Below, my top picks for children roughly between the ages of 2-5, though some might work for younger children or slightly older ones. I’ve organized by price-point as I imagine many of us have budgets or at least a general sense of what we want to spend depending on our relationship with the recipient. I will have separate posts for babies and older children soon!
Big-Ticket Gifts for Toddlers and Young Children ($100+).
C&B NOD CHAIR OR PBK HARPER CHAIR — PERFECT FOR CREATING A READING NOOK FOR A LITTLE ONE
OSMO STARTER SET (PEOPLE LOVE THIS — READ REVIEWS)
WOODEN NAME STOOL (MY MOTHER HAS GIVEN THESE TO ALL HER GRANDCHILDREN — SO USEFUL AND WELL-LOVED IN OUR HOME)
POLISH ROCKING HORSE (SHIPPING IS PRICEY BUT ISN’T IT GORGEOUS?!)
OUR BIG GIFT FOR MINI THIS YEAR WILL BE A BALANCE BIKE — I’M DYING OVER THIS ONE FROM BANWOOD, ALTHOUGH THIS VERY SIMILAR STYLE IS HALF THE PRICE (AND THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE NEXT CATEGORY DOWN FOR LESS)
Gifts for Toddlers and Young Children (Under $100).
ROSALINA BABY DOLLS (THIS BRAND SELLS OUT)
YBIKE BALANCE BIKE (APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS ONE!), OR RADIO FLYER BALANCE BIKE (FOR 1.5+), OR THIS CUTE SCHWINN
BRUDER TRUCKS (THIS GERMAN BRAND MAKES EXCEPTIONALLY REALISTIC VEHICLES)
SENSORY KITS FROM HOME WITH ELIZABETH
WAY TO PLAY STREET SET AND WOODEN CARS
MAILEG MICE (MINI HAS BEEN COLLECTING THESE SINCE BEFORE SHE WAS BORN — WE ADD TO HER COLLECTION EVERY HOLIDAY AND I ADORE THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR)
CRANE AND TRUCK SET (I CAN TELL THAT THE REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY WOULD BE A HUGE HIT IN OUR HOUSE)
MAGNATAB (HILL ESPECIALLY LOVES THIS — OFTEN PLAYS WITH IT)
KIWI CO STEM SUBSCRIPTION KITS
DUPLOS (<<MINI WOULD LOVE THIS ONE! SHE’S VERY INTO SUPERHEROES RIGHT NOW)
Smaller Gifts for Toddlers and Young Children (Under $25).
JANOD DIY TRUCK (ARE YOU KIDDING? ANY TODDLER WILL FLIP OVER THE SCREWS AND TOOLS — A MUST-HAVE FOR HILL)
OOLY BRUSH MARKERS OR OOLY CHUNKIES PAINT STICKS (THE LATTER KEEP SELLING OUT EVERYWHERE…I PAID A PREMIUM TO GET THEM! THEY ARE VERY POPULAR) WITH A 3D COLORING KIT
BALLERINA JEWELRY BOX (I HAD THIS EXACT STYLE WHEN I WAS LITTLE — I MUST BUY IT FOR MINI!)
TIMEX TODDLER WATCH (MINI HAS ALREADY ASKED FOR A WATCH BECAUSE A CLASSMATE HAS ONE)
COLOR-CHANGING UMBRELLA (CHILDREN ARE OBSESSED WITH UMBRELLAS, FYI)
MELISSA & DOUG HORSE STABLE (SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MAKES MY CHILDHOOD HEART SWELL…DID ANYONE ELSE READ THE THOROUGHBRED SERIES?
P.S. Some more of my absolute favorite toys for children.
P.P.S. Tips on promoting literacy at home during this pandemic.
P.P.P.S. I can’t read this without tearing up: “When I pluck you out of your crib after a nap, you settle into my arms and rest your head on my shoulder, and we sway in the still-dark quiet of the nursery for a few minutes before easing open the blinds and hushing the sound machine, deferring the real world and its routines and cacophonies in favor of a quiet embrace, just the two of us. I have wiped away many happy tears in this posture over the past few weeks, your cheek against mine, your chubby fingers clutching my shirt, the world outside your door immaterial.”