My kids are almost 5 and almost 7, which means I am officially an
expert on gift giving for preschool and elementary school aged children! Okay,
so I'm not an expert at all. But I do have enough experience gift shopping at
this point (both for them and for their friends), that I finally feel like I
have a pretty good grasp on what to get kids in this age range.
I'll be honest - my babes enjoy their fair share of character-themed, sparkly,
cheaply made toys. And that's okay. I want to encourage them to love what they
love, even if it isn't my "style." That said, they also love well-made toys
that encourage learning, creativity, and discovery, and those are the toys I'm
recommending in this guide. They will get a mix of both this Christmas, but I
will confess that these are the toys I hope they love the most.
1.
KiwiCo Crates $9.95+
KiwiCo
is one of my favorite brands for kids toys. (I'll actually be sharing a
whole post about them soon.) Their toys and kits make for gifts that are
equal parts fun and educational, and not just for the age range I'm
featuring in this guide. (They have cool crates for every age from toddler
to teen!) Some favorites in our house are the
Planet Bath Bombs and Window Garden
(shown above and both under $20). Their site is awesome too because it
allows you to shop by age or category, and you can purchase a subscription
or just single kits. KiwiCo also has an amazing 20% off everything sale going on between now and
December 6th. They also have a Black Friday sale happening now for up to 30%
off + free shipping. I highly suggest checking them out
right here
and taking advantage of this incredible offer. I promise you your kids will
love their products!
2.
Dig A Dozen Dino Egg Kit $22.99
My son received this as a gift, and both kids absolutely love it. They get to
play paleontologist and excavate toy dinosaurs from the eggs, then use the
learning card to find out more about each dinosaur. The set is well made and
comes in a pretty package as well.
3. Woodland Wonder Chess Set $99
The Queen's Gambit admittedly influenced me to want to learn chess
and for my kids to learn as well, and
this beautiful set
just seems like the perfect one to learn on. The green tree pawns and animal
silhouette pieces make playing feel like an enchanted forest walk. I feel like this is one of those really special, high quality gifts that would be passed on through generations.
4. GSkyer Telescope for Kids $99.99
My dad bought a telescope for the kids last year and it ended up being the most magical gift. This telescope from GSkyer is perfect for little astronomers, and comes with lots of extras too, like a wireless remote, adjustable tripod, and carrying case. It is also portable, and the perfect size for smaller hands.
5. The Idea Box Kids Scavenger Hunt Game $24.99
This Kids Scavenger Hunt Game from the Idea Box is all kinds of cool and I can't wait to give it to my kids this year! Kids choose from wood coins with descriptions of items they can find around the house, in the yard, or anywhere. (A great idea as we stay home to stay safe this winter!) The best part is that the game can be played over and over, and the whole family can get involved. This is the perfect example of a gift that is simultaneously fun and educational.
6. Mudpuppy Map of the World Puzzle $16.99
Puzzles help with many aspects of learning, from improving fine motor skills to building short terms memory. This Map of the World Puzzle from Mudpuppy will give your kids ages 5-9 a fun geography lesson too! Features 78 pieces, including 17 that are shaped like icons of the world.
7. Tegu Magbot Magnetic Wooden Block Set $21.99
This robot set is a favorite, but Tegu make lots of other more extensive sets too. The magnetic wooden blocks that make up this set are crafted from sustainably harvested wood - and for every one tree Tegu harvests, they plant hundreds more! Tegu is also bringing world-class employment standards to Central America by paying their employees a living wage and prioritizing long-term career growth and development.
8. Imagine Meditation Cards for Kids $24.99
We are big on mindfulness in our house, which is why I got this gorgeous mediation card set for my little ones for a holiday gift this year. The set offer 26 huge mindfulness cards for kids, with content-rich scripts and vibrant illustrations to teach them guided meditation. It also comes with breathing exercises and DIY cards so kids can create their own meditations.
9. Mirus Toys Wooden Toy Clock $22.95+
Both of my kids are extremely interested in the concept of telling time, but with digital clocks everywhere, they haven't learned to tell time on an analog clock. This beautiful handmade clock from Mirus Toys would be perfect for that, and also makes for a beautiful piece of decor for their rooms.
This colorful kit fosters pre-coding skills like sequencing, problem-solving, and logical thinking and
comes with a robot board with storage, suction pen, 175 pixel tiles, 20 challenge cards and instructions. My son will find one under the tree this year and I can't way to learn with him.
This is another seriously awesome gift that my dad gets my kids each year. Every other month for a year, a book hand selected by the New York Book Review is received in the mail. The NYBR groups books by age and interest, so you can choose what your child would most enjoy. All of the book are considered "forever books" - classics with beautiful, sturdy hardcovers that will last a lifetime. Both of my kids are absolutely thrilled when their book arrives in the mail. An added bonus: free shipping.
To those of you in the states, happy Thanksgiving! It's not a normal Thanksgiving, but we still have a lot for which to be grateful. That is what matters, the end. If you're reading this after Thanksgiving, happy holidays! And if you have any other suggestions for great gifts for kids, let me know.
This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small
commission from your purchases, at no additional expense to you. I
have also received compensation from a few of the brands featured in
exchange for promoting their products, all of which I love, use, and
am thrilled to recommend.
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