyone on your list.

Our top gift pick for the day will be posted on our Treats blog each morning through the end of the month. So check back daily for gift ideas galore!

Sometimes the experience of shopping for a great gift can be just as satisfying as the experience of finding a great gift. That’s certainly the case at Playing Mantis, the magical little world of handcrafted toys in Tribeca, where you will assuredly do both. Walls are lined with unique playthings from around the world, all made from environmentally and socially sustainable materials that are as beautiful to look at as they are functional to play with.

One of our many favorite toys from Playing Mantis is this gorgeous set of VARIS building blocks for little architects with big dreams. Made from birch wood, the set contains hand-carved arches, gates, walls, and a bell tower. Children will love creating churches, castles, towers–anything their imaginations desire. It’s the sort of gift to be passed down through the generations. Isn’t that the best kind? We think so.

$24.95-54.95, friendlymantis.com