"American" gifts for 6 yo

[AllisonR]

My mom wants to send Christmas gifts from the USA for 4yo DD and 6yo DS. We both would prefer to get the kids things that I can't get here. DD is covered - so easy: she likes everything, wants everything (some of which she will get). 

DS - I have no ideas, and neither does my mom. Help! He wants Lego Star Wars, but I can get that here. He wants a Nintendo DS - which he will not be getting (he has a computer already). 

I was thinking an "american" type game - when I was a kid there was chutes and ladders - though I don't know what board games are popular today. (He loves card games like Go Fish, Uno, Bingo, Dominos, Chess, but we have all these already). Maybe a book, but I don't know what american books are popular now. He likes building things and science and art. Ideas please. 

[monkeybars]

How about some old fashioned, classic toys?  This is a good catalog:

http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/

[sapphire_chan]

Blokus is fun and a 6 year old who understands chess rules would have no problem playing. 

If he likes Star Wars, can you get the novels over there? My 9 year old friend liked the Jedi Academy books.

For building and science, check out www.sparkfun.com

[la mamita]

I might try to get some picture books or chapter books about American history as I would assume finding those in English outside of the US would be difficult. Like stuff on MLK, Rosa Parks, JFK, Lincoln, Johnny Appleseed, John Henry, Native Americans, or maybe some American scientists or musicians or artists if your son is into those topics etc...

Besides that, I tend prefer toys exported from Europe so I think the advantage is on your side of the ocean!

[berry987]

Not sure if these games are available in Europe, but there are some great games out there for kids nowadays. My 6yo loves board games -- Junior Monopoly (very American!), Zingo, Candyland, etc.

[Mama2Bug]

Lincoln Logs

Wiffle ball & bat

Candyland

Memory

Nerf balls

Raggedy Ann and Andy

Cowboy Dress-up

Slinky toys

Etch A Sketch

Nascar Cars

Sports Equipment/toys/clothes with USA Team Logos/Mascots (perhaps your hometown teams when you were a child)