My Top 10 Favorite Toys to Gift!
Are you looking for the perfect toy for a favorite kiddo in your life? These are my top 10 favorite toys to gift at the moment. Nothing too messy or loud in the bunch! Scroll on for links and photos.
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This list of my favorite toys to gift caters to a range of age groups. Everything on the list is gender neutral and will make great hand-me-downs to the next kid in the family as well! These are the toys that have stood the test of time in my family and are tried and true favorites. They are always on my list of favorite toys to gift for birthdays and even baby showers. I hope the little ones in your life enjoy them as much as my kids!
1) O-Ball
This is one of my favorite things to gift for a baby shower! It is inexpensive (currently running around $5) and indestructible. Perfect for little fingers to latch onto the ball is made from a flexible material that makes it safe and easy to wash. These come in a TON of different varieties and will entertain kids from infancy on!
2) A letter case
There are several varieties of this toy out there, but the Elmo version has been a favorite at my house for the past several years. (There’s now a Cookie Monster option with numbers too!) I keep thinking my youngest will outgrow this toy any day now since he’s known his letters for a while, but instead he uses it to spell out words! The pieces are a nice durable plastic and they snap in and out of their spots easily enough for little fingers. This toy is always grabbed off the shelf when my nieces and nephews are over as well.
3) Magna Doodle
A classic! You can’t go wrong with a Magna Doodle (or any of the hundreds of other varieties of this toy). A mess free art activity? Sign me up! This is also such a great toy for in the car! Tip: Look for one that has the pen corded to the board so its not lost on the first time out of the box.
4) Aqua Doodle
While this toy does mean you have to let your kid play with water, the good news is that its just water! Spill from the water-pens will be minimal if any, so all you need to do for clean-up is let the mat dry out. This toy is great for indoors or out. The Chuckle & Roar brand is also a great choice for quality and price.
5) A Doll Carrier
While any type of doll toy is amazing fun for boys or girls, my kids got a particular kick out of having their own baby carrier. I often carried my youngest this way, even into toddler-hood. Target or most retailers have an option around $10, but we also found that Lille-baby has matching parent/child carriers! There was so much joy in this gift that it was definitely worth the few extra dollars. Other parent/child brands include Ergobaby and Baby Tula.
6) A Toddler Trampoline
This has been one of the top 5 things we’ve ever purchased for our kids! With our mid-west winters, having the option for an indoor way to get the sillies out is mandatory. The version we have is good for up to 60 lbs. so its lasted us for years. There are many a day where I tell the little one to go jump!
7) Lego!
Lego is kind of a big deal at my house, we literally have a room in the basement dedicated to them. Duplos (the toddler version) are such a great investment. Even once your kids are technically old enough for the regular tiny Lego they can still enjoy the Duplos. We have two baskets of them and they are still fun for all three of my kids.
8) The biggest container of crayons/markers you can find!
During Covid I ordered a lot of random stuff…I think we all did…one of those items was the biggest box of crayons that Crayola had. This was a huge hit and three years later we are still using them. First, there’s the novelty factor. Second, you obviously never have to worry about not having the right color. Third, and perhaps most importantly, no one has to fight over a crayon since there’s a bunch of similar shades! The set pictured above also comes in it’s own case plus it has a crayon sharpener. Crayola also has sets of markers like this which are slightly more messy but still an awesome, awe inspiring gift for a little artist.
9) Magnetic Blocks
These magnet tiles come in a bunch of different brands and sets, I haven’t found a bad one yet. I love these blocks because (most) of the sets have bigger pieces so you don’t need to worry about them being eaten! The open ended play provided means your kids will enjoy playing and building with them for years to come. I also love all of the accessory kits available (like this one with vehicle parts).
Bonus: If you’re traveling on a cruise ship the walls of your cabin are magnetic! These are easily packed and great to keep the kids occupied while you’re getting ready in the morning or before dinner.’Extra Bonus: When looking at books for the following item, I stumbled across Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Magna Tiles!
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10) BOOKS!
Last on my list of favorite toys to gift, but definitely not last in my heart. I am a sucker for a good children’s book and love the classics and the new classics (think Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom). Books last a life time and the really special ones even get saved to pass down to the next generation. Below are a few links to get you inspired and if all else fails a library card might be the best gift of all!
The Best Selling Children’s Books of 2023
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