Time to start sharing some Christmas Gift Guides! The first one I thought I would do is for kids, because really Christmas is the biggest deal to those little ones in our lives. We are really into non-toy ideas. Experience gifts are the best and we love STEM gifts too. I complied all of our favorite gifts ideas for kids. These are items are getting our kids or we have already. I hope you like our ideas!
Christmas Gift Guide Experience Ideas-
- Season Pass– to the Zoo, Water Park, Aquarium etc. My mom has given us a pass to the zoo one year and a water park….best money spent on a gift!
- Tickets to an Event– think of a broadway show or a sporting event! We gave Lola last year tickets to The Lion King for her Birthday instead of a big party and gave her a couple smaller gifts.
- Vacation– our personal favorite! We are getting our kids a trip to Hawaii right after Christmas. That is a pretty big gift. You could do a small stay-cation to a favorite local place. Our parents last year gave us a gift of a cabin in Yellowstone with our entire family for the weekend.
- A Hotel Stay– My kids love to stay overnight at a hotel, especially if there is a pool. You could do this right after Christmas!
- Subscription– You can find subscription boxes for nearly any interest. Think of how many you see offered just on social media. Just type an interest, plus the words “subscription box” into google and you’ll likely have at least one option pop up!
- Classes– Give the gift of learning something they have been interested in! An art class? Singing class? Cooking?
- Date Night– My kids would eat this right up!! It could even be a “lunch date” where you check them out from school to go to lunch. It could be just with mom and dad to their favorite place for dinner or just dessert.
- Bedroom Makeover– This could totally count as an experience! They could design their room by finding photos of things they love and then seeing it come to life would be a wonderful experience! I think we forget that getting new bedding is something kids my need but also really love! It can totally count as a Christmas Gift.
I often get asked how you encourage others to give experience gifts rather than too many toys. Thankfully both grandparents ask us so we can recommend some ideas. I do think it is ok to drop a small hint and share what you are giving your kids and maybe if you really focus on experience and STEM gifts then they will follow suit.
And most importantly- “we should accept a gift in the spirit in which it’s offered” I love this from St. Therese. Instead of the gift itself. How charitable for others to think of us.
Christmas Gift Guide for Kids-
#1- Amazon Alexa Dot we have one of these in every room in our house! Well, in the girls room, Finn’s room, kitchen and family room. The girls use the one in their bedroom as their morning alarm. They love to play music from it. Or ask the weather, the time or Alexa to sing her favorite song (it’s pretty funny her song choice). The girls can also call us from it, just like a phone “Alexa call mom”. It is for sure a favorite thing! And all the kids love it when they come play.
#2- Personalized Santa Bag this is a super cute way to have all the kids toys out Christmas morning. Bonus it is reusable and affordable!
#3- Soccer Net these have been the best soccer nets! The kids use them daily. The collapse and are easy to store.
#4- L.O.L Dolls– Lola is almost 8 and loves these. Finn is 2 and he loves to play them with her. That surprise bag is on Lola’s wish list.
#5–Crystal Growing Hedgehog– Have you made crystals with your kids? We have and it was a fun activity and learning experience. They enjoyed watching them grow. I thought the hedgehog was cute (comes in many colors) something that I would be ok with sitting out on their dresser 😊!
#6- Door Jungle Gym– If you have active kids, like we do I think this would be an awesome gift! A little spot for them to workout and get some energy out, especially if it is too cold to play on your play set in the backyard. This goes inside a door frame.
#7- Shut the Box– My parents have this game and EVERYONE loved it and played it over the summer. My parents were really cute and into it. I loved that Ella was practicing her math facts while playing this. You basically get all the numbers down by adding the numbers you roll on the dice by adding, subtracting, dividing or multiplying. For young kids they can keep it simple.
#8- LEGO Batman Remote Control Car– Our Christmas gift guide isn’t complete without a LEGO toy. Ella is 10 and she LOVES them! She has a LEGO room that she spends time in building and creating every.single.day. I loved this remote control car because she could build it and her and Finn could play with it after together.
#9- Laugh Out Loud Jokes– We have this book and it is pretty fun. I think it is always good to know a quirky little joke to share!
#10- Minnentoka Slippers– All of my kids love slippers. Who doesn’t? And we are big fans of the Minnetonka brand. I love. all the fun patterns they come in too. For boys or girls.
#11- Cozy Sherpa Sweater– Sherpa is everywhere and I am not mad about it! My girls both have a cozy sherpa sweater that they think is just so cozy. Highly recommend this for a gift!
#12- Peg Board Shape Puzzle and Magformers– Two of Finn’ favorite toys. And actually all my kids play with these. I take them with me when Finn has to go with me to the gym and his little friends love the Peg Board Shapes. Both great church or quiet toys. Don’t take up a lot of space. We build little cages for Finn’s toy animals with the Magformers and he is entertained for awhile!
#13- Snap Circuits– We got this for Ella last year and she built every circuit option there was, over 100! It was awesome to see how you can tweak one thing watch what changes. Such a great learning toy. Highly recommend it.
#14- Karaoke Microphone– I just ordered this microphone for Lola! If you have a kid or know a kid that likes to sing this is perfect! You can hook it up to your phone so it plays any music they want to sing to. How fun would this be for a party?
#15- Crawl Thru Tunnel– Great gift for any kid who like to play hide and seek or build forts. All my kids. I think they are going to love this.
Not on the list, but my friends and I were talking about gifts. One friend is moving into a new house so their Christmas theme this year is about the new house. She is going to get her girls the Beddy’s Zip-up bedding. I thought that was a great idea. I remember when my girls got their bedding they seriously were excited to go to bed for weeks! I have a coupon code- Beddy’s Zip-up Bedding use code NESTING20 for 20% off your order
I hope that gave you some good ideas! Please let me know what you want my next gift guide to be!!
You can check out last years Christmas Gift Guides HERE
Hi! I would LOVE a gift guide for HIM! I need different ideas for my hubby! Thanks!
oh perfect! On it!
To go along with your Santa bag idea, we have a bag for each of our kids that they get a couple days before Christmas. They pick out a certain number of toys to put in the bag for Santa to take back with him after he visits. These are toys that they don’t play with as much that Santa can take back to his workshop and clean up to be able to give extra toys to those that don’t have as much as we do. I feel like it gives them some ownership in sharing their things, teaches them that we have more than enough and helps clear out space before more toys are added.
oh my gosh!!! This is genius!! Thank you for sharing!!! I have to do this and share!
My daughter is only 1, but I love this idea!! I’m definitely going to implement this in our home!
Great guide for kiddos and awesome timing!! Thanks for sharing Brooke!
This is a great list, thanks!
Hi! Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make all of the great gift guides! I ordered the hedgehog and three of the Santa bags for our niece and nephew, and I even ordered two things for my husband off of your other gift guide. Great and thoughtful guides!
You are so sweet to tell me this! Thank you!!
I love your ceilings.