The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
CRAYON // PAPER AIRPLANE KIT // JOURNALS // PUFFY PENS // JEEP SET // BARBIE DREAM CAR
I hate the word “hack” (…there are no hacks in life?), but one of my greatest “simplify your life” discoveries has been picking one gift to give each season to my children’s friends. This means I can buy multiples in advance, or at least know precisely what to buy when the next birthday party invitation rolls in. Last season, I gave a lot of these Stanley water bottles personalized with these vinyl initial stickers and cute straw toppers. I also gifted a bunch of these pouches that can be customized with these cute patches — what woman doesn’t love a pouch?! (I made my life even easier by also buying a bunch of these “GWrap” bags from Joy Creative Shop — you just slide the water bottle/pouch right in and seal with a sticker that you can write the recipient’s name on. So easy — no tape, no tissue, no cutting — and looks adorable.)
This season, I purchased a bunch of Ooly products and these journals to bundle together. I have a whole stack of them in my gift closet! I love the idea of giving something that’s not just another toy to toss into a bin and might in fact be useful at a restaurant, on a trip, etc. Exactly what I bought below:
CRAYON STICKS (BUY ONE GET ONE FREE WHEN YOU ADD TWO TO CART!)
FORTUNE TELLER KIT (I GAVE MY DAUGHTER ONE OF THESE AND SHE WAS OBSESSED!!!)
I also lost track of the number of kids we gave these Schleich helicopter sets to — my son LOVES this toy and every little boy who has received it has adored it, too. The rotor actually works and the little net is thrilling to them?! This Jeep set (by the same brand) is also a favorite — the front has a retractable cord that my son loves to use to drag things around his room. And we’ve also given a bunch of these Revell model kits, too. My son loves to work on these model projects with my husband!
Also – a note that as of the time of writing this post, there are a few great holiday gifts for children included in Amazon’s big deal day (running through today). These are bigger items I would probably give my own children versus as a standard birthday gift! But they include the mini Yoto (my daughter loves hers!), an American Girl Welly Wisher, a big Lego set, a Barbie dream car, a huge set of Crayola markers, crayons, pencils, etc.
What are your go-to gifts for young children?
P.S. More gift ideas for young kids here. And toys you won’t mind leaving out here.
P.P.S. On maintaining wonder as a parent.
P.P.P.S. In case you need a reminder: you’re where you need to be today.
Picturepedia encyclopedia has been a huge hit for 3+. We have cycled through nearly a year of birthdays and am now figuring out our go-to 2025 gift! Same gift + same wrapping was a huge help for me mentally- thank you for the tip!
Love this!! xx
Magic 8 Balls for 8 year olds!
Love this! My neighbor said the same thing – it’s her go-to for 8 year old boys!
https://www.amazon.com/SuperSoaker-F32515L1-Super-Soaker-Multicolour/dp/B08TFVJB2F
Year round the boys have loved these! Great for 4-5 who may not be ready for a nerf gun yet.
My son would flip over this!
My go-to for boys around 5ish!!! A car that drives on ceilings/walls. So so fun.
https://a.co/d/4AqcaC3
OMG – this would be such a hit with my son! Thanks!
We have given the card game Sleeping Queens a few times and it seems to have been well-received. Just different enough that they probably don’t already have it? Also my girls have LOVED the Disney princess Lego sets, so we have given the Elsa ice cream cart to friends (and some similar Pokémon sets for the dudes 🙂 My 7yo got several sets of different markers for her birthday recently and they are in heavy rotation! I suggested those animal journals you found as a gift for a party last weekend and she was more interested in acquiring one for herself, haha. Who can resist a fresh notepad??
I know, right?! My daughter saw them and was begging for one!
xx