Good Morning!
So I will warn you this post took a solid week to do. Christmas is really the magic time for kids. My parents always worked their butts off to make sure we all had a great Christmas. We never had a lot of money but my parents always made sure we had a big item from Santa and some other small toys.
I want to do the same for Aria, and it is not about material things I don’t want this to come off that way. There is a reward to seeing your kids eyes light up when they get an item they really wanted. We also make sure Aria knows what it is to give. I made her load up a couple baskets of toys to give away. She helps me donate money to the Salvation Army, and the sub for Santas in our area. This year she earned a couple dollars doing chores that she wants to donate. So please don’t think it’s all about presents. I just want to provide a guide for those of us who are having a hard time shopping for nieces, nephews, or your own kids. Sometimes they are specific about things or you get Aria who just wants “toys” for Christmas.
Let’s get started!
Sensory Toys
Play doh and Mad Matter are our favorites for this category. What I love about Mad Matter over Play doh is that it doesn’t dry out, and it’s a hybrid of clay and kinetic sand. I do love that play doh has millions of kits, and accessories for play doh. There are a million different sensory toys out there you can go wild on and they are usually pretty budget friendly!
Puzzles
I was the weirdo child that loved to sit and do a puzzle until it was finished. I would often pull out a puzzle table and watch movies till 3 am to finish a puzzle. Really there are some pretty cool puzzles out there now!
Blocks and Tiles
This is such a great time killer with kids. We loved Lincoln logs and building those for hours. You can buy huge kits now for your kids. I remember when I was little you would have to buy two or three small boxes to get enough to really build anything with.
Magnetic tiles are huge! They are on the pricey side so if you can find an off brand version for cheaper do it! I have seen these range from $20-$200. Brands don’t bother me or my kid. If they do the same thing I don’t give a crap what logo is on the box.
Legos are a great gift, now search for them on sale. They can be pricey but they are always on sale somewhere. Pay at least 20% off full price.
Books
I am so thankful Aria loves books, that is the majority of her gifts this year. They don’t take up a lot of space, they are educational, and they are just a great thing to get a kid. I love getting books.
Barbies
Yes, they are still a thing and there are so many choices! Aria loves Disney characters and I have found that Amazon often has these cheaper than even Walmart. I snagged a Tangled doll for $8.
Hot Wheels/Cars
We get Aria these in her stocking. She loves hot wheels and playing with cars. Brandon is a little more picky than I am about them, but she loves driving them on her car mat from Ikea.
Hatchimals/LOL Dolls
Another huge thing for kids these days mainly girls. Aria loves hatchimals (the little ones), and wants another large one. They are much cheaper than the were the first time they were released those things were crazy.
Game Consoles
I get that everyone has different budgets. If you have a big budget good for you. I don’t think anyone should feel bad for whatever they buy for their kids. If you are searching for gaming consoles this year go for it! There are about a gazillion to choose from. My favorite place to shop for these are at Costco and Sams Club. They always have a great deal, and sometimes Amazon does beat any deal that can be found. So make sure you research and do your homework.
Movies
We love watching movies as a family, so we do invest in movies! It is also something Brandon and I do as at home date nights. We have them all digitally loaded onto a system so we can just browse and watch whatever we want. Aria has a nice selection of movies as well. We love movies in our family.
Games
Games are always such a great thing to invest in. They keep kids entertained and if gives you a chance to bond and laugh together. One of my favorite toys as a kid was a JAWS game that was before my time. But it was basically a shark head you had to retrieve items from. That and Elefun were my favorites. Aria loves games.
Busy Boards
There is a cute momma on Instagram that makes these Busy Boards by hand and they are beyond adorable. You can get a different range of sizes and items added. I absolutely love them and wish they were around when Aria was a baby. She would have loved these. You can check out her store at bzlittles on Etsy.
Dolls/Stuffed Toys
Normally I refuse to buy stuffed animals for Aria, but I love two brands I wanted to share with you. Cuddle and Kind and Wandering Fae. Both shops are for a cause and I love their products “deerly” hehe. With Cuddle and Kind you are buying a stuffed toy as well as providing meals to the less fortunate. With Wandering Fae you are supporting stay at home mom’s. I am not an affiliate with either shop, nor do I make money on promoting them but I love them so much and I think you would too!
Passes/Memberships
You can always give them a pass or membership to a local museum or zoo. To be honest our choices in that area are limited, but you can always do movie passes etc. Something for you guys to get out and do as a family.
Top 100:
Now if you are beyond clueless what to get the kiddos, or maybe you are taken part in a secret Santa. Here are some of Amazon’s top 100 toys for the holidays. I actually found some really great toys for aria off this list.
More Gift Guides:
For Your Mom/wife/sister (or any lady in your life)
Ultimate Gift Guide for everyone on your list
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