Holiday Gift Guide for Children 2014

Christmas is just around the corner and I personally think Christmas is best experienced with a child.  They are old enough to enjoy the festivities but young enough that Christmas is still so magical and exciting.  If you are shopping for the perfect gift for the child in your life, we have 10 awesome ideas for you!

1. Kiwi Crate

Kiwi Crate is a company that offers craft and activity crates for children.  These crates encourage creativity and hands on fun through building, exploring, and crafting.  The crates are perfect for busy parents who want to explore and create with their children but don’t want to spend hours finding an idea, and then the time going to multiple stores to buy the materials.  Kiwi crates include all the materials and instructions to complete a craft and it’s all sent right to your door!  You can buy a single crate or purchase a 3 month, 6 month, or 12 month subscription.  The more you buy, the more you save!  It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Starting today to 12/1, save 60% on your 1st month subscription to Kiwi Crate
PLUS free shipping with code HOLIDAY60 at checkout.

2. Mega Bloks

Children love figuring out how things work, taking things apart and putting them back together again.  Mega Bloks are the perfect gift for little engineers in the making.  I personally love that the bloks are large so we can avoid any choking hazards, which allows even my toddler to join in on the fun.  I love this Fast Tracks Raceway which include the mega bloks and all you need to make a race car ramp!  Mega Bloks was generous enough to send me one of these and I know my little motorhead of a boy is going to love it!  and local toy stores.

3. Land Of Nod Playhouse

This Pavillion Play Home is so whimsical and beautiful.  Can you just imagine your daughters waking up to this Christmas morning?!  Just think of the hours of story telling and fairy spotting that could happen here.  I love that the wall panels can be rolled up and tied into place so that it looks like an outdoor pavillion.  If you are going to buy your children a playhouse, it might as well be a beautiful one.

Receive free parcel shipping PLUS 15% Off your order at The Land of Nod
from 11/27 – 12/1 for a Black Friday/Cyber Monday super sale!

4. Dragons and Knights Adventure Castle

If your child likes the little packs of army men you get from the dollar store, then he will love this Dragons and Knights Adventure Castle from Toys to Grow On!  This set comes with 50 play figures, 2 dragons, and working catapults!  I would love to give this gift with the movie ,, or for older children.  This toy would provide hours of fun!

5.

 

For your little Van Gogh, this would be a dream come true!  This art easel has a chalkboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other.  It is height adjustable and comes with 4 clips to hold paper in place.  The child safe paper cutter means you can rest easy and the plastic tray makes for easy to clean storage.  Worried about your children fighting over who gets to use the easel? No problem!  With 2 sides, they both can play!

6. Personalized Crayon Apron

Speaking of art, how adorable is this personalized crayon apron from Chasing Fireflies?  Your little princess wouldn’t have to worry about trying to fit all those pesky crayons in the box only to have the box fall apart ever again.  This charming apron holds 24 washable Crayola crayons and is styled with 50s flare.  Yes, the apron comes with the crayons so no extra trip to the store necessary.  And this apron is washable so your daughter can stay fresh and stylish while coloring to her hearts content.

7.

What little boy doesn’t like Hot Wheels?  I think my 3rd came out making “vroom vroom” sounds.  I have fond memories of my little brother playing with his loop and track for hours at a time (think him leaving me alone time), and then my nephews who played with the exact same track.  Now my little boys are in need of a loop and track and I will likely splurge on 2.  What’s more fun than watching a car speed down the track and magically fly through the loop without falling?  This toy is sure to be a hit and will earn the badge for best present.

8.  Highlights Magazine

Highlights kids magazine has been around since I was child and for good reason.  The magazine promotes learning in a fun and engaging way.  Each issue is filled with stories, games, puzzles, riddles, science experiments, craft projects and interactive entertainment!  The best part is Highlights offers different magazines for different age groups, so children of every age can enjoy Highlights!  Highlights Hello is for birth to age 2 and promotes language and healthy development.  Highlights Hive Five is for ages 2 to 6 is not only fun for your children, but teaches skills like reading, math, and learning readiness.  Highlights is for kids aged 6 to 12 and keeps kids motivated to learn by making learning fun.  You can subscribe to any of these magazines or 1 or 2 years.  My daughter had a subscription to High Five when she was 5 and she loved getting something in the mail addressed to her!  I loved reading and doing the activities together.

9. Goldie Blox

 

Debbie Sterling founded Goldie Blox after she became aware of the lack of engineering type toys marketed to girls.  An engineer herself, she is employed in a world where 84% of engineers are male and only 16% female.  Debbie realized that by age 8, most girls weren’t interested in math or science type products because those products are largely marketed toward boys.  Enter Goldie Blox!  Goldie Blox seeks to disrupt the pink isle and inspire a future generation of female engineers!  Their goal is get girls building!  As the mother of a quirky, 10 year old girl who not only loves, but excels in math and science, I am over the moon happy about Goldie Blox.  It’s like manna from heaven when you can find a toy that will interest your daughter who doesn’t fit into the traditional “girly girl who plays with dollies” mold.  Show your daughter that she can love building things just like her brother, only hers will be cuter of course.

10. Dress Up Clothes

One of the best things about having a child in the home, is their sense of adventure and imagination.  What better way to encourage them than by giving them dress up clothes!  The Land of Nod has an adorable line of dress up clothing for both boys and girls and are made of great quality so your little superhero can save the world time and time again!  Think beyond the princess dresses.  I love the Dress-a-saurus Rex and the Wild Wings Dress Up Set.  Whatever your child wishes to be, from a 23 hour diner server named Flo to a Plundering Viking, Land of Nod has everything you need to make their wishes come true.

I know that Santa will be sending a few of these gifts to our house this year.  I’m sure he wouldn’t mind sending a few your way either.  If you are looking for other gift ideas for your children, think toys that are engaging.  Winter came be a tough time for children when they can’t spend much time outdoors.  A few interactive toys for Christmas is just the ticket to a fun, indoor winter!