I frequently hear parents and grandparents lament that they
have “no idea” what to buy for their children this Christmas. While we can all
agree that most of our kids have plenty and need nothing there’s something
magical about watching a child open a gift on Christmas morning. Here are some
ideas for gifts that step out of the box a bit. If you’re looking for more gift ideas for the whole family head on over to my friend Melissa at
everydaysavvy and check
out her lists! I’ve tried to stick to items that are low-tech and reasonably
priced with a few splurges here and there. I supplied only a few age
guidelines, as I find there’s a wide age range of when children are ready for
most toys, as well as when they are ready to give them up. I am not being compensated in any way for this post. All opinions are my own!
For your tiny Picasso!
These subscription boxes contain everything a child needs to complete a
project, usually down to the scissors and glue! The projects are generally
unique and most of them can be completed independently by the child. My girls
have received crates from all 3 brands at one time or another and we have
enjoyed them all immensely, though if I had to pick a favorite it would be Kiwi
Crate for the age’s 4-8 crowd.The Kiwi Crate company also offers
Koala Crate for younger children, but my family does not have direct experience with that option.
Its designer shrinky dinks! These craft kits would be a great
wintertime option for when your kiddos are tired of being cooped up indoors and
in need of a distraction.
I can’t recommend
Hearthsong and their sister company
MagicCabin highly enough for low-tech high-imagination toys and crafts. This beeswax
candle kit allows kids a chance to craft candles that can be used for family
celebrations or given as gifts.
My 8-year old received one of these Lille Huset houses for
her last birthday, and it’s been a joy to watch her craft furniture for it and
decorate it.
These crayons have a lovely soft texture that allows for
blending and mixing with ease. They can also be diluted with water brushing. The
Chinaberry website is also a great resource for book recommendations.
For Game Lovers!
Our family loves all the games from
Think Fun, but Chocolate
Fix is probably our favorite. The Think Fun games are logic based, and encourage
mathematical thinking. They can be played solo, or with a parent sitting by to
assist, and are a great size for travel.
Castle Logix is another logic based game. The quality of the
pieces is lovely, and it can be played with for several years as your child’s
skills grow. It’s also a ton of fun, especially for two children to work on the
challenges together.
Elysium is new to me, but is on the shopping list for my
Percy Jackson loving Greek Mythology buffs this year. It was a nominee mention the
highly sought Spiel Des Jahres (Game of the Year) award.
Eeboo tell me a story cards work for a wide age range, and
can serve as a basic storytelling game for preschoolers, as well as to provide
writing prompts for older children. Several different themed sets exist.
For Your Tiny
Architect
Magnatiles represent the best money our family has ever
spent on a toy. My 11-year old received a set for her 3rd birthday,
but we have been adding to our collection ever since. These have been enjoyed
(and sometimes fought over) by every child who has come to our home for a
playdate, and even adults enjoy them. The cost is a bit steep, but they are
well worth it for a quality kid-powered toy.
They are also quite useful when your children begin to learn fractions
and geometric shapes.
Snap circuits encourage a basic understanding of electric
circuitry, and allow kids to independently build operational items like radios,
lights and alarms. They are easy enough for a 6-8 year old to figure out with
some assistance, but interesting enough to occupy older kids as well. Pictured
below is the junior set, but there is a wide assortment of sets available for a
variety of ability levels and price points.
Shopping for a Lego fan? Both of these sets from Klutz contain some unique Lego pieces that can be hard to find, and provide lots of ideas for S.T.E.M. related Lego Play. They are also very well priced!
To spark tiny
imaginations
Playsilks are one of the toys my children used the longest.
They also fall in the category of one where adults wonder what they are for,
but kids know. My kids used these to play peekaboo as toddlers, to make
landscapes for pretend play as preschoolers and to dress up for years. They
actually still get pulled from our dress up bin once in a while, which makes 10
years of play for our set. You can pre-made silks as linked above, or order
blanks and die
your own with Kool aid.
This beautiful acorn house filled with felted wool animals
would be a lovely addition to playtime for any child. Magic Cabin also carries
several other styles of similar playsets. $24.95 is a steal for a playset made
of natural materials!
This one crosses over to the truly expensive side of shopping, but if you’re in the
mood for a splurge and are a Sherlock
Holmes fan you may want to check out this detective outfit from Land of Nod.
For Babies/Toddlers
If you are seeking out a cuddly friend for someone tiny in
your life look no further than Land of Nod’s selection of beautiful items. This
teddy by Bijou Kitty is my personal favorite, but they have many lovely
options.
Haba of Germany designs heirloom quality l wood and fabric
toys. Most are made in Germany as well. This Moby toy and first blocks set were
favorites of both my girls as babies, but
Oompa carries a vast selection of
other items from Haba and other quality retailers.
This “lawn mower” toy makes a lovely sound as it is
pushed. Your toddler will love it, and the construction means you can hand it
down to grandchildren one day.
In search of a small gift for a brand new baby? These
squeakers by Meia and Alvin are just the ticket.
If you need to make a splash for a larger baby gift the Be On
The Sea floormat from Land of Nod will not only occupy baby, but will blend in
nicely with any décor. This one is another splurge item.
