Back to School gift for kids starting first grade - KinderCone review

KinderCones come already stuffed with a variety of items
carefully designed to encourage a sense of excitement about
learning and going to first grade. (© 2009 KinderCone)

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A modern version of the Schultüte, or School Cone, of Germany, the KinderCone makes a sweet and unique back to school gift for children leaving Kindergarten and starting first grade. Traditionally, parents make a Schultüte by stuffing a fabric or tissue-lined cardboard cone with treats and school supplies. Although the KinderCone comes stuffed already with several useful back to school items, parents can add their own small presents or sweets to the cone.

History of Schultüten in Germany

Starting in the early nineteenth century, some parents in Germany marked the occasion of a child's entering first grade with a unique back to school gift – a paper cone filled with presents, treats, and school supplies.

In one tradition, relatives such as parents or godparents would hang the stuffed school cones on a tree in the school yard. Each child would find and pick his or her Schultüte as if the school cones were ripened fruit, an action that symbolized that the kids themselves were ripe and ready to move from Kindergarten to first grade.

Parents can participate in a European gift-giving tradition
and instill in kids a sense of excitement about going to
school by giving new first graders KinderCones stuffed
with small back to school presents. (© 2009 KinderCone)

Another folk tale about the origin of school cones claims that the first Schultüten were made by a baker who wrapped up sweet treats for his children in a cone of paper.

What are KinderCones?

The founder of KinderCone, Vivian Lie, was introduced to the tradition of Schultüten in Germany as a child. Dedicated to encouraging a love of learning and a sense of excitement about entering elementary school in kids, Lie selected the tagline "Celebrate School" for her products and has stuffed each of her school cones with themed educational school supplies she has written and designed such as:

• a KinderJournal titled Me, Myself, and I in which children can record photos and thoughts about their journey over the course of first grade.
• a plush doll version of Karli the cat, the KinderCone mascot with whom schoolchildren can relate, who appears on items such as the cone itself and the journal.
• a set of KinderCone pencils.
• KinderCone temporary tattoos.

The KinderCones themselves are hand-crafted from recycled paper by a German paper goods manufacturer that has been making school cones for over 75 years. Each cone stands 28" tall and is lined with felt that hides treats until it is time to open the cone.

KinderCones come in a variety of colors, shapes, and
designs. (© 2009 KinderCone)

Because each KinderCone comes with a loop at the top, kids can hang the cones on display in their rooms and use them as fun storage containers for little keepsakes. Although traditionally families only give children school cones at the beginning of first grade, some parents may want to fill the KinderCone with different age appropriate gifts at the start of each school year and get years and years of fun use from it.

Where to purchase KinderCones in Chicago

Families everywhere can order school cones (and mini KinderCones) through the KinderCone Web site. These unique cones are also for sale at Shorty's children's store in Wicker Park and Timeless Toys in Lincoln Square in the city of Chicago and at Wishes Toy Wonderland outside Chicago in Glenview.

Ideas for KinderCone stuffers

Parents can stuff their cardboard school cones with many kinds of small presents for their first graders, including:

• practical gifts of school supplies or arts and crafts materials, such as pencil and pen sets, themed erasers, boxes of crayons, small sets of modeling clay, rulers, scissors, and small notebooks.
• fun gifts such as CDs, small books, small puzzles, stickers, card games, or small wooden toys or musical instruments.
• edible gifts such as small pieces of candy, chocolate, or homemade cookies.

Find out more about:

• Where to find cute back to school supplies in Chicago.
• Where to find unique children's backpacks in Chicago.
• The best Web sites for Back to School shopping.