I have two special birthdays coming up in April (Miles turns 8, and Dylan turns 17), so I’ve done a lot of virtual window shopping lately. It’s no secret I love one-off vintage finds, and I always enjoy looking for the perfect gift, but this year I’m finding myself short on inspiration. I guess these guys really do want for nothing!

However, the other day I was browsing Present & Correct (a personal fave), and it struck me that you simply can’t go wrong with basic letters and numbers at any age. Modern or old school, colorful or black and white, there’s no shortage of cool kids’ alphabet and number-themed products, and many will appeal to their design-loving parents as well.

Here are some of the things I found…

Count and See Book Reissue & Perpetual Ball Calendar
available for $26 and $97 respectively from present & correct

After just a few minutes spent at Present & Correct, I found a classic black and white counting book (reissued so new!) for reading, learning, and coffee table display,  plus a fantastic French perpetual ball calendar my trendy teenage son would love. Score!

Large Cursive Alphabet Charts
available for $285 from agent gallery chicago on etsy

You simply can’t beat old school ephemera. These large alphabet cursive charts would be fabulous anywhere in your home. The charts are complete and in good condition–quite a rare find, I’d say.

Vintage Modern Number Bunting
available for $22.50 from oh albatross on etsy

Simple yet effective, this vintage number bunting once again confirms less is more. It would look perfect hanging above a child’s desk or in the playroom. I love the “old meets new” vibe here.

Roll Up Chalkboard
available for $95 from wall lab on etsy

We all know kids love chalkboards, and I suspect their old-school loving parents will appreciate the roll-up feature (complete with ring pull) on this Etsy find. The blackboard has a ledge to rest your chalk and catch chalk dust, plus it features an easy-to-clean surface. Ideal for practicing the Three Rs and for leaving special messages from Mommy and Daddy, too!

Organic Typography Bedding for Kids
available from design letters

Design Letters’ new bedding for kids, featuring Arne Jacobsen typography in black and turquoise, is bound to be a hit when it debuts this spring. This Danish company is a great resource for numbers and letters. They also recently introduced a range of melamine alphabet crockery for kids that are simply to die for. Love!