Unique Gift Ideas for Toddlers
Calling all moms with toddler toys taking over their house!
It’s Christmas season, and if the above sounds like you, you’re probably torn between wanting to spoil your toddler and give them that magical Christmas, and wanting to toss every toy that’s already in your house and tell family that you’ll be storing any future toys they purchase at their houses.
So how do we manage the holiday gift giving season when our kids already have everything? Well, our goal this year is to seriously limit our Christmas shopping.
The plan is: one big gift for our kids, and a few smaller educational, creative, and/or Montessori toys that they can use for several years. Outside of that, we’re hoping to encourage “experience” gifts, rather than more stuff.
Mom Tip: You can build gift idea lists on Amazon and send the link to family, so they know exactly what your kids (and you) would like. Gifts will also show up as purchased once someone buys it, so you can avoid duplicates.
Ok, so if all of this sounds like what you’d imagine your ideal Christmas to look like, read on, because today I’m sharing some great ideas for unique gifts for toddlers who already seem to have everything.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of my links.
GIFT IDEAS FOR TODDLERS
1 // Best Subscription Box: KiwiCo
KiwiCo is a subscription service for kids that sends STEM activities right to your door. We love getting these boxes. I’m not sure if it’s me or my son that’s more excited when he sees the box at the door.
You select a product line based on your child’s age, and they’ll send you a box every month with activities based on the theme of the month. These are also a great indoor activity for those long winter months, and a fun excuse to spend some one-on-one time with your child.
2 // Favorite Montessori Toy: Stacking Peg Board
We love this peg board set. It comes with two boards, a ton of pegs in different primary colors, and is easy enough to use that my newly 2 year old can easily build with it.
The pros: it’s fairly contained and low on the mess factor. It’s also a great way to practice your baby’s colors, as well as their fine motor skills.
3 // Creativity Without the Mess: Doodle Mat
Any item that lets kids be creative without a crazy mess, is great in my book. These doodle mats make drawing a little more fun since the mat is large, and you’re on the floor coloring with water pens (the non-messy kind).
4 // Experience Gifts for Toddlers: Membership to Local Aquarium or Zoo
Many aquariums and zoos have reopened and it’s fairly easy to social distance at either of these, so a visit to either can be a great gift for kids who have everything and could use an experience instead of a physical gift or toy.
If your child is extra into animals and loves running around the zoo, consider getting them a membership — but if that seems overboard, just grab some tickets for a special kid’s day out. Plan it out so that you spend all day together, and have a special lunch or dinner out included with the activity.
5 // Best Toy for the Imagination: Play Kitchen
This was on last year’s list, but it’s such a good one, I have to include it again.
Play kitchens are one of the best toys for toddlers, because they foster independent play, imaginary play, fine motor skills, and more. Our son’s speech therapist was thrilled when she saw he had one, because she knew just how beneficial it could be. Play kitchens are also a great interactive toy you can use with your toddler, that doesn’t make you want to escape, asap.
We absolutely love our Step2 kitchen, but there are several others that friends of ours have and love, including this one by Melissa and Doug, and this one by KidKraft. This Ikea kitchen also gets rave reviews, and as with most things Ikea, the price is very affordable.
6 // Books, Books, and More Books
I feel like you can never have too many books for your kids, and it’s the one thing I never feel guilty about buying them.
Here are a few of our favorites (note that some of these links go to the kindle editions, so make sure you’re grabbing the format that you want!):
- Pout Pout Fish – the cutest stories about a grumpy fish who’s not quite who he thinks he is. My kids love reciting this book.
- Little Blue Truck – These were my son’s first favorite books, and we’ve since collected the ones for Christmas, Halloween, and more.
- Hello Genius – a friend recommended these when we were seriously struggling with our son’s tantrums. Each book has a different behavioral theme, cute illustrations, and a message that kids can really understand.
- Leslie Patricelli – these books are so simple, but soo effective. Great for younger toddlers especially, they range in theme — from books comparing opposites (like big vs. small) to a book all about using the Potty.
7 // Creative and Useful: The Nugget
Ok guys, the Nugget has an almost cult-like following. I don’t have one yet, but after hearing all the raves about it, I will be trying to snag one once we move to our new house and have a bit more space.
So what is it? Nuggets are basically movable, kid furniture that kids can move around, climb on, tumble all over, and be creative with. These are perfect for playrooms, but also work for more open areas, because the colors are not your typical kid toy color (aka not super bright primary colors).
Because they’re made by a small team, it can be hard to come by one of these, but they’ve started a lottery for the holiday season so you don’t have to refresh your page a zillion times to try to get one on launch days.
You can sign up here for their lottery to purchase one.
8 // A Classic Toddler Toy: Lego Duplo
If your kids have everything, but don’t have lego duplos yet (perfect for ages 2+), this is a great gift that can be used for years. We love this starter set. They’re also not nearly as painful – or easy – to step on as regular legos, since they’re bigger.
9 // Must-Have for a Play Room: Kid’s Table
I spent ages looking for the perfect play table for my kids. A lot of them didn’t get great reviews, and some were just too expensive. After waffling for awhile, we finally ended up purchasing the UTEX double-sided table, and are so happy we went with this one.
One side is a flat surface, and the other is a lego table that works with both regular and duplo legos. It also comes with two really handy drawers for storage — just don’t pack them too heavily.
10 // Educational and Entertaining for Hours: Wooden Train Set
My MIL snagged a wooden train set from a local baby swap group, and it has been one of the most loved toys for my kids.
I adore these sets, because they let my kids be creative without a ton of effort, both of them can play with it at the same time and build their own separate tracks if they want, and it’s easy enough for a 2 year old to play with independently.
We have the Ikea set. This set on Amazon is very similar, gets amazing reviews, and is also super affordable.
11 // Keep Them Busy: Instructional Classes
There are so many different classes you can get your kids into. Swim classes, music classes, dance, karate, any kid of sport – go for it. Start with a trial, let them pick on their own, and get creative.
12 // An Old Favorite: Highlights Magazine Subscription
Did you know that Highlights actually has magazines made for kids from 0-2 years old, and 2-6 years old in addition to the Highlights I think most of us remember from our childhood?
I had no idea, but wish I had found these earlier, because a magazine subscription is a great non-toy gift that we have given before to other older kids in our family.
You can read the details on “Hello” magazine for the extra little ones here, and all the info on the “High Five” magazine for preschoolers/kindergartners here!
More Toddler and Holiday Related Posts You May Like:
- Baby’s First Christmas Gift Ideas & Keepsakes for an Extra Special Holiday
- Fun Holiday Traditions with Kids to Start This Year
- Women’s Gift Guide: Favorite Amazon Gifts Under $50
- Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Men
- Best Gift Ideas for One Year Olds
- The Best Tips for Traveling with Kids
- The Best Products to Babyproof Your Home
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