In the holiday season we seek to give intentional, meaningful gifts that encourage connection as much as possible. When planning/shopping/creating we choose gifts that:

• support passions or interests (This may require you to dig deep and reflect– What hobby did that friend mention they wanted to take up? What restaurant did they share they were eager to try? What book did they keep saying they hoped to read? What scarf have they paused to look at longingly every time you are together?)
• are useful (We do all we can to avoid cluttering people’s homes with stuff just for the sake of giving)
• reflects a common interest or experience we’ve shared (Sentimental gifts can be very meaningful!)
• the recipient needs (There is nothing wrong with practicality! Also, if someone gives us a list, it’s likely because they genuinely want or need those items, so we do our best to shop from the list)
• if possible, involves an experience (Either something the recipient can enjoy on their own or that you can share together!)

Experiences

• Yearly memberships to a place of interest (zoo, aquarium, children’s museum, art center, rock climbing gym, etc.)
• Pay for them to take lessons (music, sports, art, etc.)
• A Choose Your Own Adventure Day (We have done this with our nieces for their birthdays… give them two options for a place to go, two options for a place to eat, two options for an activity to do, etc. and then let them choose at each step. This is so fun!)
• Gift them a day out you can share together (spa experience, wine tasting, concert, class, or day trip, etc.)

Games

Playing games together encourages conversation, problem solving, and connection!

• The Cootie Game Looking for a toddler-appropriate game? My mom just got this game for Cole (age 2) and he is LOVING it! Roll a dice to determine which body parts you can add to your Cootie. The first person with a complete Cootie wins! It’s a great introductory game that teaches taking turns and body part identification. Please note there are some small pieces, so definitely don’t leave your little ones alone with the game, especially if they are like Cole and still want to put everything in their mouths!
• Sneaky Snacky Squirrel This is one of our favorite family games for young children! It helps children build skills like color identification, matching skills, fine motor skills, and lots of opportunities for strategic thinking.
• Sorry! This super fun classic blends chance and strategy. It is a household favorite because it is enjoyable for kiddos and adults!
• Fun Pack Card Set This card set has 6 different games: Go Fish, Memory, Old maid, Crazy Eights, Slap Jack, and Matching. Great for your family or to break up as stocking stuffers!
• Jenga Another classic that teaches patience, and builds motor skills and coordination. We’ve found playing this always leads to some good laughs!
• UNO Now that Isla is getting a little older we are looking for games that encourage strategic thinking, and Uno is an obvious choice! Plus, it is compact and travels well– perfect to keep in your purse or back pack to bring wherever you go.
• Spot It! This is another fantastic game that is compact enough to be carried around with you all time time. It’s a fast paced visual game that can be played with 2 or more players. While you can get caught up and play it for long stretches of time, we love that it is simple enough you can play for just a few minutes as well– for example, when waiting in a long line at the store.

Science Kits and Experiments

Science kits are a great way to spend time together learning through hands on experiences.

• Geode Kit Children can crack open their own geodes and discover the sparkly crystals inside. We have done this several times with Isla, and she is always giddy about discovering the different crystals inside. Our extra safety tip is to slip the geode into an old sock before hitting it with the hammer to prevent little pieces from flying all over.
• Crystal Growing Kit If your kids are half as into sparkly things as ours are, a crystal kit is such a fun option! This kit contains everything you need to grow and observe several different types of crystal!
• Science Kit Over 60 experiments are included in this kit! Most supplies are included, except for a few common household items. So many possibilities!
• Owl Pellets If you’re feeling really adventurous, this is the perfect gift for young scientists who are interested in exploring more about the predator/prey relationship between barn owls and rodents! This kit includes a bone identification chart, which aids in learning. Isla is getting a handful of owl pellets in her stocking this year and we can’t wait to see her reaction! If you’re feeling too squirmy about the real thing, this kit comes with synthetic owl pellets.

Art Supplies

Our family spends hours crafting and creating together, so art supplies are a common gift for us to share with one another! Consumable art supplies encourage time spent collaborating and imagining.

One of the BEST gifts you can provide an artist or crafty individual is an art cart filled with supplies! We gifted this art cart to Isla for her birthday a few years ago and it gets used every day! If you’re looking for something smaller, this art caddy comes in a variety of colors.

Fill the cart or caddy with a variety of supplies. We’ve linked some of our very favorite products below:

• paint pad (we LOVE the quality of this paper and it stands up so well to watercolor and acrylic paints)
• paint brushes (we look for a set with a variety of sizes, shapes, and that includes a few sponges)
• watercolor paints
• acrylic paints
• construction paper
• craft scissors
• glue and glue sticks
• popsicle sticks (we get ours at The Dollar Store!)
• pipe cleaners (we get ours at The Dollar Store!)
• googly eyes
• sequins
• glitter
• tape
• clay tools
• air dry clay
• stickers

Handmade Gifts

Handmade gifts are where you can really tug at the heartstrings of sentimental loved ones. The possibilities are endless, so we encourage you to think of ways to incorporate special details of your relationship into the gift.

One of our favorite examples was when Isla made her Nana (an avid reader and plant enthusiast) a book about their gardening adventures together.

Another wonderful option is to have custom jewelry made using your handwriting or children’s drawings. I absolutely LOVE the necklaces Isaac designed and IME Jewlery created for us. They are Isla and Cole’s first and middle names in Isaac’s handwriting– all my loves represented in two beautiful, wearable pieces!

Books

Really, is there anything more heartwarming than snuggling up with your family and a great pile of books to read together?! Books are ALWAYS a wonderful gift idea– especially during the cold winter when you look for extra opportunities to snuggle up together!

Find our all time favorite picture books HERE and our all time favorite board books HERE.

Wayfare

What better way to connect with the people you love than through a shared adventure?! Whether it be a simple walk through the neighborhood or a trip around the world, here are some wonderful gift suggestions for those who wander, and those you walk alongside.

• Outdoor Utility Wagon Now that Cole is past carrying age, but not quite big enough for our long walks along the coast, this wagon is perfect for when his little legs get tired! It’s also great for hauling beach toys and cook out gear to that perfect spot down the beach.
• Driveable Truck Cole has loved this truck so much since we gave it to him for his birthday, and enjoys taking it on our neighborhood walks! In fact, he was out driving it around this morning. Not only does Cole have the option to drive the truck himself, but we can control it with a remote! Toddler parents, this is a game changer! It is the perfect way for us to help your little car enthusiasts when they are a bit young to manage the steering and acceleration all by themselves.
• Macleron Travel Stroller Our Macleron travel stroller accompanies us on all our neighborhood walks and has carried our children through numerous countries! It handles smooth sidewalk, bumpy cobblestone, and even a bit of off-roading with ease, and it folds up easily. One of the features about this umbrella-style stroller we love most is how tall the handles are– no hunching over to push it!
• Packing Cubes These cubes have been an absolute game changer for our travel organization! We use them for month long trips abroad, as well as overnights at the cottage.
• Electronic Travel Organizer Speaking of staying organized while you travel, this electronics organizer helps keep all your cords and small electronics neat and in one place.
• Mi-fold Booster Seat This portable booster seat is so compact and easy to bring along on trips!
• Our favorite stocking stuffers for travelers include antibacterial wipes (bring them on the plane to wipe down tray tables and bathroom doors), Emergen-C packets, passport covers, Mentholatum (keeps your noise and lips moisturized on long, dry flights), and compact games (see our list above).

Whew! There you have it! We hope this guide provided you with a little inspiration for your own meaningful gift giving. We wish you all the most wonderful, magical, love-filled holiday season ever!

We wish you all the most wonderful, magical, love-filled holiday season ever!

*This post contains some affiliate links, meaning we may receive commissions for purchases made through the links on this post. All opinions are our own, and we only endorse products that we truly love and use ourselves. So, if you see something you genuinely would like to buy, we would greatly appreciate if you use the links we provide. Thanks so much for your support, friends!*