If you have a kid in your life, you need to know about Kidlandia's extensive line-up of personalizable gifts. Posters, puzzles, placemats, wall hangings and more are just some of the colorful products that you (and your child) can customize with Kidlandia either on line or in person at the world's toy store, FAO Schawrz in Manhattan.
Here's how it works: You select the kind of gift you want to give, then choose the theme. Then, after giving some information about the child and her family and friends, apply digital stickers to the "canvas" to make it your own.
Themes range from the scholarly Map collection (USA, Manhattan and World Maps are available) to familiar child-friendly licenses like Disney's Princesses, Dora, SpongeBob SquarePants, Winnie the Pooh and VeggieTales. There is also a line of "kreechur" themes that were created by Artist-Founder Brian Backus. You can customize most text on each design and add your own props and characters to the page.
Best of all it is very easy to do. Kids we tested it with enjoyed playing on the site and making their own maps even without purchasing anything, though the printed results are excellent.
I would like to see Kidlandia add the ability to upload your own pictures to the maps, so that you could show where "Uncle James" and "Cousin Adam" live on the map. It would also be better if all text could be edited, not just some. However, these suggestions don't take away from the Kidlandia experience as presented. In fact, the limitations may be intentional as a way of keeping the design very easy to use.
In short, Kidlandia uses high tech to create very attractive, meaningful gifts for kids. Check it out!
