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2012 Holiday Gift Guide: For Little Ones

We’ve received a bunch of requests for a Christmas gift roundup for kids, so here are a few items that we’re loving (most items are under $25 – some are even under $12, and nothing is over $49).

1. Clara loooves painting and definitely has an appreciation for vibrant colors, so I think she’d love something like this $25 watercolor print from Etsy. Another fun gift idea would be to get some colorful paints and a few pieces of cardstock for some good quality time spent painting together.

2. Clara’s always enamored with toys like this in waiting rooms and other kid’s houses, so when John’s mom asked for links to things she might like, we shot a link to this $25 racer ramp to her right away.

3. Pretend play is one of Clara’s favorite things (she loves making meals at her play kitchen, rearranging her dollhouse furniture, and even pretending to care for her dolls by giving them band aids), so we knew this little wooden doctor kit would be a hit. At $38 it’s hardly cheap, but Nonna (my mom) couldn’t wait to pick it up since she knows firsthand how “into first aid” Clara is at the moment.

Kid Mood Board

4. These people-shaped crayons from Etsy are cute, eco-friendly, and budget-friendly (they’re under $9).

5. Clara has one of these cars in pink and she loves it. It’s one of those simple and inexpensive toys that she plays with far more than most of the other more expensive and elaborate toys that she has been given.

6. I was totally drawn to the pretty colors and shapes in this handmade puzzle, although it’s probably above Clara’s current skill level. Maybe next year…

7. This fun $29 bowling set is handmade, eco-frienly, and adorable. I mean let’s be real – who doesn’t love penguins? I like getting “new experiences” for Clara (like learning how to bowl, or how to fish like gift #9) so although we haven’t pulled the trigger and ordered this yet (we’re building her something special, like last year’s play kitchen) I’m definitely tempted…

8. To Clara, Woody = a hero among men. So I bet she’d love to find this Pez dispenser in her stocking (I saw it in Target near the checkout for about $3 a few nights ago).

9. This is the second item that John’s mom is getting Clara. It’s a $29 set of fish with magnets that can be picked up with a fishing pole (we played with something similar at a friend’s house and she couldn’t get enough of it).

10. Does this even need an explanation? I think any kid would crack up over it just as much as grown ups would.

11. We already own this awesome balancing wooden cactus from Plan Toys and Clara loves it. We’ve squeezed at least a year’s worth of play out of it and it’s still in heavy rotation, so it’s well worth the $25 we paid for it back in 2010.

12. This is the second item that Nonna’s getting Clara since she loves books and she loves dogs (so what’s better than a dog who barks along to key words in a story?).

So that’s what we dug up. Do you have any favorites of the group? What are your kiddos/nieces/nephews going to find under the tree this year? John and I can’t wait to start working on our little homemade gift for Clara (from Santa of course). More details – and probably a million pics – soon!

Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15! 

*This post contains affiliate links*

Comments

  2. John says

    John could make a wooden tool box and Sherry paint it for Clara’s tape measure. Hey if boys can play with a pink Easy Bake oven.

    Reply

  3. Rachel says

    I am so ready for some little kiddos so I can wrap things like this and put them under the tree! That little squirrel with the mustache – ha! Love it!

    Reply

  4. Marlea says

    Plan toys! Who am I kidding, I bought that cactus for myself after seeing Clara’s alligator. :) I missed the cacti after moving out of Arizona, and it seemed like a colorful decor object that could do double duty if kids were in the house.

    Reply

  6. Hailey says

    My husband found a Groupon for this awesome site called I See Me that creates personalized children’s books. We ordered one for my niece for her first Christmas. It allows you to personalize the dedication. The book we chose has animals bringing the letters of her name together to name the new child. It all rhymes and is very cute. For example, the giraffe brings the G. We are hoping she will love it for many years to come! And it was a 50% off Groupon score!

    Reply

  7. Hailey says

    One more thing! Did you know there is a girl dog to go with Jingle? Her name is Belle. My six year old niece got her from her grandparents. I had a nice little laugh about Jingle and Belle belonging together.

    Reply

  8. Megan says

    Oh, I’m so excited that you chose the Jingle Story Buddy to feature! I edited that book and helped bring the franchise to life!!! I love love LOVE Jingle — check out his new friend, Bell, too! (Sorry for the Hallmark shout out, I just can’t help myself. I love my job and love the products I work on!!)

    Reply

  10. Melissa says

    Thank you for including so many handmade Etsy finds! As an Etsy seller, I always appreciate those who bring exposure to handmade items :) All of my family is getting handmade this Christmas.

    Reply

  11. Kimberly says

    I love that wooden doctor kit! I love wooden toys in general but there aren’t many conveniently around. I found the sweetest metal vintage doll house at a consignment shop for $30, complete with furniture for my 2 year old. I had asked my dad to build one for his granddaughter but couldn’t resist this one. It is very 1960’s. I think the furniture could use a face lift so I may spray paint them like you did with your ebay finds.. that will be my diy part of Christmas. :)

    Reply

  12. Smiling Tree Toys says

    We’re flattered to have you feature our penguin bowling set, thank you! Had to come say hi, as one of our customers on Etsy said they found us through you. We so appreciate the shout out and LOVE that I’ve discovered your blog. Keep it up and enjoy the wonderful chaos that is life! :)

    Reply

  13. Melissa M says

    That squirrel print was so amazing I had to check out the Etsy shop right away – and lo and behold I found the perfect Christmas present for my BFF. Thanks guys! (Great roundyp by the way!)

    Reply

  14. chelseyadele says

    My son got the Cooper the Bear version of Jingles (hallmark dog w/book) for his first birthday from my lovely sister and he loves it! He’s 2.5 now and we still read him about every other day lol

    Reply

  15. Tiffany says

    There is a corresponding girl dog that will interact with the Jingle dog and book Clara is already getting. Both are Hallmark products and well worth getting the second one.

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  16. Keisha says

    I’m making that fish set for my kids. They played with one I made for someone else’s kids and were sad when I had to put it up. :)

    Reply

  17. Mari-ann says

    Love all of these ideas. Our little one is only 3 months old, so this years gifts are more about starting some family traditions. New jammies, an ornament for the tree, and couple of holiday books i would like to become yearly gifts. She will get one toy and one special gifts from us. We let family know that we didn’t want a lot of plastic toys or things that required batteries. So i love all the wood gifts you found.

    Reply

  18. leah says

    I did a holiday toy round up last week too, although mine looked a bit different because my kids are a bit older and they are both boys. Lots of science stuff, funny stuff, building stuff. My niece is getting the Haba toys dollhouse from grandma and grandpa this year. We were all going to try to make her one like yours but there were too many cooks in the kitchen and it got too crazy. So alas we are all buying her furniture etc to go in the Haba one. You inspired the gift in any case! haha.

    Reply

  19. Christy Niebaum says

    I stopped at a Anthropologie last week while I was on a business trip (we don’t have one in our area) and picked up a blue corduroy stuffed walrus to give my daughter for Christmas.

    Reply

  21. Molly says

    My mom got my little 6month old guy a very similar wooden puzzle to number 6 that has the fancy color names on it… sure, he won’t be able to play with it for a while but I couldn’t pass up something that had the word chartreuse on it :)

    Have you guys made Clara a quiet book or anything like that? I was thinking of making my little cousins some for New Years presents and am looking for people who actually made some (besides my 11,000 pins of examples!)

    Reply

  22. Kate says

    I just ordered the racer ramp for one of my nieces – thanks for pointing it out! I was looking for something to send her, and when I noticed this on Target it jumped out at me since I had seen it in the list. She’s just 18 months now (and the toy suggests 18+ months) so hopefully she’ll enjoy it for a while!

    Reply

  24. Tangy Belland says

    Just wanted to say that I love your blog. Watching your DIY home project is giving me the courage to tackle some of my own. I’m a beginning blogger- by that I mean that I’ll got a site and name, but working on the content to come. My question is about creating a board (not sure on the correct terminology) like the own in the post. Any suggestions on how you did it would be greatly appreciated!

    Reply

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