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Christmas is the perfect time to bring a little extra magic into our kids’ lives with gifts that inspire, educate, and entertain. Whether you’re shopping for toddlers or teens, here are some top ideas that are sure to make any child’s holiday season brighter.

How to Prepare for More Toys 

There are several ways to prepare for the addition of new toys when a birthday or holiday rolls around.  

What works in our family is to go around the house and fill up laundry baskets or garbage bags for toys we can donate or the ones that have reached the end of their life and unfortunately aren’t worth saving.  

If you don’t have the patience for that, you can certainly take the route of doing it yourself and ruthlessly raiding every cupboard, bin, and closet to donate or trash what you know your kids haven’t played with in months.

1. STEM and Science Kits

• Why They’re Great: Science and engineering kits encourage curiosity and learning through hands-on activities. Kids love discovering how things work, and these kits help build essential skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
• Top Picks: Beginner robotics kits, mini chemistry labs, and nature exploration kits with tools for observing insects or rocks.
• My Favorites: National Geographic Science Magic Kit, National Geographic STEM Science Kit, and Nature Bound Bug Catcher with Bug Vacuum.

2. Interactive Storybooks and Audiobook Players

• Why They’re Great: These gifts combine storytelling and technology in a way that’s fun and educational. Audiobook players let kids enjoy stories on their own, and interactive books let them make choices that change the storyline without all the screen time.
• Top Picks: Kid-friendly audiobook devices like Tonies or Yoto players, or choose-your-own-adventure storybooks with themes they love.
• My Favorites: We’ve had the Yoto Player and Yoto Mini for over two years and we use it daily! I love that it ages with kids so well and has cards that go up to 12+ years of age. The Mini is great for traveling, especially with a pair of Bluetooth headphones.

3. Building and Construction Toys

• Why They’re Great: Building toys like LEGO sets or magnetic tiles offer endless possibilities for creative play and support the development of fine motor skills and spatial awareness. Larger fort building kits are great for older kids too.
• Top Picks: Themed LEGO sets, magnetic tile kits, or even classic wooden blocks for younger kids and fort-making kits for older kids.
• My Favorites: Crazy fort kit, Tote-a-fort, Makeado Cardboard Construction Tools, and Magnatiles

4. Art and Craft Kits

• Why They’re Great: Art kits give kids an outlet to express themselves creatively while building fine motor skills. A complete set with paint, markers, or clay is always a winner, as it can keep kids busy for hours.
• Top Picks: DIY clay charm kits, rock-painting kits, and deluxe art sets with a variety of materials.
• My Favorites: An all-in-one arts and crafts kit, Rubber Loom Bands Kit, Diamond Art Sticker Kit, and Crayola PipSqueek Markers for easy travel.

5. Play Equipment

• Why They’re Great: Gifts that encourage kids to play, get their wiggles out, and stay active are always a great idea!
• Top Picks: Scooters or balance bikes for younger kids, frisbees and soccer sets for older children, or a bouncy house for inside our outside.
• My Favorites: My kids love their indoor hover soccer ball, back of the door basketball hoop, and we’ve had the Little Tykes Bouncy House for over two years and still use it, especially in the winter.

6. Pretend Play and Imagination Toys

• Why They’re Great: Imaginative play helps kids explore different roles, emotions, and ideas. Play kitchens, tool sets, and dress-up clothes encourage creativity and social skills.
• Top Picks: Play food sets, play kitchens, and mini tool benches.
• My Favorites: wooden play food for kids you can cut, Melissa and Doug stainless steel pots and pans, and a wooden coffee making set.

7. Cooking and Baking Kits

• Why They’re Great: Anything that helps get your kids in the kitchen will benefit their long-term health.
• Top Picks: Cooking and baking kits or kid-friendly kitchen utensils are the perfect way to get your kids excited about cooking!
• My Favorites: The Tovla Jr. Real Kids Cooking and Baking Set, their kid-safe knives are perfect stocking stuffers, and their Ultimate Gummy Making kit makes for a perfect interactive gift. You could even add the ingredients to the gift too!

8. Puzzles and Logic Games

• Why They’re Great: Puzzles and games are perfect for helping kids develop problem-solving skills and patience. They also make for quiet, screen-free activities that the whole family can enjoy together.
• Top Picks: Jigsaw puzzles with favorite themes, logic games like Rush Hour, or classic board games that build strategy skills.
• My Favorites: My five year old son loves play Kanoodle and both my kids love the Flipside game. We’re starting to build our library of games and we’re hoping to collect as many as possible from WS Game Company.

9. Books and Story Collections

• Why They’re Great: A love of reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give children. Choose age-appropriate books that spark imagination and nurture a love of stories.
• Top Picks: Chapter books for young readers, graphic novels, or classic storybook collections that kids will cherish. Bob books, Ninja Life Hacks, and the I Can Read series are great for kids just starting to read.
• My Favorites: We’re currently reading the Magic Tree House series – a series I read when I was a kid! Next we will be moving on to the illustrated Harry Potter series.

10. Experience Gifts

• Why They’re Great: Sometimes, the best gift isn’t a toy but a memory. Experience gifts let kids try new activities and spend quality time with family and friends.
• Top Picks: Tickets to a museum, aquarium, or theme park, a family movie night bundle, or vouchers for cooking or art classes.
• My Favorites: My sister put together an advent calendar for my kids and the final gift is tickets to a play. It’s so fun and I love that it’s something my kids get to do with her.

Wrapping Up Your Holiday Gift List

Ultimately, the best gifts are those that match your child’s unique interests and personality. Whether it’s the joy of creating, exploring the outdoors, or cuddling up with a new book, these gifts can help make this holiday season special and memorable. Happy shopping and happy holidays!