Friday Faves - Holiday Gift Guide for Kids
Santa! I know him!
We are big fans of building toys in our house. The boys love helping Daddy in the garage, and they’re always creating things. It is incredible to see their little imaginations at work. This love of building is much of the inspiration behind this guide. Now, we also have about 3,142,000 toys, but this list includes some of the things that we play with constantly. And, that Mom and Dad actually enjoy as well!
TLH Holiday Gift Guide #2 - Gifts for Kids
1) Tinker Toys - The classics still live on! I love that there are some toys that are a part of multiple generations. If they’re cared for, they can even be passed on. We’ve been big fans of Tinker Toys for a while, and the whole family will sit down to play with them. They’re sturdy, easy to use, and the possibilities are endless. Just dump them out, and let your imagination soar!
2) Magformers - These are similar to the popular magnatiles, but our set came with magnetic wheel bases too. You can use the tiles alone, or create different types of vehicles. They also include cards with step-by-step instructions so you can build their designs, or create your own. These are great for learning about shapes, colors, practicing fine motor skills, and using your imagination.
3) Elephant and Piggie Books - If you haven’t read any books from this series yet, you are seriously missing out. Both of our boys love the adventures and the characters. We have a few that bring full on belly giggles every time we read them, and we end up rereading them multiple times in one sitting. The illustrations are great, the stories are sweet, and meaningful, and they are the perfect length.
4) Train Sets - I think I will always have a soft spot for train tracks. When our oldest was about eighteen months, he fell in love with trains. We would create elaborate tracks with twists, turns, bridges, and tunnels. Then we’d choose our trains and spend the morning driving them around. We’d stop, make changes to the track, and get going again. There are so many possible configurations, and building the track is a great exercise for the kiddos. Learning to piece them together, until you form a closed track can be a perfect challenge for those little minds.
5) Hot Wheels - Another classic that has lived on throughout the generations. There are a ton of different track options out there, but we’ve had a blast playing with our Corkscrew Crash Track Set. The boys love to see which cars can stay on the track the longest, and how many cars they can get going at once. This one does take up quite a bit of space when it’s assembled, so we only take it out periodically (we break it apart after a few days and store it under Max’s bed.). It is a lot of fun though!
These are just a few of our favorites, but they really do get played with very frequently. And that makes a pretty great gift in my mind. If you’re in the need of ideas for your kiddos, nieces, or nephews, be sure to check these out!