I wasn’t going to make one of these, but then I was answering so many direct messages with favorites and passing ideas to friends, I figured I might as well put them all in one place. So here it is—our 2020 Kids Gift Guide. These ideas are pulled from my kids’ favorite gifts they’ve received, our most loved and used toys in our home, things they’re asking for this year and some fun gifts I’ve found that I know they’ll love. Happy Shopping!
FOR LAINEY
1. Personal Smoothie Maker
Oh my God with the smoothies. I’m sick of my blender being dragged out for one smoothie and the mess that follows. This is just the ticket. A personal smoothie maker with the cup built in.
2. Glossier Cloud Paint and Lip Gloss
Lainey’s discovered the cult favorite brand Glossier (I love them too!). Lots of simple sheer colors and minimal makeup looks for tweens and teens dipping their toes into the fun expressive world of makeup.
3. The Adventure Challenge Family Kit or just the book
Created to bring families together, these kits include a limited edition signature Lomography Automat Instant Camera and a book full of scratch-off adventures for families to experience and document together.
4. Towel Steamer
I smiled when I saw this on Lainey’s list this year—sister loves some self care rituals. I also love that I know how this request came to be. Lainey sets up spa days for Nella, and she wants to level up with steamed towels ready to go. I hope Santa brings this just so I can steal some towels for my own self care nights.
5. Tortilla Blanket
This has been on Lainey’s list for months. I admit, I don’t understand the appeal.
6. Fjallraven Crossbody Bag
Lainey received this last year and loves it. Lots of colors to choose from!
7. White Zoe Chelsea Boots
(similar boots from Zara if still in kid sizes)
10. Electric Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt Maker
11. Write Here Now Journal
The prompts in this journal are so creative and inviting!
12. Canon Cliq Camera with Built-in Printer
13. Ipsy Subscription
$12/month (you can cancel any time). Monthly make-up bag with 5 deluxe-sized samples selected from a quiz you take with all your preferences.
FOR NELLA
1. Boden Rainbow Stripe Slippers
2. Olli Ella Suitcase
This timeless beautiful suitcase is one you’ll use again and again and save as a keepsake. Pretty enough to keep out as a display (we store doll clothes in ours when we aren’t using it for trips).
3. Wreck This Picture Book
Brand new book from the makers of the hit Wreck This Journal. This one’s just for kids! They’ll have so much fun making this book their own.
4. Spa Barbie
This is what Nella says she wants any time we ask her about her list.
5. Trish Scully Dress-up Dresses
Nella LOVES fancy dress-up dresses, but so many of them are cheaply made and one-size-fits-toddlers. These are beautiful real dresses that come in a range of sizes.
6. Galaxy Projector
Our galaxy projector is one of our favorite things we own for kids and something we’ve made memories with for years. They finally made this more affordable version (ours was $100–this one wasn’t available when we bought it several years ago).
7. Frida Kahlo Sweatshirt
We LOVE Piccolina Kids tees. It’s fun to wear our heroes.
8. Pottery Barn Kids Sleeping Bags
This is the gift that’s kept on giving in our home, and I highly recommend. They’re so well made, adorable and easy to roll up and store. We keep ours in our closets and pull them out to the living room every time we have a movie night.
9. Alice & Ames Dresses
Our signature twirly dress. Nella’s been through probably 15 of them over the years, and she loves them today as much as she did when she wore them as a toddler.
10. Olli Ella Dinkum Doll
The most beautiful doll—and the clothes you can order! Oh my God!
11. My Generation Retro Hot Dog Cart
My kids don’t even need the dolls to have fun with these.
FOR DASH
1. MagnaTiles
If we had to take one toy to a deserted island, this would be it. They entertain every kid at every age, and I’ll have them in my house even after my own kids are old and grown. And you can keep adding more to your collection to build bigger structures. Currently, the kids love building our hamster MagnaTile obstacle courses.
2. Wood Bingo Game
How beautiful is this Bingo game?! Made in Japan and sold through a lovely black-owned business in Chicago.
3. Squeakee Balloon Dog Robot
This has Dash’s name all over it.
4. Worm Farm
Lainey and Dash have been wanting one of these. Excited to see if Santa pulls through.
5. Walkie Talkies
A hit gift for my kids at every age. The three of them will disperse both inside and outside and have so much fun communicating with each other only through Walkie Talkies.
6. The Upside Down Challenge
We love games for gifts, especially around the holidays because we’re home and relaxing and have lots of time to play them together. This one is sure to elicit lots of laughs and is something the little kids can play too.
7. Candylab Trucks
These keepsake cars and trucks are so fun to collect and display, even if they’re beyond the play-with-trucks age (which, to my delight, is still going over here).
8. Real Doctor Bag
My kids love playing clinic with each other and have gone to elaborate measures (making full body casts out of toilet paper) to make their clinic feel real. They’re kind of over the pretend doctor sets, so this year I’m making them a real one. I found a big black doctor style bag at a thrift store, and I’m filling it with a this real kit (cheaper than some kid doctor sets), Ace bandages, medicine syringes that look like shots, prescription pads, etc.
9. Bad Guys Books
Dash is OBSESSED with Bad Guy books. So obsessed, his teacher lets him take them home from her library for a reward. He hoards them like candy and gets super excited when he acquires a new title.
10. Jellyfish Tank Table Lamp
Looks so real! These kind of things delight Dash to no end.
11. Nerf Gun Target Set
If you can’t go to the carnival, bring the carnival games to you. Maybe I won’t find Nerf balls all over the house if he’s at least aiming them all in one spot.
12. Chasing Fireflies Game
This game is the cutest, and my kids are going to love playing this in the dark.
13. Gravity Maze
Kathleen says
Amazing list of gifts, I find some ideas for my son and also add some to my wish list ? Thank you for sharing!