By the time you get to four kids, figuring out holiday gifts gets hard.
Who am I kidding? It was hard with one.
Between grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and of course, yourselves, it’s easy for your kid(s) to end up with way more toys than they know what to do with. (And way more toys than you have storage space for.)
So this year, I’m focusing on a couple of key characteristics for the toys on my kids’ Christmas lists:
- They should encourage open-ended play. Toys that can only be played with in just one or two specific ways are way more likely to end up gathering dust. But toys that lend themselves to lots of games and make-believe scenarios are for more likely to stay in rotation for the long haul.
- They should be easy to store. That means no (or few) tiny pieces to get lost or scattered around the house, and nothing too big or bulky that won’t fit in their current toy storage boxes.
Without further ado, I’ve rounded up ten gifts I’m definitely putting on my kids’ wish lists this Christmas. These are toys that are guaranteed to spark their creativity by offering multiple ways to play, and they won’t make me crazy by taking up a crazy amount of space or spreading tiny pieces through all the living areas.
I’ve linked the gifts in my gift guide below to their listings on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Stepping Stones for the risk taker
What kid doesn’t love a game of The Floor is Lava? I know mine do. These non-slip stepping stones even come with a spinner, so the kids can make up their own games around jumping to the right color. Here’s hoping these stones at least spare my couch pillows from further torment.
2. How to Draw books for the aspiring artist
My six-year-old has been going through drawing paper like it’s her job. So what could be better than books designed especially for kids who want to learn how to draw? There are several of these books by Alli Koch on Amazon, so kids can learn how to draw everything from flowers to animals to magical things to all the things.
3. VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam for the aspiring filmmaker
My kids don’t watch. YouTube, but that doesn’t stop them from wanting to use my phone camera to create their own videos. Since this kid-friendly video camera comes with a green screen and the ability to swap in preset backgrounds, I’m excited to see their budding film careers take wing.
4. Costume play for boosting imagination
Having four girls means we do a lot of dressing up around here. Luckily, my husband’s aunt sent us a box full of secondhand costume dresses when our oldest was young, and those things have weathered many a play session–so many, in fact, some of them are really starting to look worse for the wear.
So when Grandma asked for Christmas ideas for the girls this year, I immediately brought up the tattered costume dresses. And then Grandma and I got to have fun looking for new ones to add to their collection. This is one we ordered, and it is adorable IRL.
5. Magnetic tiles for the builder
Holy cow, my kids get a ton of use out of their magnetic tiles. We have the Picasso tiles brand, and this Christmas I plan to add to the collection with this cool race track set. I can’t say enough good things about magnetic tiles–they’re a staple in our house. They can be buildings, they can be roads, they can be pizza. And our Picasso tiles have held up through four kids for at least four years with no damage, so I can wholeheartedly recommend this brand.
6. Tempera paint sticks for the crafter
I have two *avid* crafters at the moment. I was also a crafty kid, so it makes my heart happy to encourage their creativity… but oh, the mess. I’m always on the look out for ways to let them get that crafting energy out in the least messy way possible, and these tempera paint sticks look so, so promising.
7. Bath potion kit for the scientist
Bath. Potions. Need I say more?
OK, I will. My kids love to make bath potions… which I sometimes realize only when I go to wash the baby and find there’s no baby wash left. Give them their own bottles and ingredients and maybe they’ll leave mine alone, no?
8. Their own laptop and desk for the toddler
My almost-two-year-old has a real fascination with my computer mouse. In fact, I recently had to buy a new one, because I cannot for the life of me find my old one. (I’m about 80% sure she put it in the trash at this point.)
So what could be better than her very own mouse to play with, and that stays conveniently attached to its desk?
9. Sensory bin tools for keeping them busy
My one-year-old is quickly entering the terrible twos. The best way I’ve found to calm this tornado in crocs is to give her a sensory bin to play with. Yesterday, I poured dry beans and a little rice into a tray, threw some measuring cups and spoons in, and let her have at it. So what if I have to vacuum after? At least she didn’t empty my linen cupboard for the umpteenth time.
These tools are the perfect companions for sensory bins, and such a great stocking stuffer for toddlers.
10. Books for everyone
When in doubt, just buy them a book.
Books are my go-to gifts for kids and adults alike. And honestly, you can never have too many.
I love gifting classics like Where the Wild Things Are, as well as newer books I’ve found. Just no “5 Minute ____ Stories,” please. Those things do NOT take just five minutes to read, and the pacing is awful for reading aloud.
There you have it–my round-up of the ten Christmas gifts on my list for 2024 that a) won’t destroy my house or sanity and b) will get my kids off the screens and into imaginative play.
Gumboots and Rainbows 