Close
Any links to Amazon are affiliate links. '
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts

Christmas Gift Guide Ages Birth-12 Years Old

Christmas Gift Guide Ages Birth-12 Years Old. Perfect Christmas gift ideas for your children from your baby on through your preteen.

Christmas Gift Guide Ages Birth-12 Years Old. Perfect Christmas gift ideas for your children from your baby on through your preteen.


I am very thoughtful and intentional about what gifts I get my children. I want to get toys that will last--nothing that will break right away. I prefer toys that I can pass down from child to child. Here are some ideas for you as you are choosing gifts for your children. I have broken them down into age ranges. I also have some other toy posts that I will link below. Also, don't forget to do a book! I always do a book for each child.

Baby-24 Months Old Gifts





 2-4 Years Old Gifts



 

4-6 Years Old Gifts






6-8 Years Old Gifts






8-12 Years Old Gifts

For children in this age range, experience gifts are great! Memberships, punch passes, gift cards to a location, tickets, etc. You can also start to buy things like furniture to be gifts. Kaitlyn wants a desk in her room, so that will be her gift this year. 



Christmas Gift Guide Ages Birth-12 Years Old. Perfect Christmas gift ideas for your children from your baby on through your preteen. Related Christmas Posts on This Blog:





See Also:
Getting Ready for Christmas in 4 Steps


No comments
Labels: , ,

Gifts Index

Below is a list of posts that can help you when it is time for you to buy gifts. Gifts for dads, gifts for your children, gifts for holidays, organizing gifts...lots of ideas and hacks!
    No comments
    Labels: ,

    12 Last-Minute Gift Ideas {Friday Finds}


    Christmas is almost upon us! Are you still shopping for some people on your list? Here are some last-minute ideas for you. This post contains affiliate links.

    VTech Sit-to-Stand: I am not surprised to see this listed among your favorites. We had something similar to this for all of my kids, and I see great demand for these in local classifieds. It is a great toy for little ones.



    Suretrack Train Clips: If you have a train-lover in your home, these can eliminate a lot of frustration. Younger siblings can destroy a masterpiece in seconds. Just regular play can make pieces come apart. Some people choose to solve this issue by gluing the track down, but then you lose a huge benefit of train tracks: the creativity. These clips help keep them together while still allowing things to be moved.



    Train    : If you are getting tracks or clips, a train to go with it is a must!




    Melissa & Doug Locks and Latches Board Wooden Educational Toy: We love these type of puzzles.



    VTech Drop and Go Dump Truck: Filling, dumping, and trucks. There is a reason this is a best seller!


    Pie Face Showdown: Fun game the kids will get a kick out of! We love family game time, and it can be hard with various ages of children to find a game everyone will enjoy.
     

    Spirograph: My grandma had this when I was a kid and I loved it! Our kids enjoy their set.

    Shopkins: Shopkins are admittedly a toy I will never understand but a toy that is popular none-the-less.



    Slim Doodle: These types of things are GREAT for coloring in places you don't want to risk mess. It is also great for somewhere like the car so the pen doesn't get dropped into the abyss on a road trip.


    Hot Wheels: These are a classic that can make a great gift AND great stocking stuffers.


    Superhero Costume Capes: Um...enough said.



    Pretend Play Makeup Set: For the little girl who wants to be just like her mommy.



    No comments
    Labels: , , , , ,

    Getting Ready for Christmas in 4 Steps

    Getting Ready for Christmas in 4 Easy Steps. All of the preparation for Christmas broken down into four manageable steps so moms can easily prepare. How to get ready for Christmas early.

    Getting Ready for Christmas in 4 Easy Steps. All of the preparation for Christmas broken down into four manageable steps so moms can easily prepare. How to get ready for Christmas early.

    Just last week, my great-aunt posted a rant (in the nicest way possible; she is a sweet woman) on Facebook about her frustration with Christmas items being up in stores at the same time Halloween items are up in stores.

    At the risk of frustrating my aunt further, today I am talking Christmas gifts. This is absolutely the time of year I start planning Christmas, and I am often done shopping and have my Christmas Cards ordered by this point. This seems impressive to some. I am not a procrastinator at all and I like things done early. A big reason for this is because doing things last minute stresses me out and I basically freeze up if something has do be done spontaneously. It is really about me being able to cope well.

    I like to give thoughtful and meaningful gifts. I like to not fill my house up with things I will just throw away in a few weeks. I take my time thinking about gifts and I choose with intention.
    Read more »
    No comments
    Labels: ,

    Preteen Boy Gifts


    I still remember being around 11 years old one Christmas and having everyone tell me how hard it was to shop for me now that I was older. Preteen boys start to leave the world of toys and get a little more mature tastes. That can  leave gift-givers feeling baffled and not sure what to get the child who isn't quite a child anymore. I have you covered! Brayden is in his last year as a preteen. This post contains affiliate links. This does not increase your cost at all.

    LEGOs
    Brayden has yet to outgrow a fascination for LEGOs. LEGOs has sets that are harder, so the same toy that thrilled your 2 year old boy can and will thrill your 12 year old boy. Through the preteen years, which are 8-12, a boy will grow through various sets. A classic set works for all ages. Once your child needs more of a challenge, LEGO Technic,  LEGO Architecture, and LEGO Creator Expert are great steps up.

    Nerf Guns
    Among Brayden and his friends, probably the favorite game currently is Nerf Gun wars. They love to get together and shoot each other as much as possible.


    Electronics
    An iPod. A nice speaker like SONOS. Even something as simple as a watch can satisfy the tech-inclined boy.






    Puzzle Toys
    The Perplexus or Rubix Cube are two toys that can capture a boys attention. They are complex and take some thought. When Brayden got a Perplexus from my sister for Christmas last year, not only did it capture his attention, but my husband, my dad, and my grandpa were all hanging around for a chance to try it out. The Rubix Cube is an old favorite toy that fits in a jacket pocket. It is a great thing for a child to bring along and do when having to sit around.

    Building Toys
    Engino Mechanical Science, Zoob, Snap Circuits...these are all toys the boy who loves to build will still like as a preteen. These are, of course, in addition to the LEGOs. These are a nice variety to LEGOs and are very educational toys.




    Binoculars
    My kids all like binoculars. A preteen is able to have such a thing and not destroy them. Brayden has loved having binoculars for all sorts of occasions. Brayden likes them so much he convinced the other children they all love binoculars, too, without even saying anything. Just by liking his a lot.



    Books
    Book are a consistent gift at our house. Most preteens are into chapter books, so a great chapter book or even a series makes for a great gift. Brayden has had many series he has enjoyed over the years. I couldn't even list just a few key great books, but one series he has read many times is Eragon. This is a great one for the child who likes fantasy books. I have a lot in my Chapter Books for Boys Pinterest board.


    Mad Libs
    When I was a preteen, Mad Libs was a favorite of mine. The resulting stories are hilarious. As an adult, I love that it teaches parts of speech. For the boy who loves a joke, this is a fantastic gift. Mad Libs has a lot of books with different focuses of interest. Science, sports, animals...so peruse to see what your boy might like. 




    Sports Equipment
    If the preteen boy in your life is into sports, consider getting him something for his sport of choice. Get a bag, practice equipment, nicer ankle guards (these really are really good ones!), swim fins...whatever your child's sport of choice, something to enhance that sport is a fantastic gift.



    Kendama
    A kendama is a unique but fun toy for a boy who likes a physical challenge. It is very portable for the boy being able to entertain himself in various places. My older three kids each have one of these and they all enjoy playing with them. 





    Klutz Books
    Klutz books have things that appeal to all types. Paper airplanes, chain reactions, Star Wars, contraptions...you can easily find something your child would be interested in.





    Specifics for the Boy
    Even though preteen boys are outgrowing toys, they are very much growing into themselves. What does the preteen in your life love? Building things? Sports? Animals? Reading? Writing? Skateboards? What is it he  loves? Chances are high he loves a variety of things. Get something for him to help him out with his passion. If you know the passion but not what he needs from it, get creative. For the boy who loves sports, you can get him a variety of things for his favorite sports teams.

    Experience Gifts
    I love the idea of giving experience gifts. This can be a vacation, a season pass, or even just a one day out for fun. These can be great for older kids who understand that an experience gift is valuable and who just doesn't really need more things. 

    If you don't already, be sure to follow me on Facebook. I share what is posted here each day along with other articles I find helpful and interesting. I also answer questions and do live Q&As each week. It is a great way to connect!

    You can also find me on Instagram, posting pictures from our days as well as quick tips.
    No comments
    Labels: , , , ,

    Preteen Girl Gifts


    Preteen girls start to leave the world of toys and get a little more mature tastes. That can  leave gift-givers feeling baffled and not sure what to get. I have you covered! This post contains affiliate links. This does not increase your cost at all.


    Clothes or Shoes
    I am not one who likes to give clothes as a present. I view clothing my children as my job. However, I have a budget, and my job isn't fulfilling every wish in the store. Once Kaitlyn became a preteen, she started having more interest in clothes. She started to want certain clothes that are cute indeed, but out of the list of "needed." That's when gifts come in. For her last birthday, she really wanted a jean jacket. If your girl has a clothing item or pair of shoes she really wants, Christmas or Birthday might be the perfect time. If you don't know the girl well (like a friend birthday present), fun accessories like a scarf are always enjoyed. 

    Room Decorations
    Along the same line of thinking, room decorations or furnishings that are beyond what you feel is a given can be a great gift. A new comforter for the preteen tastes, a fun lamp, a comfortable reading chair...there are a lot of directions to go here.



    Sketch it Nail Pens
    My girls like getting their nails painted at any age. As a preteen, Kaitlyn loves to do her own nails. These Sketch it Nail Pens are really fun and easy for her to do artistic designs on her fingernails. You paint with one side and do art with the other side. This nail polish actually lasts a really long time on Kaitlyn, also.



    Binoculars
    My kids all like binoculars. A preteen is able to have such a thing and not destroy them. They sell cute pink ones on Amazon, but a lot of preteen girls are over pink (didn't you read Purplicious? Pink is passe.). Not all preteens feel that way, and if not, these pink ones are super cute. Amazon does have red, orange, green purple, blue, and of course black.


    Books
    Book are a consistent gift at our house. Most preteens are into chapter books, so a great chapter book or even a series makes for a great gift. Ella Enchanted is a fun series. Another great one is the Little House books. See my Pinterest Board on chapter books for girls for more ideas.




    Perler Beads
    Even kids who aren't terribly into art projects enjoy Perler Beads. They satisfy the creativity in all of us. You can be very creative or follow the instructions given. There are a lot of buckets out there for the tastes of all types. Sports, animals, princesses...you can find one that will suit the likes of your girl.



    Origami
    Origami is a fascination for preteens. They have the dexterity and intelligence to easily follow Origami instructions. A kit is a great gift for any preteen girl. This is the kit I got for Kaitlyn. There are a lot of kits on Amazon, so it is hard to choose. We have been happy with this. 

    Mad Libs
    When I was a preteen, Mad Libs was a favorite of mine. The resulting stories are hilarious. As an adult, I love that it teaches parts of speech. For the girl who loves a joke, this is a fantastic gift. Kaitlyn thanked me for this profusely after she first started using it. Mad Libs has a lot of books with different focuses of interest. Science, fairy tales, animals, dance...so peruse to see what your girl might like. 


    Rip the Page!
    Rip the Page! is a great gift for the child interested in writing. It has invaluable information on storytelling and exercises to do to practice the skills learned. I love this book for my little storyteller, and she has loved it. I am a writer, but let's just say I was not my creative writing professors favorite student (that was my friend Kelli, who has gone on to be published). I am a technical writer. So this book is a fantastic tool in our house for my creative girl.


    Balls
    Last Saturday, Kaitlyn guest-played on a competitive soccer team. A boy team. Against boys. And she totally rocked it and was just as good as any boy out there. Girls can be very into sports. If the preteen girl in your life is into sports, consider getting her something for her sport of choice. Right now, Kaitlyn mostly wants a really nice soccer ball for Christmas (which, by the way, I don't know what that is. Isn't a soccer ball a soccer ball? I have some research to do). Get a bag, practice equipment, nicer ankle guards (these really are really good ones!), swim fins...whatever your child's sport of choice, something to enhance that sport is a fantastic gift.

    Kendama
    A kendama is a unique but fun toy for a girl who likes a physical challenge. It is very portable for the girl being able to entertain herself in various places. My older three kids each have one of these and they all enjoy playing with them. 





    Klutz Books
    Klutz books have things that appeal to all types. Face Painting, Friendship Bracelets, Nail Art, Cat's Cradle, Stencil Art...It just goes on. Kaitlyn loves her friendship bracelet one. Preteen girls love their friends and love showing their friends love. The friendship bracelet is a timeless way girls show love.



    Specifics for the Girl
    Even though preteen girls are outgrowing toys, they are very much growing into themselves. What does the preteen in your life love? Horses? Art? Sports? Crafts? Fashion? Reading? Writing? Skateboards? What is it she loves? Chances are high she loves a variety of things. Get something for her to help her out with her passion. If you know the passion but not what she needs from it, get creative. Maybe she loves horses and you can't afford a pony. Maybe a hot chocolate mug with a horse on it is just the ticket. 

    Great Generics
    Sometimes you need a gift for a girl you just don't know well. Many of the above can work for most girls. Other great go-tos are nice lotion/bath sets, hair brush sets, jewelry, and chap stick. There are also things like board games.


    For more gift ideas, see:


    If you don't already, be sure to follow me on Facebook. I share what is posted here each day along with other articles I find helpful and interesting. I also answer questions and do live Q&As each week. It is a great way to connect!

    You can also find me on Instagram, posting pictures from our days as well as quick tips.
    No comments
    Labels: , , , ,
    Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)