christmas Gift ideas

​Let’s talk about gift shopping.

What do you buy for the adult siblings who seemingly have everything? The in-laws? The children who aren’t anywhere close to your kids’ ages? Or maybe you don’t have children? What in the world should you buy? Socks. Lot of socks. Just kidding. Sort of.
Creative thinking takes time! Once I’ve found a gift that my kids love, I take note! And you better believe all the nieces, nephews, and kids’ friends who are the same age will probably wind up with that gift that year! I have a feeling I’m not alone. So let’s help each other out!

Comment the tried and true gifts you or your children have received! Don’t do gifts? Share your all-time favorite holiday outings, experiences, or volunteer opportunities! Please include kids ages (no need to share yours but you can if you want!) They don’t have to be trendy or expensive. You just have to feel they were worth it! For example, our best toys have been the ones that keep our kids occupied, regardless of the price tag! Our list is below, but our children’s age range is pretty limited. Let us know what you think! What are your tried and true gifts?

One year:

• Pretend telephone
• Duplo
• Stacking toys
• Board books
  • The Goodnight Train
  • Goodnight Moon
  • Chugga Chugga Choo Choo
  • Boats Go
  • Jamberry
  • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Two years:

• Sand table or sensory bins
• Toddler trampoline
• Trains and train track (we skipped the table- our kids build on the floor) – some quality generic brands fit most popular brands
• Bubble blower and bubbles
• Crayons and paint sticks
• Play kitchen
• Play food and dishes
• Water table
• Zoo, aquarium, or museum membership
• Books (some of our favorites):
  • Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
  • Go Dog Go
  • Snowmen at Night
  • Trucks Roll/ Planes Fly
  • Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
  • Best Behavior Series by Elizabeth Verdick

Three Years:

• Play doh
• Kinetic sand
• Wee Sing Book and CD
• Books on CD
• Watercolor paint
• Dress up/ costumes
• Baby dolls
• Balance bike and helmet
• Candy Land, Don’t Break The Ice or other age appropriate board and card games
• Sled
• Zoo, aquarium, or museum membership
• Books (some of our favorites):
  • Lola reads to Leo
  • Best Behavior Series by Elizabeth Verdick
  • Blueberries for Sal
  • Pout Pout Fish

Four-Five Years:

• Baby doll
• Floor puzzles
• Magnetic tiles
• Matching game
• Color pencils
• Sticker dolls or scenes
• Zoo, aquarium, or museum membership
• Lessons
• Educational CDs and DVDs
• Books (a few of our favorites)
  • Early Readers/ I Can Read Books
  • As An Oak Tree Grows
  • 20 Hungry Piggies
  • Zondervan Children’s Bible
  • Berenstain Bears
  • Further Tales of Peter Rabbit with CD by Emma Thompson
  • Beatrix Potter audio collection
  • Mind Your Manners BB Wolf
  • Educational books like simple science books

Six to Nine Years:

• Monopoly Jr., Sleeping Queens, or other age appropriate board game
• Lego
• Perler beads
• Friendship bracelet, sewing kit, or other crafts
• Science experiment kit
• Paint by sticker
• Roller blades
• Adventures in Odyssey
• Little House in the Big Woods

Ten to Thirteen:

• Crossbody purse
• Skating rink/indoor climbing, trampoline park passes
• Soccer or basketball goal
• Gift cards to favorite store
• DIY bath bombs or other crafts
• Crazy socks
• Chronicles of Narnia series
• Lord of the Rings series

​Fourteen to Eighteen:

• Gel pens
• Journal
• Fuzzy socks
• Nail polish
• Gift cards to favorite store

​Teachers/ Day Care Workers:

• Gift cards
• Spill proof water bottle
• Hand written thank you note
• Gift basket with:
  • Kind Bars, Goodness Knows, or other healthyish treats (watch out for school banned ingredients like nuts), fragrance free hand sanitizer, pens, notepad, Airborne or Emergen C, special blend coffee or tea etc

Adult Family Members:

• Plan a family outing
• Bluetooth speaker
• Rechargeable battery fan
• Special blend coffee
• Coffee frother
• Pour over or French press
• Framed family photo
• Family photo session
• Book or audio book for commute
• Water bottle
• Meal kits delivered
• Restaurant gift cards
• Portable DVD player or tablet (especially families with kids)
• Amazon prime membership

​And when in doubt…SOCKS.