Let’s hear it for the kids – and the toys and gear they love. Here’s some great picks for kids of all ages this holiday season. From tech to non-toy gifts, we’ve got it all. Introducing our Holiday Gift Guide for Kids.
Holiday Gift Guide for Kids:
1. LEGO Friends
We love LEGO Friends around here for their amazing play value. This adorable 2-story Heartlake City School (41682) has tons of details so kids can spend hours creating their perfect school day. It comes with 3 LEGO Friends mini-dolls: Olivia, Julian, and a teacher figure. The school is complete with 3 classrooms to build and play with, as well as a lunchroom, lockers, restroom and school yard. This extensive LEGO Friends playset has 605-pieces to build, which makes it perfect for families like ours who build together.
We first got the Heartlake City Hotel to kick off our LEGO Friends obsession years and years ago, and it’s still one of the most played-with toys we have. Since then, we have added houses, forts, stores, restaurants, and even a hospital. These sets are just as fun to build as the traditional LEGO lines, but I love how much creativity they encourage in kids by allowing them to customize their finished products and having returning characters they love in mini-doll versions.
The Lego Friends sets depict scenes from suburban life set in the fictional town of Heartlake City, a wonderful place where you can make anything you desire. The five main characters are Andrea, Olivia, Stephanie, Mia and Emma and then you can get other characters to add to the fun with additional sets.
The Heartlake City School set can be found at LEGO.com and other retailers nationwide {currently on sale at Target!} this holiday season. Wrap a LEGO Friends set up for your favorite little builder and see the excitement on Christmas morning.
You can follow LEGO on Instagram and Facebook for holiday inspiration and fun…. and see why it made our Holiday Gift Guide for Kids not once, but twice.
2. Sleep tight with the Lulla Doll
More than a doll, the Lulla Doll is a sleep companion that can help lull your little one into a restful and relaxing sleep. Lulla doll is a snuggly friend that helps your child feel stable and safe, which has been proven to add to the length and quality of sleep. Oh, and did I mention little Lulla is adorable?
So, how does it help little ones sleep? Lulla plays for 12 hours straight to provide comfort all night long. Lulla doll imitates closeness with its super soft feel and real-life sounds of breathing and heartbeat. Lulla’s design is based on multiple scientific research into the development and well-being of young children, and the effects that smell, sight and touch have.
The doll is machine washable and comes with 2 AA batteries. The doll has 3 different volume settings, with the highest sound set on a safe volume of 65dB and has a Velcro strap for safe attachment. The fabric of the doll can absorb scent from caregivers if they keep it close to their skin before giving it to their child for added comfort and security.
Lulla doll is thoroughly safety tested from birth. It has an outside crib attachment for children under 12 months, then can transition into the bed when your little one is a bit older. And, even the older kids can’t resist the Lulla, as you can see.
You can buy your own special Lulla Doll on the lulladoll.com site. You can follow Lulla Doll on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.
3. Screen-free fun with Sphero indi
I love Sphero and we’ve bought numerous products of theirs throughout the years for their STEAM learning potential. For littler kids or for those who are screen-free, Sphero now has the indi At-Home Learning Kit. Made for ages 4+ to help kids learn coding, computational thinking, and problem-solving skills, indi is the perfect introduction to many STEAM concepts. Customize indi with stickers and encourage creative expression. Then learn to drive indi through endless mazes and pathways. The indi At-Home Learning Kit provides hours of self-guided, screenless engagement, with an option to explore more on their app down the road.
You begin by communicating with your indi using color cards to solve puzzles and direct indi through mazes you create. Once you’ve mastered screenless programming, you can get into more advanced block coding concepts by changing how indi reacts to different color cards in the Sphero Edu Jr app, an all-new, simplified drag-and-drop coding tool designed just for indi.
Want to find out more about Screenless Robot | Sphero indi At-Home Learning Kit? Click to buy your own indi from Sphero. Follow Sphero on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
4. Toniebox
We absolutely love the Toniebox and couldn’t wait to get it on the Holiday Gift Guide for Kids. It’s the cutest little imagination-building, screen-free, digital listening device for kids, ever. If you’re not familiar with Toniebox, it’s a soft and squishable music and storybook player perfect for little listeners. Swap stories and themes just by connecting your favorite Tonie characters to the top of the Toniebox. Squeeze an ear to raise or lower the volume and tap the sides to change chapters or tilt to fast-forward or rewind.
The Toniebox comes to life when paired with the expansive collection of Tonies. These are hand-painted characters with hours of stories to tell, worlds to explore, and songs to sing along with. Each collectible character magnetically attaches to the Toniebox, making it simple for little listeners to change stories whenever they want.
Connect to Wi-Fi through an easy, one-time setup and then you can go Wi-Fi free after that. Charge it up and you can go cordless and take your Toniebox with you on all your adventures.
Find out more at https://us.tonies.com/ and buy your own Toniebox bundle. Be sure and follow Tonies on Instagram and Facebook.
5. LEGO City
What’s more classic than a present under the tree from the LEGO City line? With dozens of building sets to choose from, there’s sure to be the perfect set for your little one. Each set is based on an aspect of city life, from emergency services {such as police and fire}, to airport, train, construction, and civilian services, and so much more.
This year we are absolutely loving the LEGO® City Wildlife Rescue Operation (60302) that is packed with awesome features. With multiple animals to “rescue” and wildlife to play with, the workers at the Wildlife Rescue Operation are standing by to assist. The set comes with 525 pieces, including a shelter for veterinary workers, a helicopter with spinning blade and working winch, tracked vehicle, and even a trail leading to the water with landslide function.
Just add the elephants, crocodiles, monkey and rescue team for endless hours of exciting animal-rescue fun. Think of how much fun your little one will have rescuing the animals that roam the savanna.
Put kids at the heart of the action, pushing a lever to activate the tree-and-rockslide, then flying the helicopter over with its spinning rotors and using the winch to get the animals safely into the cargo bay. The tracked vehicle has a detachable hoist chain and storage compartment that kids can drive around the savanna.
You can buy the Wildlife Rescue Operation from lego.com and get it in time for the holidays. Combine this playset with others from the LEGO® City Wildlife range for more wildlife action and adventure. And, see our LEGO Friends pick as #1 in our Holiday Gift Guide for Kids.
You can follow LEGO on Instagram and Facebook for more inspiration and fun.
6. Bigblock Customs Cars
If you’re looking for cheaply made plastic cars, this isn’t the post for you. Bigblock Customs was born from a passion to make heirloom quality cars that can be enjoyed for generations. This makes their toy cars are so much more than just toys. They say they are the tools for bonding and shared memories, which is a pretty tall order, but I think these might actually fit the bill.
At Bigblock Customs, vintage collides with modern-day play in a high-quality and precision-made toy. Their passion for their lines of cars are evident in every detail of their handmade toys. Solid American beechwood forms the body, then a sleek stainless-steel chassis and grill add a realistic touch.
Their one-of-a-kind suspension system makes them not only beautiful, but also really, really fun to play with. We especially love the Jeep, that is so fun to drive up inclines and obstacles, or to let it go and watch it dominate the trail.
These amazing cars aren’t cheap, but who wants cheap anyway? Heirloom quality comes at a price, but these definitely deliver.
You can buy Bigblock Customs from their website, choosing any of their 6 “batches” of cars. Be sure and follow Bigblock Customs on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date.
7. The world of PLAYMOBIL
My kids could not possibly love PLAYMOBIL any more than they do. We currently have a collection that can only be referred to as epic, spanning an entire loft and built-in shelf, and now a good portion of a walk-in closet. This year, our collection got more amazing because PLAYMOBIL came out with an amazing line of Volkswagen cars and buses.
Just look at how happy this little dude is to have his very own Volkswagen Beetle for his PLAYMOBIL family to enjoy. In addition to the Beetle there’s also the Volkswagen bus, and then the limited edition of both. And, yes, we purchased all 4.
You can find toys for whatever your little ones are into, from popular movie franchises to family fun and city lines, there’s something for every fan. You can start shopping at playmobil.com and be sure and follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Want more fun? See how we built a PLAYMOBIL playscape to enhance our PLAYMOBIL fun. See why it’s one a reoccurring brand on our Holiday Gift Guide for Kids.
8. myFirst electronic Sketch Book
While art is going digital in many ways these days, nothing can beat putting pen to surface. The myFirst Sketch Book is the best of both worlds, offering an eco-friendly option to traditional paper sketch books, and making it easy to digitize your work. It’s pretty awesome being able to control the pressure sensitivity, having the tactile feel of the pen in hand, and not having to carry around a heavy tablet or laptop while you create digital art.
No thick pads of paper, pens, paints, or mess. Save trees and lighten your load by just carrying the Sketch Book in your backpack or purse and create whenever the mood strikes. This makes it perfect for travel, whether you’re heading out internationally or you are entertaining kids on a long car ride. It can last up to 2 weeks on a single charge and can be utilized over and over again for creating masterpieces.
You can buy the myFirst Sketch Book at myfirst.tech and you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Holiday Gift Guide for Kids – Non-Toy Gifts
9. Radio Flyer Build-A-Stroller-Wagon
Man, wagons have really come a long way. I have always wanted a stroller wagon for carrying all my children and my gear, and now is really the time to buy. Now you can design your own Radio Flyer stroller wagon just for you! Choose between 2 DuraClean™ 2.0 fabric colors: Heather Gray and Jet Black, and then add all the fun accessories to match. Add a rain/sun canopy, a parent caddy, extra storage “trunk”, padded strap covers, etc. You can even personalize your stroller wagon so you can find yours in a crowd when all your friends decide to buy one after they see yours.
Choose your tires for your journey – air filled, larger tread, etc. No matter what you choose, your wagon is going to be going on some epic adventures. Then, when the adventure is over you can fold it so you can bring it anywhere and store it compactly.
But, my favorite part is that you can add a traditional wagon pull handle for versatility, so you can either push OR pull the wagon. And, it gets even better! The handle has the “no drop” technology that keeps the handle upright, even when you accidentally drop it. I can’t stress enough how awesome this feature really is.
Start designing today and then Get Out and Play with your very own custom stroller wagon come Christmas morning. Be sure and follow Radio Flyer on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
10. GoSili SiliStraw silicone straws
I have a drawer full of reusable straws to choose from, but everyone always chooses the same straws: the SiliStraw connectable 7.8″ straws from GoSili. You can easily connect these straws for some seriously “sili sippin’” fun. Make fun shapes, and create colorful designs to make any drink seem exciting.
This 4pk of eco-friendly reusable soft silicone straws is the perfect stocking stuffer for kids or adults. The stopper prevents the SiliStraw from being pulled out of lidded cups, but it also makes it super easy to connect. They are made with soft, non-toxic, 100% platinum silicone.
They are so versatile, you won’t know what you did without them. They won’t disintegrate in your drink like a paper straw does and they won’t hurt your teeth like a stainless-steel straw. And, when you’re done using them, simply pop them in the dishwasher or boil to sterilize. No brushes or extra tools needed. Bonus: because the reusable straws are translucent, you can easily see when the straws are clean.
You can buy GoSili connectable SiliStraws at the GoSili site as well as many other retailers, including Target.com. Be sure and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
11. Faber Castell Art-On-The-Go sketching kit.
Learn the basics of sketching with this awesome on-the-go art set. With tools that can help you learn the basics of sketching as well as professional quality lead pencils and a case, you will be all ready to create works of art. If you prefer colored pencils, there’s tons to choose from as well on the Faber-Castell site.
Since 1761, Faber-Castell has been making premium quality art supplies for all skill levels of artists. Proudly made in Germany, Castell 9000 graphite pencils provide value to any artist. Faber-Castell graphite pencils are SV-bonded the entire length of the pencil barrel making them break-resistant for easy drawing, erasing, and sharpening.
You can find this sketching set and colored pencil sets at FaberCastell.com and Amazon.com. Be sure and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
12. Peace of mind with Pinwheel + Bark
Looking for the best and safest phones for kids? Online safety company, Bark Technologies has joined together with Pinwheel to do just that. Parents want to protect their kids, but they also want them to have the skills necessary to participate in a tech-filled world. Oh, and they want them to be reachable at all times. The Pinwheel + Bark phone gives your tween or teen a little bit of independence while still allowing you to keep them safe, online and around town.
The Pinwheel/Bark holiday phone offer will come ‘turn-on ready’ and pre-installed with Bark’s award-winning monitoring and filtering software. This is the same technology that keeps more than 5 million children safe online, and now it’s built into a kid-friendly phone.
The phone also comes pre-loaded with a hand-picked selection of therapist-endorsed apps for kids. But, before you worry about mindless consumption, you should know these aren’t purely for entertainment or gaming apps. Kids are better off having only a few apps that truly serve them, and pinwheel believes in quality over quantity. Their selection of apps is consistently expanding and covers just about any interest and need your kids have.
So, you get all the benefits of a phone: being able to reach your kids when they are away, teaching them time management, sending them out with a camera for all their artistic and creative passions, giving them access to curated apps that can enrich and educate, and also having fun text threads that help you bond as a family. It’s the best introduction to tech, without all the risks.
You can buy the Pinwheel + Bark phone on pinwheel.com and be sure and follow Bark on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
13. MiniOwls stuffed animal storage chair
Do your kids have a million plush friends? Now you can hide the clutter in style with the MiniOwls faux fur organizer. This plush chair is just like a bean bag, but you know, without the beans. Now you can take a mountain of furry friends and turn them into a fashionable plush chair.
This roomy and soft pouf perfectly stores soft toys, throw pillows, blankets, favorite dress up costumes, seasonal clothing, or whatever soft items you have excess of. It holds a whopping 120 small stuffed animals and is approximately 24 inches in diameter when full.
Made of amazingly strong material with a heavy-duty zipper, MiniOwls poufs are made to last even through whatever kids can throw at it. Their awesome lifetime guarantee will have you choosing MiniOwls over and over again. And, if you needed another reason to love them, you will love that a percentage of each sale goes towards the AUTISM FOUNDATION.
These come in three sizes/colors and you can buy MiniOwls stuffed animal storage chairs on their website or on Amazon. You can follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Happy shopping from our Holiday Gift Guide for Kids!
See more holiday gift ideas at our Holiday Gift Guide homepage.