Finding the perfect gift for kids can be simultaneously tons of fun and incredibly overwhelming. As a mom to five awesome kids I’ve shopped for everything from bouncing babies to terrific teenagers. Whoever you’re shopping for, it’s important to choose something that sparks joy and matches their interests. To make that process a bit easier for you, I’ve put together this list of gift ideas for kids of all ages! You”l find educational toys, creative activities and so much more!
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Books for All
Every year for Christmas we do the ‘4 gift’ rule. Each kids gets something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. Being a book lover at my core, picking out their read gifts is one of my favorite things to do! Here are some awesome reading-centered gift ideas for the kids in your life.
Littles
Reading to your kids from the very start is actually the single most important thing you can do to help them succeed in school. It builds their vocabularies and helps them learn to love stories. These are two of my favorite books I read with my kids when they were tiny.
- There is a whole series of Little Blue Truck books, but the original is our favorite. It has a fantastic rhythm to read out loud and teaches a great life lesson about kindness.
- God Gave Us You is one of my favorite bedtime stories to read. It reminds kids just how treasured, loved, and wanted they are and it has beautiful illustrations.
Middles
Once kids are in elementary school they can start reading for themselves, but reading out loud to them is still such an amazing gift. These are two of my favorite read aloud options for elementary-aged kids.
- It’s hard to find a book series that is a more classic read than The Chronicles of Narnia. Not only is it a fun series filled with adventure, it’s a beautiful depiction of our relationship with God.
- As a mom to three gingers, I have a special place in my heart for Anne of Green Gables. It’s a book full of humor, mischief, and care for others.
Bigs
A great way to keep your middle school and high school aged kids reading is to find books that are so interesting that they want to read more. Here are some gift ideas that will do just that!
- I discovered Katerina’s Wish while I was writing my US geography curriculum and absolutely loved it. It was one of those books where I wanted to ignore the world and just keep reading!
- When the very first page of a book has you cracking up and calling others over to read it, you know you’ve found a winner. That’s exactly what I did when I read The Blackthorn Key!
Art & Crafts
In the era of busy schedules and easy access to screens it can be easy to forget about arts and crafts. Don’t leave them out of your days, though! It’s important for kids to embrace their creativity
Littles
Even your littlest kids can get in on creative time. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive or complicated, either. Simple art supplies are great gift ideas for little ones.
- Tempera Paint Stix are a easy way for little ones to paint without making too much of a mess!
- Did you know that writing and drawing upright on an easel is actually better for kids’ motor development than doing it at a table? Get a kid-sized easel and let your budding artist go to town!
Middles
As your kids get older they can start exploring more types of art and building up those fine motor skills that will help them continue to improve their handwriting.
- This Arts and Crafts Chest is a great gift idea to give your kids a variety of options for exploring their creativity.
- Whenever we go to the doctor’s office my kids ask for the super fun Make-A-Face stickers. Now you can order them to play with at home!
Bigs
Your tweens and teens should still be spending time getting creative on a regular basis. Not only will it give them something fun to do in their free time, it will develop hobbies that can help with stress relief later in life!
- These beginner crochet kits are a great gift idea for your bigger kids and teens. It will give them both a fun activity and a cute toy when they’re done!
- If you were hanging out with me at home I could tell you all kinds of things my kids have made with air dry clay. We’re talking Minecraft figures to flowers and anything else you can imagine. It’s basically the grown-up version of Play-Doh.
Sensory Play
There are a ton of great gift ideas that can help kids with sensory play and exploration. Here are a few of my favorites.
Littles
Did you know that sensory play helps little ones develop their curiosity, build their fine motor skills, and learn about cause and effect? Plus, it’s just plain fun!
- Fidget Tubes are fun little toys that will help your kids explore without taking up much space or making a mess. They would be a perfect choice for taking on the go to keep little hands busy!
- Sensory bins are a great option that you can easily DIY, but if you want something that requires zero prep for you, try this pre-made option.
Middles
As your kids grow, so do their sensory needs and skills. While they may know how to walk, talk, and run already, elementary kids still have work to do on their senses and motor skills.
- Hands down, one of the most loved sensory tools I’ve ever bought for my kids is a hopper ball! In fact, the first one we bought was so popular we had to buy a few more!
- We also have a sensory swing in each of our kids’ rooms. They are a great way to get vestibular (inner ear/balance) input and also to calm their bodies when they’re feeling overwhelmed.
Bigs
Sensory tools for tweens and teens can help them learn to regulate themselves when their feeling stressed or overstimulated, which is a vital skill to have in adulthood!
- This might be labeled as a collection of fidget ‘toys’, but really, they make great tools for helping to keep hands occupied and minds relaxed. We have several of these in our own home!
- Loops Earplugs are a great option for your kids who tend to get a bit overstimulated in noisy environments. This Engage version allows the wearer to hear people who are speaking to them, but cuts down on the background noise that can get overwhelming for some.
Game Time
Playing games together can be a huge part of family life that teaches our kids countless skills while having fun. These are a few of my favorite games to play together.
Littles
Start introducing game time when your kids are little. I won’t lie, there will for sure be some frustrating moments and some meltdowns at times, but it’s totally worth it to have fun and learn together!
- As if Hungry Hungry Hippos wasn’t already awesome, they now have a Dino Edition! I know a few of my kids would have LOVED this in their dino-obsession stage!
- It doesn’t get much more classic than Candyland! This is a great game because even very young children can play.
Middles
As your kids get bigger the games get even more fun! Elementary school kids can handle more complex options that you’ll enjoy even more.
- If your family enjoys playing UNO, you’ve got to try one of their newer versions, DOS. It’s played pretty similarly but. you actually get bonuses for using two cards to add up to the number you need!
- I don’t know exactly when Jenga was invented, but it’s been a popular game for ages, and for good reason! It’s fun while helping kids learn to strategize and work on their fine motor coordination.
Bigs
Once your kids are teens (or nearly there) you’ve really hit the jackpot for game night! Now you can play games not just to have fun playing with your kids, but also to have a lot of fun with and be challenged by the game itself!
- My husband and I recently discovered the game Casefile. It’s sort of like a grown-up version of Clue. We spent a fun evening playing it and the next day my big kids wanted to try it out and loved it, too!
- Earlier this year our host daughter from Germany came back for a visit and introduced us to the game Skyjo. It is so much fun and really challenges you to practice strategic thinking!
Let’s Go Shopping!
Whatever occasion you’re shopping for, there are tons of great gift ideas for kids. Whether you’re looking for toys, games, or something educational, there are great options for you. Have fun picking out the perfect gifts for the kids in your life!
