Meaningful Kids Holiday Gift Guide
Each year, I look forward to the holidays for the festive decoration, the cheery vibe from the atmosphere, the gift-giving, and most of all, the loud laughter from children. My family has always put up a tree and holiday-themed decorations and played a handful of Christmas carols.
When I was little, I recall how much I anticipated the days leading up to Christmas. For the apparent reason as a child … the gifts. I suppose any kid would have been the same as I was once they started learning a little more about the holidays. Of course, seeing our boys happy is one of the best feelings in the world, but picking out a random gift wouldn’t cut it. In this day and age, I would rather it be meaningful and serve a purpose. Oppose just any toy that would eventually be ignored as they lose interest. So this year, I searched high and low for the COOLEST but also thoughtful gift ideas! On this Kids Holiday Gift Guide, I made sure to include one for EVERY kid in your lives.
I promise you won’t regret these picks, and your kids will absolutely love them! Products are from Clixo, Real Littles, Candlewick Press, TOMY, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, and Stride Rite. You can thank me later.
READY? Then read on ahead …
Give the Gift of Learning
As an advocate for at-home learning through a playful approach, we love Clixo! These magnetic building blocks are a discovery for us, and mind you, the KIDS can’t get enough, and it’s the best approach for off-screen play! You can hang it, stick it, wear it or even stack it! The kids can do many creative things and multiple ways to build and play with Clixo.
Also, it is Educational and STEAM approved, making it an excellent gift for all kids aged three and up! It sparks the imagination, builds spatial awareness skills, and encourages creativity. But the biggest takeaway is that CLIXO is engineered for tough love and is durable, recyclable, and 100% kids-safe! It is also travel-friendly and great for entertaining kids on the go because it is very light and compact.
» Get $$$ off your CLIXO purchase!
» Shop here: CLIXO 25X Super Rainbow Pack and use the code: CLIXOBBX20
Give the Gift of Creativity
From my experience, a shrunken-down world of play equals hours of imaginative play. I used to play with figures, dolls, and paper dolls and pretend I was one of the characters while performing different real-world activities. Super Moose Toys did that and more, with REAL LITTLES, it’s not just a mini version, it’s “things you love made micro!”. Let them learn from their little world with micro things all around them. These items are great for all ages, teens and adults alike.
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Real Littles Cutie Carries
The Micro Dogs Puppy Carrier really work! There are 6 Real Littles Puppies to collect: Cavoodle, Corgi, Dachshund, Yorkshire Terrier, French Bulldog, and a Chihuahua! The carriers are filled with REAL mini fashion surprises, with a posable puppy and a Leash for interactive play!
Real Littles Journals
The Micro Journals features 50 real pages to write your secrets inside and scribble on like a normal diary. It works and comes with a bookmark that unlocks a secret compartment! Each Journal has a Lock and Key to keep all your secrets safe! Unlock to discover 4 Real Little Surprises inside. There are 6 designs to collect altogether!
Real Littles Backpacks
The Micro Backpacks are filled with REAL mini collectible stationary surprises! There are 6 designs to collect with different colors and finishes! It even features a clip to attach it like a keychain or to your bag!
» Check out Super Moose Toys!
» Shop here: Real Littles
Give the Gift of Reading
For the book enthusiast who loves to explore a whole new world through imagination, A Very Mercy Christmas book is a great choice. It is a celebration of community, a heartwarming story that emphasizes being kind to one another. It features Mercy Watson, everyone’s favorite porcine character from the best-selling Mercy Watson chapter book series. In this book, she is starring in her very own Christmas story.
Kate DiCamillo, a New York Times bestselling author of The Tale of Despereaux, among many other books, thoughtfully wrote this book. It is also beautifully illustrated by Chris Van Dusen and published by Candlewick Press.
» Make sure to check out this Candlewick Press book!
» Shop here: A Very Mercy Christmas
Give the Gift of Family Time
There’s nothing more that kids value than having time with their family. Big BONUS if that is playtime. If we’re being honest here, it’s hard to bridge the gap when our generation focuses more on hands-on play, screen-free activities, and being outdoors. Then comes the next generation with their fast-paced tech-related activities, smart gadgets, and toys. Believe me, when I say I used to think otherwise of gadgets until I saw firsthand how big of difference gadgets have made to our boys. I don’t see anything wrong with letting them have devices as long as we have a balance in everything.
So what do we do as a family for screen-free FUNtivity? Learn through play. You may have noticed by now that we are big fans of learning through playing. One of our favorite activities is the Pop-Up Pirate by TOMY. It’s a classic that I had the chance to play when I was a little girl. We love that it doesn’t require any batteries to operate. It’s fun, it’s nostalgic, and we get to build memories together.
In case you didn’t know … “Pop-up Pirate is a popular luck-based game for children manufactured by Tomy. It first originated in Japan in 1975 as 黒ひげ危機一発 / Kurohige Kiki Ippatsu (Lit. “Blackbeard in Danger”) and has seen many iterations through the years.” –Wikipedia.
Family time is the best time. Please spend a few minutes and play this Pop-Up Pirate with your littles and watch them beam with excitement and squeal with joy every time the pirate gets launched in the air.
» Check out TOMY on Amazon!
» Shop here: Pop Up Pirate
Give the Gift of Experience
Any toy can make a child giggle and laugh, especially if it is related to what they like. I always err on choosing toys that serve a double purpose. Big plus if I can help them learn too. Since both our boys are into vehicles, construction-related machinery, and monster trucks, it only made sense to include TOMY Monster Treads Lightning Wheels Optimus Prime on this round-up. What caught our eye the most was its intuitive features and sturdy design.
Instantly, the light-up wheels catch every kid’s attention. The faster you roll, the faster the lights flash. Think along the lines of teaching cause and effect. Stop and Go, Fast and slow. Regarding being able to keep up, the boys are pretty rough on some toys, and their imagination makes them test out their toys as if bringing them to life with their imaginative actions. No sweat when it comes to this find, as it was carefully made with durable tires ready for any terrain.
Let them experience a whole new world of play, let them go out (supervised, please) with this Monster Tread, and watch them go, go, GO!
» Check out TOMY on Amazon!
Shop here: Monster Treads Lightning Wheels Optimus Prime
Give the Gift of Charity
Do you have thoughtful little ones who are always looking out for others? How about making a difference in the world? Then, include a few picks from the St. Jude gift shop. They have Holiday Ornaments inspired by artwork from actual patients. Purchasing an ornament will directly benefit the kids at St. Jude. They also have a gold lapel pin that can be worn or pinned on a bag or jacket to show support for the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
» Check out St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Gift Shop!
» Shop here: Ornament and Pins
Give the Gift of Adventure
Whether you’re the outdoorsy type or the occasional traveler, Stride Rite has a pair for everyone. Our littles have worn their products since they were a newborn. We love that Stride Rite shoes DO MORE than look great. Their footwear was thoughtfully designed and made to help build strength, coordination, and confidence throughout every step of childhood.
Our big kid loves the M2P Rainier Boot for its adventure-loving design details and general comfy construction. What takes the cake for this pair is that it is fully machine-washable with an anti-odor lining. The big plus is its rugged outdoor outsole that highlights deep grooves to tackle all terrains in a lightweight yet non-marking material for worry-free agility.
Our youngest adventurer loves running about and exploring his surroundings. The SRtech Quinn Boot features a stretchy hook and loop closure and faux laces, making this bootie an easy go-to for the everyday. No more fighting over sitting still to lace up their shoes. The biggest takeaways are the upgrades – memory foam insoles, flexible design, and enhanced traction, enabling toddlers to walk steadily on their own! Little independent walkers can make the world their playground.
» Get $$$ off your StrideRite purchase!
» Shop here: Stride Rite Made2Play Ranier Hiking Boots and SRtech Quinn Boots and don’t forget to use the code: BBRITE10 to get $10 off $70 or more.
We are wishing everyone the warmest greetings on this festive season and best wishes for happiness in the upcoming New Year!
Glass Mosaic Tiles
December 15, 2022Santa already got the gifts for my son, he got his educational gift because these are his favorite. Awesome guide….
Amber Solis
December 15, 2022Meaningful gifts for kids is so important. It can begin teaching children the idea of not wasting money of junk and to appreciate the quality stuff.
Fabulous Perks
December 17, 2022It’s also my favorite time of the year. This is a great way to encourage our little one’s to think of others during the holidays season.
Jasmine Martin
December 17, 2022This is such a great gift guide for kids. I am a huge fan of the Real Littles series. They are so adorable!
Jasmine Martin
December 17, 2022This is such a great gift guide for kids. I am a huge fan of the Real Littles series. They are so adorable!!
Beth
December 20, 2022I absolutely adore these. The best gifts are the ones that do more than just blink or make noise. Fantastic.
april
December 20, 2022Gifts of reading is a special one. And my kids really love reading. It’s a great hobby or habit to pass on to kids.
Stephanie
December 20, 2022We did Christmas early since we are traveling and my boys got gifts with similar ideas. They play with Snap Circuits at school and love them so we got a few sets. They are teaching them electrical engineering. They also got a few books, some crafts, and we love to play board games so a few new board games.
Julie Shahin
December 20, 2022The TOMY Monster Treads Lightning Wheels Optimus Prime really looks like fun for a young child. Really, any of these meaningful gifts would make a child smile!
Maureen
December 20, 2022These are great gift suggestions! I love that there are so many options. I just found out about Real Littles from another blog and I thought it was way cute and super cool. Also, I love the gift of reading. I think it’s good to start early with giving kids fun but educational stories. It really gets those gears going in terms of imagination and what is said or told.
Maureen
Neely Moldovan
December 20, 2022I love this! Its so easy to go overboard and not really think about the meaningful gifts.
Renee
December 20, 2022We always do a book for each of the grand kids for Christmas then spend the day reading them.
Tara Pittman
December 20, 2022So many great gift ideas for kids. These will be great for the grandchildren.
Amber Myers
December 20, 2022You have some awesome ideas here! I love the book ideas. Reading is the best.
Celebrate Woman Today
December 20, 2022All the gift ideas in the post are super useful and meaningful. A child will play and grow with each of these toys. I love books for kids. And all those small toys that develop eye-hand coordination are superb!
Kathy
December 20, 2022I love all these great ideas. My daughters love the Real Littles. They love anything mini.
Rosey
December 20, 2022My son is super lucky that his dad likes the same video games he does, so he bridged the generational gap. I, however, did not and am always glad when my son wants to play something more traditional. 😉 Also, I did not know St. Jude had a gift shop!!
May
December 20, 2022Oh, yes, to games and toys that can be used for family time. Actually, when they’re little, it’s easy to make everything “family,” but now that they’re older, we’ve been using board games for fam time
Mila Osman
December 20, 2022Always, always, ALWAYS give the gift of books and reading! Children will grow up so well read and have a love of learning that can’t be taught. Love this post!
Sonia Seivwright
December 21, 2022Aww, These are cute ideas. My daughter’s birthday is in February, she’ll love anything that brings out her creativity.
Monica
December 21, 2022These are wonderful gift options. My kids would love that pirate game.
Telina
December 21, 2022These are some really great gift ideas for kids! I agree – I’d much rather gift something meaningful.
Melsisa Cuhsing
December 21, 2022Such great items here for the kids this Christmas! Leo how bright and colorful everything is and I am all about the books. I actually got my niece 7 books for Christmas plus more. I have always bene a big fan of books of the kids so I am going to check out the ones above too!
Brian
December 21, 2022I just remember a lot of video games and tapes. And later CDs and DVDs.
Richelle Milar
December 21, 2022I think giving a book to my son is a great idea lately he’s really into books. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Beautiful Touches
December 21, 2022These look like great gifts to give to the family,these sorts of treasures are invaluable because there is nothing more precious than time.
Christy Garrett
December 21, 2022I got my son a few things to play with, clothes, and some fun stocking stuffers. I really wanted to take him on a surprise trip but it’s just not in this years budget.