Kids’ Gift Guide: Get Them Thinking

by | Life as a Mom, Lifestyle | 0 comments

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Have you ever walked into your kid’s room and went into automatic panic mode because they have too many toys and those toys are EVERYWHERE?!?

Most kids I know don’t need more toys! What they need are experiences. Gifts that will get them playing outside, gifts that will bring out their creativity, and gifts that will get them thinking!

Here is a list of go-to gifts that are more about the experience than the toy!  Let’s turn off the screen time and get these kids doing more!

ENJOY!

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Gifts That Will Get Your Kids THINKING:

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1. Q&A Journal For Kids: I loooove these journals! Both my daughters have one! For my youngest, I simply ask her the question and I fill in her answer. Questions could be anything – thoughts, feelings, dreams, etc. This is such a perfect family keepsake which everybody will love looking at years later! Great for any age!

2. Cat Stax Puzzle Game: I used to have this puzzle in my classroom and it was always one of my students’ favorite things to play! The fact that the pieces are in shapes of cats makes it super fun! Snag one for any kitty lovers – kids or adults!

3. Maze Book: These are especially great for car rides! Every time we take a car ride, we grab some new maze books and it keeps our girls entertained for hours.

4. Rubrix Cube: Ummm what kid doesn’t love a rubrix cube? No, seriously.

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5. Lego Gadgets: What a great activity to encourage creativity and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) skills! Your child can build 11 different machines, some practical… and some just silly! Recommended for children 8 years old and up.

6. Lego Chain Reactions: OMG. Use Legos, plastic balls, string, paper ramps, and more to build 10 moving machines! What kid wouldn’t love this?!? Simple instructions and recommended for children 8 years old and up.

7. Dynamo Lab Science Experiments: Kit includes everything needed (except a few household materials such as eggs, oil, water, etc.) to complete 21 experiments such as create your own lava lamp, creative crystals, and a volcano science kit! Also offers online demonstration videos to help assist your child. Hours of educational hands-on stem learning! Recommended for ages 5 and up.

8. Scratch & Solve Hangman: Love it when moms can be sneaky and get their children gifts that also practice phonics skills! Kids can scratch off letter by letter to solve the word or phrase. These books are also great for a car ride!

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9. Scramble Squares Puzzle: This was another favorite in my classroom with students. There are only nine pieces, but each piece can be turned in any direction which makes it tricky for solving! Puzzle must form a 3×3 square. Great for all ages!

10.Oregon Trail Interactive Books: As kids read these books, it becomes an interactive experience since they are the ones who get to choose the next step! Wild animals, natural disasters, unpredictable weather, fast-flowing rivers, strangers, and sickness are some of the challenges that readers might face! Twenty-two possible endings in each book! Recommended for kids 8-12 years.

11. Electronic Snap Circuits: Build over 300 experiments such as photosensitive electronic organ, a Lie detector, an AM radio, and a two-finger touch lamp! Snap Circuits parts require no tools and simply click into place. Recommended for children 8 and up.

12. Trivial Pursuit Family Edition Board Game: The classic game is back and better than ever! This game has question cards for both children AND adults making it where the entire family can play together! Great for all ages!

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13. Where’s Waldo Book: Who doesn’t love a good Where’s Waldo book?!? Fun for kids of all ages – and adults too!

14. Gobblet Gobblers Game: We love this game at our house! It’s tic-tac-toe, but with a twist. Since gobblers can gobble up other players, it makes it where even adults have to be strategic when playing. Kids and adults can play together with equal chances of winning! A challenge for all ages! Recommended for kids 5 and up.

15. Invention Box: Kids can invent a robot, a machine, a musical instrument, a new game, and more! Encourage creativity and thinking for themselves. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

16. Bop It Game: Another game that we love in our house. Follow the verbal instructions as they are given… and then try to continue as the game speeds up! Pretty hilarious even for adults!

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17. Kid Microscope Kit: This microscope comes ready to use out of the box! Includes step-by-step instructions for teaching the basics of using a microscope and includes several fun experiments! Recommended for kids 6 and up.

18. Rubrix Cube Set: If your child likes a rubrix cube… why not get him/her an entire set of them?!? Different shapes and different sizes for the child who loves a challenge.

19. Escape Room Game for Kids: Escape rooms are all the craze right now! Why not let your child get to experience it with this board game?!? Recommended for kids 10 and up.

20. Lego Mindstorms Robot Kit: Legos and a robot in the same toy… enough said! Build and code your own fully-functional robot! Teach it to walk, talk, and even complete tasks or play games! This robot toy is sure to make engineering fun for both kids and adults! Recommended for kids 10 and up.

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21. Gratitude Journal: Oh how I absolutely love the idea of this gift! Teach your child to be mindful every day and teach them to always find a reason to be thankful. For little kids, simply ask them the questions and write down their answers for them. Great for all ages!

22. 3D Coloring Puzzles: Why settle for regular coloring books when you can have 3D coloring puzzles! It’s coloring on a whole new level! Includes 10 puzzles and 48 gel pens. 

23. Highlights Hidden Pictures: So we all know that the best part of the Highlights magazine if the hidden picture pages! Why not buy your child an entire book with JUST the hidden picture pages?!? Recommended for kids 5 and up.

24. Kanoodle Puzzle Game: This game includes 200 logical thinking puzzles from basic to deviously difficult. There are hundreds of possible combinations, but only one correct answer. A perfect brain game for adults & all kids! Recommended for kids 7 and up.

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25. Tangoes Puzzle Game: This was another favorite in my classroom with the students. The task is simple… create the image using tangrams. Although the puzzle of which pieces to use to create that image becomes a fun challenge! Recommended for kids 7 and up.

26. Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit: I’m not sure who would want this toy more… my children or my husband! Learn how to create, customize, and control this droid with coding and video tutorials! It does require a Smart device so check the details before purchasing! Recommended for kids 8 and up.

27. Totally Awesome Mazes & Puzzles: All kinds of fun brain puzzles to solve! Great for car rides and great for kids of all ages!

28. Simon Game: Follow the light-up instructions… and see if you can continue as the game speeds up!

Subscription magazines and subscription boxes are an amazing alternative to toys. Kids LOVE getting real mail! And all of these subscriptions have materials that will get your child reading! Whether it be magazines filled with fun and engaging articles that your child will quickly devour, or the activity boxes that come with instructions and pamphlets with all kinds of fun information that your child will enjoy reading and learning about! It’s a win win!

 

Check out these Magazine Subscription options:

Don’t Forget About Subscriptions!

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29. Lego Life Magazine: (ages 5-9) This one is a free subscription! You simply need to create a login. It’s filled with comics, activities, posters, and much more!

30. Highlights Magazine (ages 6-12): Filled with stories, games, puzzles, riddles, science experiments, craft projects, and other activities – including the very popular Hidden Pictures!

31. Highlights High Five Magazine (ages 2-6): Designed and written for the littles! Includes stories, puzzles and activities that are designed to nurture your preschooler or kindergartner’s development. Also reinforces skills that prepare them for reading, math and other areas of learning.

32. Ranger Rick Jr. Magazine (ages 3-7): Filled with fun activities, simple stories and wild animals that the little ones love. Ranger Rick Jr. draws preschoolers closer to nature and gets them ready to read. Youngsters will enjoy seasonal crafts, simple cooking recipes, fun games, and more.

33. Ranger Rick Magazine (ages 7 and up): Packed with amazing facts, stunning photos and outdoor adventures that help kids sharpen reading skills and develop a deeper appreciation for nature. 

 

Check out these Subscription Box options:

34. Disney Subscription Box – Enchanted Princess Box: Child receives an authentic Disney store costume, storybook, and related accessories and/or activities! *My daughter, who is 6, absolutely loves getting this subscription. When her Disney box comes in, I cannot explain to you how much her face lights up. The princess dresses are so beautiful and such high-quality!

35. Disney Subscription Box – Bedtime Adventure Box: Child receives a pair of Disney store pajamas, storybook, bedtime activity cards, and a reward chart to help with the bedtime routine.

36. Legos BrickBox Subscription: Includes at least one buildable set with step by step instruction, plus at least one action figure! There’s also a mini box option available. *My daughter, who is 10, absolutely loves getting this subscription. Once she’s got that box opened up, she immediately gets to building! My husband has an enormous love for Legos as well, so this is often a shared activity between the two of them.

37. Kiwi Crate: (ages 0-16+) This company literally has something for EVERY AGE GROUP! Depending on the age you choose, kits might include exploring and discovery activities, arts and crafts, hands-on science projects, engineering and design activities, and so much more! Everything they produce is designed by experts and tested by kids!

38. Little Passports Subscription Boxes: This company is well known for creating kits that inspire kids to learn about and explore the world. Specialized kits are offered for kids anywhere from 3-12+ years old, so they have something for everyone!

Early Explorers (ages 3-5)

Science Junior (ages 5-8)

World Edition (ages 6-10)

USA Edition (ages 7-12)

Science Expeditions (ages 9+)

(Some Little Passports options are also offered HERE on Amazon!)

Being intentional about what gifts you buy your kids can make a big difference in their lives! Choose gifts that get them outside, that get them creative, and that get them thinking.

Similar Post (click link!) → Kids’ Gift Guide: How To Get Your Child OUTSIDE!

Similar Post (click link!) → Kids’ Gift Guide: How To Spark Your Kids’ CREATIVITY!

 

Happy Shopping!

Is there something that gets your child outdoors that I left off the list?!? Please feel free to comment below and share!

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