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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.