Though the world hardly needs another gift guide, it is the season, and every online shop that ends with a .com is having a major sale right now. So, here are recommendations for kids I can highly endorse, are not for one gender or another, and can hold up to lots of play/wear/use over time.
For those celebrating Thanksgiving, have a great holiday, and hope it’s delicious, and COVID / flu / RSV / family drama free!
Art Supplies + Crafts:
This adorbs Yellow Owl Stamp Kit
Modeling Clay set with tools, aka Ada’s newest favorite hobby
These very luxurious Caran D’ache colored pencils. Prismacolor are also great.
This Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 instant camera pack (+ album + film packs) that was a big hit for A’s birthday
OMY giant Atlas poster and stickers because geography + creativity is a win-win
Wearables + Accessories:
Blundstone boots. A+ footwear for the whole fam.
A cool wallet to keep all the holiday cash from relatives
Name necklaces, since Ada’s main goal in life is to be fancy
This Thousands Jr. Bike Helmet (with customizable stickers) which was approved by my kids and comes in nice colors.
Bombas Gripper Slippers—the best of both slippers and socks.
Gadgets, Games & Building Stuff
This whole list of building toys I put together on The Strategist
High on the list for Julian is one of these Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators. Turn that button-pushing into some interesting beats.
Also if you’re looking for a more advanced and gorgeous music-maker, a splurge option is this Duo Synthesizer for 2.
If you’re saturated with standard MagnaTiles but the kids are still hungry for more, they also have Magna Qubix, which offer magnetic cubes to add to the mix.
LEGOs, obviously, which is basically all my kids do these days. I love this Chess Set you can build yourself (then play) and Ada loved building the Roller Disco Arcade and the Friendship Treehouse.
Haba 3D Viridis Blocks: a puzzle? A game? Blocks? All of the aboe.
Food / Drink / Cooking
The Opinel Kids Knife Set, which has safeguards built in for young kids learning to cut
Yeti Rambler Water Bottle: a durable stainless steel water bottle that’s a significant upgrade from the more ubiquitous plastic options
These kid-sized aprons from Schoolhouse Electric, which are both genuinely useful for cooking-in and kids appear to actually enjoy wearing aprons.
Bjorn Qorn x Food52 Popcorn Tin: might have to get one of these for myself as well.
Outdoorsy stuff:
Adjustable ice skates or some awesome Moxi roller skates.
The REI Kindercone 25 Sleeping Bag. My kids love these!
Kids LL Bean Trailblazer headlamp: used mostly indoors by my kids to avoid going to bed, but still…the multicolor rotating light feature always delivers.
The very coveted LL Bean Sonic Snow Tube.
*You can also find a full list of book recommendations for kids over at Bookshop.org.
Back next week-ish with a gift guide for grown-ups: random good things for the house, to wear, to read, and to do. See you in December!