Looking for the perfect gift for a little one this year? I’ve got you covered. Part 2 of our annual Family Gift Guide is here!
Check out Part 1: for Him & Her
Having an active two and six-year-old means I’ve tested my fair share of kids’ favorites, and I’m selective about what makes the cut in our home. This guide is designed with their age range in mind and includes their current favorites, with ideas that can easily stretch younger or older. Let’s kick things off with the littles!
Gifts for Toddlers
Our Very Little Library Book Set
We were gifted a book set from this series years ago, and it continues to be one of the kids favorites. The sweet stories focus on language fundamentals, with beautifully illustrated watercolor drawings.
Warmies Microwavable Animals
This weighted stuffy will become their new best friend during the cold winter months. These are a staple in our house, and our son won’t sleep without his. We’ve gifted several to friends and family, and there are a ton of different animals to choose from.
Toddler Kitchen Helper Tower
One of our most used and recommended gifts for littles (and parents!). This learning tower lets little ones join in on cooking, baking, dish-washing and all the everyday fun. I love that this one can fold up and hang in our broom closet when not in use.
Pull Along Wagon
From baby walker to pull-along cart, this 3-in-1 wagon is a toddler favorite. Our kids have loved pushing each other and their toys around the house, and I love that it can be used indoors or out.
Race around the World Floor Puzzle Set
This is one of our toddler’s favorite activities as it combines two of his favorite things: puzzles and cars. Kids love snapping together the jigsaw puzzle, then letting the wind-up cars race and zoom around famous world landmarks.
Bombas Gripper Slipper
These cozy toddler gripper slippers are soft, cushy, and perfect for little feet on the move. A practical gift they’ll use every day.
Woodworking Bench
This wooden tool bench comes with everything they need to practice their “fix-it” skills, just like mom and dad. Practical, well designed, and guaranteed to be a hit with little builders.
Wooden Café Play Set
Little baristas will love running their own shop with this coffee stand set, complete with 29 accessories, an espresso machine and built-in shelving. This would make the cutest addition to any kitchen or play house setup.
Melissa & Doug Blockables
We were gifted this building block set this year, and it has been on heavy rotation. The snap-together blocks are simple enough for little hands, and I appreciate that the pieces store away neatly in the container.
Personalized Sherpa Robe
Our son has been stealing his big sister’s fuzzy robe lately, so this year he’s getting his own. This robe is plush and cozy, comes in four colors, and can be personalized with their name for an extra special touch.
Dough Sensory Kit
Sensory dough kits are a go-to favorite around here, and this Enchanted Arctic set is would keep them busy for hours over the holiday break. This ship has a huge variety of themed kits, so there’s something for every curious little one.
Ride-on Excavator
A dream gift for little truck lovers! They can scoop, dig, and cruise around in their own mini excavator (complete with a working arm and hidden storage). Our son would absolutely lose his mind over this.
Wooden Golf Set
This wooden golf set turns any room or backyard into a mini course, complete with clubs, balls, and obstacles. The design is on point, and it’s an activity the whole family can join in on.
4-in-1 Tricycle
This won me over because it grows with them through all stages from push trike, to tricycle, balance bike and scooter. Plus, it looks good enough to stay parked in the living room.
Backyard Playhouse
This cedar wood playhouse transforms any backyard into a mini-retreat, complete with real-windows, a dutch door, snack bar window, and built-in kitchen. I don’t think our kids would ever want to come inside if they had this 🙂
Kid-safe Kitchen Set
Let them join in meal prep with this kid-safe knife set, designed to build confidence while keeping little hands protected. We use ours all the time, and the kids love being able to contribute at meal time.
Rylee + Cru Plaid Jumpsuit
My new favorite clothing shop for the kids this year! I ordered our holiday outfits here and had to stop myself from buying everything. High quality, beautiful designs, and plenty of matching family outfits!
LED Busy Board Set
There are a wide range of busy boards out there, but this one stands out because it uses a variety of real screwdriver heads and bits. The various light-up knobs are always a hit, too! This one’s going on Luca’s wishlist this year.
Slip-on Unisex Loafers
A polished little shoe that’s still totally play-friendly, these memory foam loafers are comfy, durable, and come in four colors. The slip-on design makes getting out the door a breeze.
Moulin Roty Storybook Torch
Turn story time into an adventure with this beautifully illustrated story-torch set. Little ones can project slides onto the wall, flip through three mini books and learn the names of animals in French.
Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Set
There is a serious puzzle obsession happening in our house right now, and this 4-in-1 box set was the one that started it all. It’s simple enough for toddlers to tackle and build up their confidence, and stays organized with four compartments.
For Kids
BaubleBar Bead Kit
This DIY bracelet-kit is loaded with tons of beads and charms, a customizable case, and several fun themes to choose from. I have one for Esmé waiting to be wrapped and can’t wait to see her expression.
Red Light, Green Light Game
I bought this for our niece for Christmas one year, and the cousins had a blast playing it. With three different game and player modes, all ages will love this high energy activity.
Interactive Drawing Robot
For the art-lover or budding engineer, this drawing robot is such a win. It guides kids step-by-step through over 150 prompts so they can build their artistic skills in a fun and engaging way.
KiwiCo Subscription Box
The gift that keeps on giving! This project-crate subscription from KiwiCo delivers a hands-on activity each month, tailored to their age and interest. We gifted a similar subscription to our daughter and niece last year and they still play with the kits.
Smithsonian Picturepedia
My mother-in-law got this for the kids last week and we couldn’t put it down (I’m not sure who loved it more!) This comprehensive encyclopedia is packed with fascinating facts and photos, covering everything from dinosaurs to world foods and fashion throughout history. It’s laid out in an engaging way that’s fun and easy to digest for kids.
Personalized Gingham Apron
This sweet customized apron makes baking even more fun, and the gingham and ruffle design couldn’t be any cuter. It’s the perfect little helper outfit for cookie nights and messy kitchen moments.
Pop-up Cardboard Play House
This Gingerbread house was a hit last Christmas and kept the kids entertained all winter break. We got another one this year and gifted one, too! Bonus: it’s under $30 and can be recycled after the holidays.
Mini Karaoke Set
Our kids love putting on concerts for us, so this mini karaoke set will be under our tree this year! We gifted one to our daughter’s friend and it was a hit at their house.
TickTalk5 Smart Watch
This watch gives kids the freedom to video-call, text, and play music – and lets parents keep tabs on their location and contacts with ease. It’s like a first “grown-up” watch, but made for families who still want peace of mind.
Rylee + Cru Pajamas
My current go-to source for kids clothes. I bought the kids matching pajamas and the cutest outfits for the holidays, and the quality matches the price. Fair warning: you’ll want to add everything to your cart!
Mini Digital Microscope
This handheld microscope opens up a whole new world of discovery for kids, with up to 1000× magnification, built-in slides, and LED lights for exploring plants, insects, and more. It even records photos and videos! This one’s our kids wishlist for the grandparents.
Nex Playground
The hot ticket item of 2025! Turn screen time into jump-run-dance time with this interactive gaming system that gets the whole family moving. It’s perfect for game nights, parties, and snow days when you want the kids active (without leaving the living room).
Grand Old Oak Picture Book
This charming seek & find book follows Bear and his forest friends as they throw a party for their beloved oak tree, with tons of little details for kids to spot on every page. We gifted it to a friend and loved it so much we’re getting one for Esmé, too.
Galileo Telescope
This telescope is perfect for curious minds, whether they’re stargazing or spotting birds. it comes with a built-in smartphone adapter so you can snap the moment easily. It’s big and stylish enough to feel grown-up, but still easy to use together as a family.
Connect-n-Build Fort Kit
Tired of your furniture and pillows scattered around the house? (Me too). This kit lets kids get creative and build much sturdier and more elaborate forts, tunnels and more. Just snap the pieces together and add blankets. Great for indoors or out.
Yoto Mini
This small, screen-free audio player plays stories and music with a simple card tap. It’s perfect for quiet time or bedtime, portable for travel, and simple enough for kids to operate on their own.
Gem Bingo Game
Our daughter’s biggest obsession right now are jewels, rocks and gems, so this game is at the top of her wishlist. It includes colorful gems and educational cards to help kids identify the names and fun facts about their favorite stones.
MEL Science Box Kits
These subscription science boxes show up with everything you need for cool, kid-friendly and hands on experiments you can do at home. I have the Spectrum Goggles box waiting to be wrapped and can’t wait to break it open over the holiday break.
Itsy Ride-on Suitcase
This ride-on suitcase makes travel feel like an adventure, giving little ones their own spot to sit and a fun way to tote their things along. It gives them independence while letting them feel like part of the travel team.
Surprise Scratch-off Ticket
If you plan to surprise them with a trip, concert, event, or anything else that can’t be unwrapped, these scratch-off tickets are such a fun and memorable way to reveal their gift. They’re fully customizable with dozens of design options. I’m definitely stealing this idea for future surprise gifts!
Planning a trip for the holidays? Check out our family’s tried + tested essentials that help our travel days run smoothly and (mostly) stress-free.
Stay tuned for Part 3 tomorrow: Parents and in-laws!
Nikki Watson says
Hi Jenna,
I have 5 grandkids 5 and under, and look forward to your kids gift guide every year, thanks! I have been following you since way back, so much fun to see your beautiful family grow. (Prayers said for your solo travel time, before you came back to the DIY world).
I know you were a big Pinterest user….I was so sad when they took away the personal notes option on pins, have you found a workaround to that? I lost lots of my info that I had saved. Do you now use a different platform to save your online ideas?
Thanks!!,
Nikki
Jenna Sue says
Hi Nikki, that’s so sweet of you to say! I’ve never actually used the Notes feature, I just save pins to boards for visual inspo. You could always leave a comment on a pin to reference later. Pinterest has made some questionable changes lately :\
Nikki Watson says
Good idea, I will check out the Pinterest comments, thanks!