At Christmas time, our family focuses on the joy of Christmas and acts of service. However, we also give holiday gifts. These gift ideas for kids are perfect for Christmas, birthdays, or any other special occasion. If you’re looking for an age-appropriate gift to add to the wish list this holiday season, then look no further.
Gift Guide for Kids of All Ages
It can be challenging to find unique gifts for little ones that meet my standards. I don’t want to spend money on something that will fall apart quickly, and I prefer using more natural and eco-friendly materials whenever possible. Over the years, I’ve curated a list of great gifts that my kids love. From 2-year-olds to 10-year-olds, to teens, you’re sure to find something your kids will like on this list. The best toys aren’t always the trending ones, but rather the ones that encourage creativity, imagination, and fun. You’ll also notice a lot of gifts that encourage movement, which is great for kids who like to fidget.
According to my 6-year-old, we’ve created an “epic” backyard. You’ll see some of the items we have, like a slackline, on the lists below. I’ve divided the kid’s toys and gifts by age, but those are just general guidelines. Maybe your tween hasn’t gotten in the kitchen yet and wants to learn how to cook real food. Or perhaps your genius 5-year-old is ready for a Rubik’s Cube. And don’t forget the stocking stuffers!
Gifts for Teens, Tweens, & Older Kids
– Buddha Board – A relaxing way to paint with just water (it evaporates and you can paint again).
– Archery Set – My kids have loved these GBG archery sets, and these sets are created for kids by kids. They have some helpful videos on their website as well!
– Leather Journal – A beautiful leather journal for sketching or journaling.
– Japanese Puzzle Box – These beautiful puzzle boxes are a unique way for older kids to keep valuable items safe, and they’re fun to learn.
– Rubik’s Cube – The 1980s called, but we told it we’re keeping the Rubik’s Cube. Older kids love learning to solve this retro puzzle.
– Star Wars Lego Set – These building toys are popular among big kids and teens, with dozens to choose from.
– Build Your Own Programmable Robot Kit – This building kit was a favorite with my oldest. Build a robot and program it!
– Grown-Up Coloring Books – Coloring isn’t just for little kids anymore. These “adult coloring books” are very detailed, and studies show that coloring is relaxing.
– Boogie Board – A reusable board that encourages doodling and drawing.
– Kindle – An affordable tablet with a lot of capabilities.
– Runaway Alarm Clock – Does your teen have trouble waking up? This alarm clock runs away and keeps making noise until caught!
– Natural Makeup Brushes – If your teen is old enough to wear makeup, these natural brushes are great!
– Power Cube Wall Adapter – A surge protector that charges multiple devices at once.
– Collapsible Duffel Bag – A great bag for short trips that collapses to a tiny size, unlike some bulky backpacks.
– Minnetonka Chrissy Boots (for teenage girls) – Super comfy boots she’ll be excited to see under the Christmas tree!
– Cash inside a Money Maze Puzzle Box – Give money so they can get what they like, but make it fun by hiding it inside this puzzle cube.
– No Crease Ponytail Holders – These are really popular right now. They’re gentle on hair and don’t leave a crease! Or I hear that Scrunchies and banana clips are back in style!
– Travel Hammock – Have an outdoorsy teen? These travel hammocks collapse small and are awesome. They’re also quite popular on some college campuses.
– Become a Beekeeper Course – This is an amazing Introduction to Beekeeping Course. This course will teach them everything from buying bees to harvesting honey.
– Backyard Bags (also called Cornhole) – This is always a fun game for the backyard. Whether you have guests over or it’s just the two of you, this has been a family favorite in our house.
– Slackline – Like a balance beam and trampoline in one. It encourages balance, gross motor skills, and coordination. Plus, it’s hours of fun.
– Ninjaline – Like monkey bars but tougher. A lot of people use these for Ninja Warrior training, but our kids just think it is fun!
– Talkbox.Mom – Do your kids want to learn another language? This is a fun way to do that at home and is great for kids of all ages – even the littles!
Best Gifts for Kids Who Are Younger
– Gym 1 Indoor Doorway Gym – Our kids’ favorite Christmas gift of all time. It’s a gym that mounts in a door frame, and they use it every day.
– Snap Circuits – A really neat kit that lets kids learn about electricity by building different types of basic machines like a fan, a radio, etc.
– Art Kit – A favorite among my girls. This art supplies kit contains markers, crayons, colored pencils, and more for arts & crafts.
– Flower Press Book Kit – Kids can create their stationery, cards, and more with the flower/leaf press kit.
– Mini Trampoline for Indoor Play – We’ve had a trampoline in our house for years, and it’s great for cold or rainy days. Rebounding (bouncing) is also great for adults!
– Wooden Twig Colored Pencils – Wooden colored pencils made from twigs. They’re a good size for younger kids just learning to write and draw.
– Wooden People and Craft Supplies – Our kids loved making their own little wooden dolls with these.
– Plasma Car – My little kids loved this ride-on toy, and they’re great for kids of all sizes.
– Grow and Make – They have kits ranging from gardening to making your own box of chocolates.
– Natural Paints – Made from natural earth pigments for all your arts and crafts projects.
– Microscope Kit – My oldest loved looking at hair, dirt, and all kinds of other things in this microscope. STEM toys like this one are educational but can also be super fun.
– Bath Tub Crayons – These beeswax bath time crayons for toddlers are handmade in New Zealand with New Zealand beeswax and food-grade, non-toxic pigments. The jumbo crayons are perfect for toddlers, kids, and children from 2 years old and up.
– Beeswax Crayons – Triangular crayons made of natural beeswax. A healthier option to the popular Crayola crayons. Or try your hand at making your own!
– Doll House – This Melissa & Doug doll house is great for 4-year-olds to 8-year-olds. Fits smaller dolls.
– Little Passports – This subscription service tailors to your child’s age and the collection they would be most interested in. (For parents, you can filter by your budget!)
– Stainless Steel Play Kitchen Pots and Pans – My daughters used to play kitchen with these for hours! Items that encourage pretend play are always encouraged!
– Beginner Piano Keyboard – These are a great way to get the kids started with music.
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