Kids LOVE gifts – but if they’re anything like mine, they also never want to part with the old ones. We’ve been working on identifying toys they don’t play with anymore so we can “pass them along to another kid for Christmas”… wish us luck. (We’ll need it.)
The part of me that hates clutter wants to say, “No more toys, we have enough!” But the part of me that wants my kids to have magical holiday memories refuses to let that happen. So! I’ve put together a list of gifts that are truly worth it, in my opinion – things that get a ton of love in our house and genuinely earn their price tag and the space they take up.
Scroll on to see if any of these spark joy for you and might just become a new favorite for the little one in your life this year!
A small disclaimer as we get started: this gift guide is focused on toddlers and younger kiddos. That’s the season we’re in, and these are the toys I can personally vouch for. I don’t have older kids yet, so I’m nowhere near qualified to tell you what a 10-year-old thinks is cool. One day I’ll have opinions about tweens and teens, but for now we’re firmly planted in the sticky-fingers-and-nap-time era. Your older kid might love the bookie cushion I mention in the stocking stuffers section, but most everything else is geared toward little ones this time around.
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Stocking Stuffers
As I’ve mentioned before, my rule of thumb for stockings is simple: if it’s over the $20-ish ballpark, it belongs under the tree as a primary gift. So all of these stocking stuffers are under $20 and perfect for stuffing those seemingly bottomless stockings.
My first addition to any stocking is always snacks and sweet treats! They take up a good amount of space, they’re affordable, and by choosing your kiddo’s favorites, they’ll feel seen. Some great options my kids love are these SmartSweets or some dots pretzels and pirates’ booty.
Training chopsticks are super popular in my household, so stockings are a great time to add a fresh pair! This multi-pack is really affordable with several character options!
And speaking of practical goodies you’re probably buying anyways – character bandaids! When an “owie” is less of a bloodbath and more of a we just need some TLC, the character Band-Aids save the day. When they take a real tumble and need something sturdier we usually reach for a Welly bandage.
Play Doh is another favorite in our house. My trick is to buy the 1oz size Play Doh containers so that when someone inevitably leaves the cap off, an entire full-sized tub isn’t sacrificed. I also only give them a few colors at a time so they learn to take care of the ones they have. The rest of the variety pack lives in a closet out of their reach until the current stash has… uh… lived its full Play-Doh life.
For a little humor in their stockings (though the Pirate’s Booty might already do the trick if your kids are anything like mine), try these bookie cushions – a bookmark whoopie cushion! Maybe it’ll even motivate your older kid to read more just so they can hear that giggle-inducing pfffft every time they close their book.
Just like with the adult gift guide I want to call out that gift certificate to a local spot for some ice cream or boba (local friends, we love Leafly Boba Bar!) is another fun option that also creates a built-in moment together later. Bonus: If you celebrate on a day other than December 25th, many places will still be open making it perfect for a post-present family outing.
For the Toddlers
Sometimes simple really is the best! This solar-powered dancing bear has brought my two-year-old so many giggles. He’ll stand there bouncing back and forth, imitating the bear, and honestly? The simple joys (especially at such a great price point) are a major win.
Another standout buy this year was this busy board book. Yes, you can absolutely find cheaper versions — I promise I’m not trying to upsell you. But here’s why we chose this one (drumroll, please!): none of the pieces can actually leave the book. They’re all beautifully tethered in, which means I’m not hunting for tiny missing parts while my toddler melts down because the watering can for the pretend garden has gone MIA. It’s an easy, all-in-one entertainment and educational toy. We keep ours in the car for built-in travel entertainment.
For David’s second birthday, William picked out this GUND Baby Oh So Snuggly Hippo for him, and it has been a total hit. It’s unbelievably soft, perfectly floppy, and just the right size for cuddles. It quickly became a bedtime favorite.
Speaking of birthday gifts, William received this pop-up cardboard slide (in a different colorway) for his first birthday from my sister – and for context, he’s turning five in a few months – and it’s still going strong almost four years later! It has survived constant use and the rough-and-tumble life of two little boys. It’s been a slide, a car-racing ramp, a launching pad for an overambitious kid attempting to “fly,” and more. Now that William’s older, he can set it up and fold it away himself. It’s a great toy for rainy days or freezing cold ones.
Years ago, William got this Retrospec balance bike. It carried him through the toddler years and has now held up beautifully for David, too. The best part about balance bikes is that they teach kids how to balance before adding pedals or speed — no training wheels necessary. We’ve since upgraded William to a taller balance bike (linked below).
And of course, safety first: a bike needs a good helmet! Our kids love these toddler helmets. David has an orange one and William has a blue one — the color difference makes it easy for them to grab the right helmet that’s already fitted to their size.
For David’s Christmas gift this year, I’m getting him this Little Tikes Story Dream Machine. He sometimes wakes up early before his “ok to wake” clock turns green (we use a Hatch Rest+ for each kid for this), and instead of shouting for us the moment his eyes open, I’m hoping this gives him something cozy and calming to “read” until it’s time to get up.
For the Little Kids
We’ve upgraded William to a larger balance bike and passed his Retrospec down to David. William’s balance bike is an Elantrip (paured with a blue helmet to match David), and we love how it’s height adjustable. That specific model is out of stock at the time of writing, so I’ve linked a similar one here, but a fair warning I can’t personally speak to the quality of the other brand. What I can say is that I’m a big believer in balance bikes and how they teach kids to balance before adding pedals and speed!
This race track adventure toy has been a crowd favorite in our house. It’s actually our second one, because the first fell victim to the mighty fists of a tiny toddler who didn’t quite know his own strength (looking at you, David). We loved it so much that we bought a replacement for William… and, honestly, for us. It’s a cute little car loop with levers, buttons, and an astronaut that has inspired hours of imaginative play. David enjoys it too, but as mentioned, it can be a bit fragile for younger toddlers (and there’s some choking risk if they’re playing without an adult nearby). Now that David is 2.5, he plays with it more appropriately, but I still think it’s best suited for ages 3 and up.
If you’re a bilingual household – or you want to become one! – this language learning flash card toy is fantastic. We have the Korean–English version, but the company offers 18 different language options. Both boys love playing with it, though I think William is starting to understand that it’s actually teaching the Korean word for each item. Any opportunity for language exposure, even passive learning through a toy like this, is a win in my book!
One of my favorite connection moments with William is coloring at the end of the night. When it’s bedtime, he gets to choose: lots of books, lots of coloring, or a mix of both. We’ll sit and color together — it’s calming, creative, and such a sweet way to wind down. I keep a little pencil box of these large crayons under his nightstand along with a few coloring books. Some of our favorites are this I Can Draw book (currently out of stock, but linking in hopes it comes back for you!) which pairs nicely with a Ticonderoga My First Pencil, and this Simple and Big Coloring Book for Toddlers. We have more detailed coloring books in the living room, but at the end of the day, these big simple designs let us color side-by-side without adding any stress during a time that’s meant for winding down.
Finally, William’s gift this year for Christmas is going to be this kid-sized set of real tools. He’s had a pretend plastic and wood tools set before, but he has complained for months now that they’re “not real tools like Appa has”.
I’m not entirely sure what projects he’s planning to tackle around here, but maybe we’ll have him open this early in the morning so he can help install the batteries in everyone’s Christmas-morning presents. Of course, for safety reasons, this will be something he has to “check out” and use only with adult supervision — we’re not trying to add “hammered sibling toes” to the childhood memories. Fingers crossed this gift goes over well and sparks a love for learning real skills for years to come!
A Gift for Everyone
Finally, a gift that the whole family will love – a water table! While not exactly winter-focused, this Step2 Rain Showers & Flow Kids Water Table is still a great buy! I’ve had so much fun playing alongside the kids with ours, and I especially love how it encourages creativity and hours of screen-free play. The moment spring arrives, you’ll be ready to go, and your kids can use it to play, wash toy cars, and dive into all sorts of make-believe adventures while soaking up some sunshine. (Pssst – grab an affordable cover to help keep bugs and the autumn leaves out when it’s not in use.)
Let me know what you think!
I truly hope these gift suggestions bring joy to your crew during this fun-filled holiday season.
Let me know how it goes – I’d love to connect, hear if these gifts were a hit with your family as much as they have been with ours!
Follow me on socials, comment on the social media post letting me know which one you loved, and even pop into my DMs to reach out – you can find me @appmanda on all platforms!