Back to the journalGIFT GUIDE · FOR KIDS · 6 MIN READ

Gifts kids will actually play with, from toddlers to tweens.

Open-ended, age-appropriate and still loved well after the holidays.

Festive wrapping paper, ribbons and Christmas gifts

A few rules that work at every age

Open-ended toys get more use than single-trick ones. Check the age guidance on the packaging, especially for small parts, magnets and button batteries. And ask the parents first: they know what is already on the shelf and what will not fit in the house.

Toddlers (1–3)

Big, sturdy and hands-on.

Chunky wooden blocks or large interlocking building bricks made for little hands
Board books with flaps, textures or simple rhymes
A push-along wagon or ride-on toy for new walkers
Stacking cups that double as bath toys
A play kitchen set with a few pretend foods

Little kids (4–7)

Imagination, building and the start of real games.

A dress-up box: capes, hats, scarves and a costume or two
A marble run, magnetic tiles or a starter construction set
First board games with simple rules and short play time
An art caddy with washable paints, thick paper and safety scissors
A child-sized gardening set and a packet of fast-growing seeds

Big kids (8–12)

Skills, collections and projects they can be proud of.

A science or engineering kit (crystals, circuits, simple robotics)
A first sketchbook set with good pencils and a beginner drawing book
A book series to read through, starting with book one
A strategy or cooperative board game the whole family can play
A craft kit with a real result: friendship bracelets, embroidery, a birdhouse to build and paint
Their own camera, walkie-talkies or binoculars for outdoor adventures

Gifts that are not things

A day out with an adult all to themselves, lessons in something they are curious about, a museum membership or tickets to a show. Wrap a small clue to open on the day.

Keep track of who gets what.

Note the ideas, where each gift is hidden, and what you spent, all on one page.

Print the gift tracker