For the first time in years, it is the beginning of December and I am almost done all of my Christmas shopping! I was always the woman running around from store to store with my head cut off on Christmas Eve, but not this year!
Earlier this year I started accumulating ideas (mostly off Instagram) as I saw them on other peoples photos. You can go crazy gathering allll the ideas of cute things for the people you love, and as much as it probably would have been best to just buy the items then & there and tuck them away…I saved them on a list. So this year, I was armed and ready to go with all the ideas!
I love the gift-giving mantra for kids of giving ‘Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read’. I’m definitely the mom who gives the gifts of socks + underwear haha – is my little guy the only one who loses all his socks and runs through underwear like crazy?! Anyways, I really try to stick to this every year for my little guys, and usually for my nieces and nephews too!
Some of these ideas are tried + true classics, others are items my sons have and absolutely love, and there are some ideas of things I have either put on their list for this year!
I know this time of year is hard and can be SO overwhelming with all the ‘things’ you can buy for kids. No, you won’t see Fingerlings on here or the LOL Box of Surprise Junk, I wanted to curate some new ideas that weren’t on everyone else’s gift guides and didn’t involve electronics or anything like that! That being said, I hope there are a handful of ideas that will make your gift giving time just a tiny bit easier this year!
Deep breaths.
+ Merry Christmas! xx
Palm Springs Playhouse | Cuddle + Kind Dolls | Rocket Cape | Grimm’s Bead Grasper | Kiwi Co. Box | My Weather Station | Seacopter Bath Toy |Play Kitchen | 4 in a Row Travel Game | Play Food | Ride on Llama | Magnetic Blackboard | Goldendoodle Stuffed Adoption Set | Baby Push Walker | Superstar Microphone |
Palm Springs Playhouse
How sweet is this playhouse? I still love the play tents, but I am becoming obsessed with Crate&Barrel’s playhouses! This particular one gives me all the warm + desert vibes! It would make any space adorable! Definitely on the wishlist this year!
Cuddle + Kind Dolls
If you haven’t heard of Cuddle + Kind…what rock are you hiding under and can I come to have some peace and quiet for a few minutes?
We have a few special and much-loved Cuddle + Dolls in our home, but I hope to have them all one day! Not because we are hoarders, but for every doll sold Cuddle + Kind provides 10 meals to kids in need! If this is the season of giving, I hope these sweet little things will be on everyone’s wishlists! I love that my boys can have these dolls and know they’ve helped feed other kids who don’t get guaranteed meals every day. Thanks to this company, our #faithinhumanity is constantly being restored.
Seedling Galaxy Rocket Cape
What kid doesn’t love to play dress up? My boys love putting on costumes and playing make-believe, surprisingly especially my 1.5-year-old! We received this rocket cape for Levi last year at Christmas and the boys have fought over wearing it ever since! If it inspires creativity and imagination, I’ll allow it haha!
They also have an adorable pretend play Market Bag – find it here.
Grimm’s Wooden Bead Grasper Rainbow
I love love love all things Grimm! They are beautiful, safe + non-toxic! If you are looking for a sweet little toy for your babe, check out this sweet bead grasper, or any and all of the Grimm toys.
Kiwi Co. Box Subscription
Box subscriptions are my kryptonite. I think I’ve transferred this obsession to my oldest. One of our favourite activities together is getting the mail haha. When I came across the Kiwi Co. boxes I knew I had to learn more!
We love giving our boys STEM products and projects…and with the Kiwi Co. boxes, they can explore their creativity while learning new things in one nice little package. It also helps not to have to go to a few different stores to get a thousand items for one experiment!
My Weather Station
A little bit of a pricier gift, but it’s on my boys’ wish list nonetheless! I thought this was such a great way to teach the boys about the weather & how cute would it look on the wall?! Sometimes interactive activities with your kids don’t need to be long and drawn out.
I picture waking up with the boys and go to the window (while I look at my weather app haha!) + let them change the weather accordingly on the Weather Station. It’s a quick way to enjoy a few moments together in the busyness of the morning, and they are learning while doing it!
Green Toys Seacopter Bath Toy
Saying bath time is insignificant in our home would be a gross understatement. On average we have bathtime every single day & it’s a fight to ever get them out. We are still working on Finn not crying everytime we finish bathtime. So finding great bath toys is an investment we will always get behind.
The hard thing with bath toys is that they clutter up the bathtub/bathroom…& I don’t love all the hanging baskets and such because I also enjoy my bathtime on frequent occasion sans toys.
We have settled that Green Toys makes the best bath toys! They are fully recycled plastic without any metal so they won’t rust, they all float, and the design makes them easy to dry! After the bath, I just put a towel out to let them dry, and the kids can play with them in their room later on! Win, win!
KidKraft Farm-to-Table Play Kitchen
I didn’t realize how much play time my boys would get from play kitchens. Like, hours! A bigger ticket item but so worth it in my opinion! There is nothing better than cultivating a love for being in the kitchen and creating all kinds of treats. I saw this Farm-to-Table one from KidKraft and fell in love. How adorable is it? It helps when a bigger toy item looks nice in your house, right?! I put it on the boys ‘shared’ Christmas list – I know I won’t regret it!
Sunnylife 4 in a Row Travel Game
We’ve all been there. We are out for dinner, or at a relatives place and the kids are bored, bored, bored. If only they grew up when we did and all we were allowed to do was sit quietly and listen to the adults talk. Well, that’s not always realistic! Finding a few good games that you can bring out with you to occupy the kids is always a smart idea! I love this connect-four style game since the premise is simple and easy to pack up + go.
Crate & Kids Fridge Play Food
To couple with the play kitchen, or not, kids love play food! There are so many options for play food, and so many materials…some people only buy felt, or plastic, or wood…but either way, there’s nothing wrong with having some stylish pieces for them to play with? I love their whole line of play food!
Crate & Kids Ride on Llama
Yes, llama’s are all the rage. No, I won’t apologize for this idea haha. I think it’s absolutely adorable and would be so fun to play make believe on! A change from the traditional rocking horse or ride-on car…but nonetheless sweet! & it’s on sale!
Kitpas Magnetic Blackboard
A blackboard or whiteboard is pretty much essential for kids. Not to mention it cuts down on the endless piles of paper that have one coloured line on them. Since we are setting up our boy’s playroom in the next few weeks I’ve added this beautiful magnetic chalkboard to their shared list!
Goldendoodle Stuffed Adoption Set
Have a little one who desperately wants a pet, but it just isn’t happening? Yet anyways. I think this is the perfect little gift that will hopefully encourage rescuing animals in the future! Even if they have a pet at home, this is such a sweet way to give a furry friend with a great message! Who could resist? They also have a kitty here!
Baby Push Walker
Another sweet idea for the little babes in your life! We have sworn by push walkers for our two little ones – they are definitely essential when the little ones are learning to walk. Why not opt for a pretty wood one with sweet little activities?! Not your average push walker.
Superstar Microphone with Stand
For your budding superstar! I don’t think you even had a childhood unless you performed at least 5 shows for your parents! Who knows? You could be cutting up star-shaped cucumbers for the future Beyonce!
& you can always couple it with this Band in a Box…though I strongly suggest the less noise it makes the saner you’ll be.
Need more ideas?
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That kitchen set is so very nice. Love all the play sets. Different from other places. Tons to choose from
These are all great gift ideas! I’m almost completely done with my Christmas shopping. I only have a few more gifts to get. I’m usually so far behind right now so I’m glad I started earlier this time.
I am done with my Christmas shopping already. However, I may have to arrange to buy a few more things, because this gift guide is awesome. I LOVE the weather station! It would go perfectly with the calendar that I use with my kids every day.
My kids are obsessed with Connect 4 right now. I like the one that has the tray at the bottom to collect the game pieces.
These are such great ideas. I really like that kitchen. I can see kids loving it. I also love that microphone.
Such great gift ideas. This make me miss when my kids were young enough that they would love all of these. Thanks for sharing. Still good for nieces and nephews.
I love this list of holiday gift ideas for kids, I am going to have to get some of your recommendations for my kids and niece.
Thank you for this great list! I went and checked out the Palm Springs Playhouse in hopes it could be outside as we live in a tiny house but alas, I do not think that is the case, however I did fall in love with a different toy and we have to get it now!
These are all such cute ideas. That kitchen playset would get so much use around here. It’s perfect. And I agree with you on the play tent, perfect feel to it.
These are great gift ideas. With all the nephews and nieces that I have I definitely needed ideas. I think my daughter would love the Palm Springs Playhouse. May need to add that to my list.
I love the Cuddle + Kind dolls. I have been wanting to get one for my granddaughter, who is 2.
I adore that mid-century playhouse! I need a grandkid to get that for. Or maybe I’ll just buy it and save it.
What a fabulous collection of holiday gift ideas for the kids! I especially love that gorgeous pop-up playhouse. I wish these were around when I was a child.
The photos are sou cute. Especially when you lay your baby along with the dolls. So cute. I love the play tents especially.
What an amazing list! My little guy would have loved that rocket cape when he was younger. The older they get the hard it is getting to get them gifts with out going over board.
Such a wide choice of gifts for kids. Of course, gifts need to be in line with the likes and persona of the kids. It most of the times is a challenge that gets more difficult every year, to select gifts for kids. So your suggestions are more than helpful in this regard.
I love play sets a lot. They are the best gifts for kids. This play house is so awesome!
I love that little play tent! Maybe it could help contain the mess a little?? LOL!!
These are all wonderful gift ideas. I see so many items that my nieces and nephews would love.
The kitchen set is a very good one. I remember how delighted my daughter was finding what Santa had brought her during one of the Christmasses at our home.
So hard to get kids good gifts because chances are that they’ll only play with them for a few days before getting bored. Love this gift guide!
These are all great! I think my niece would love the Seedling Galaxy Rocket Cape, she is into science now.
So many great ideas here. I am glad I am finally finished all 8 of my kiddos, christmas this year was done rather quickly so now i have some ideas for next year.
I love cuddle + kind and the kitchen looks so adorable! My Granddaughter who is 4 has a little kitchen at my house and she plays with it for hours.
I’m almost done with my shopping, but these are absolutely cute ideas! Lovin’ that llama!
Thankfully I’m about done with my Christmas shopping, but that play kitchen is calling my name. I know my daughter would love it.
This is a great gift guide! Deffffinitely taking note – thank you for sharing this!
What an amazing range of Christmas gifts. And I appreciate the thought behind the choice.
Really clever idea with the magnetic blackboard. Kids these days can be tough to buy for!
I actually just read about the Cuddle + Kind dolls earlier today and I think they’re just adorable! Not ot mention for such a great cause. 🙂
There are so many great ideas here! Kids can be difficult to buy for sometimes.
Love this list. Very inclusive and helpful buying kids gifts this festive season
‘Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read’. WHY is this the FIRST time I am hearing this!!!!! My kids get one present and we give them money to gift each other presents. However, this is actually a great idea!
I finished my Christmas shopping as well, but these are all really awesome ideas. Thanks for sharing.
I love that almost every toy is for raising intellectuals! those boards and Montessori toys are the best! I actually was trying to find something similar for my son.