gift ideas

The gift-giving season is sneaking up on us. If you’re like me, we’re swimming in toys over here. I have a love hate relationship with more gifts coming into our home. We are extremely blessed and grateful, but it’s easy for kids to take for granted all those blessings. I struggle to find a balance between giving my kids a vast amount of things to entertain them, and simplifying our playroom (and our lives). While I love the excitement on Christmas morning, I’d love for my kids to unwrap items that are educational, practical and engaging. Bonus points if it hits all three of those goals in one gift! Watch out UPS, lots of these are Amazon Prime! Winning! 

Here’s a list of some of my fav gift ideas this holiday season: 

Educational

Practical

  • Overnight duffle bags and luggage– I’m in love with the patterns and quality of PBK. I’m also such a sucker for anything monogrammed.  
  • Sleeping bags
  • Diapers & wipes-Let’s face it. Babies could care less what’s under the wrapping paper, and mama could also use extra supplies.
  • Car seats-Consider investing in the next size car seat or an extra booster seats for friends to car pool.
  • Gift cards for activities-Catch Air, Little Land Play Gym, Thinkery, Chick-fil-A, Martial Arts, Aquarium, Swim lessons
  • Arts and crafts-stamps, paints, easel, brushes, play doh, clay, markers, crayons, colored pencils, kid safe scissors 
  • Tent or teepee-Can be store bought of DIY
  • Backpack & lunchboxes-I prefer the small & large sizes.  The Prek size barely fits a change of clothes. I have found the small size is perfect for preschool, and the large is great for Kinder and up. Again, love the prints and quality of PBK. 
  • Camelbak water bottles & replacement straws & lids-I’ve gone through a ton of kids cups and these are the least likely to leak. 
  • Skip hop tableware-This brand seems to hold up well. 5 years in, and the colors look as vibrant as the day I got them. 
  • Pjs
  • Tot clock & tot clock treasures– My kids love their tot clock for the bedtime stories and music. It has helped our nighttime routine, and helped my kids know when it’s ok to come downstairs in the morning. The clock can be set for bedtime, wake time, nap, time out and “encouragement” (I still haven’t figured out what that means, but have used it for various timed tasks). There’s a less expensive version without the stories here

Babies

Toddlers

Big Kids

Michelle Tate
Michelle is a native Austinite. A former Elementary school teacher, she now stays at home with her boys, Mason (2011), Hudson (2015), and Brady (2017). She has been married to her college sweetheart, Brian, since 2008. She enjoys traveling, sewing and refinishing furniture, reading and spending time with family and friends.

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