What I’m Gifting for Christmas 2024
We are in the midst of a big month for shopping, deal hunting, and coming up with the best gift ideas. I hope this post makes the gift finding process a bit easier. Here are the gifts I’m actually gifting, broken down into categories, this year.
If you would like to read more about how we organize and plan our Christmas gifts, be sure to read this post. I have some great ideas listed on the here, so it’s definitely worth a read. We normally make our “do” gift a family outing, but we already have a trip planned for spring break and need to catch up on some 1-on-1 dates with the kids. We honestly don’t have the capacity or free weekends to take another trip, so we decided to keep this as an interactive toy/game that would fill up a lot of time. It’s ok to change what gifts look like every year.
Are you ready? Here is what I’m actually gifting for Christmas this year!
7 Year Old Gift Ideas
At 7, I’ve noticed a small shift away from toys into more games, crafts, and activities. While our daughter still does enjoy playing with toys, I can tell her way of engaging with them has changed. Here are our picks for our 7 year old!
Baby doll- she still loves to play with babies and be a mom to them.
Tennis shoes that tie- this has been on her list for months! Felt like destiny that I found a pair in her favorite colors.
Pajamas- everyone will match and I’m so pumped for the pictures!
We are getting her ears pierced! She was a little uncertain if she was ready to make the commitment a year ago, but she is consistently asking lately.
Miss Nelson is Missing- I loved this book as a kid and I think she’ll find it funny.
Rubber band bracelet kit- she is obsessed with these and would make them all day long it we let her.
Kalimba- a thumb piano wasn’t necessarily on my radar a few months ago, but I saw this online and thought it would be fun. In a very happy turn of events, our daughter started asking about playing the piano pretty regularly and I felt even more excited about this gift. This plays beautiful music and we will be printing off sheet music for her as well. I’ll be expecting a mini concert by New Year’s Day.
Snap Circuits- this toy/game is new to us, but I’ve heard amazing things! Our 7 year old loves to think critically and see results, so I think this will be right up her alley.
5 Year Old Gift Ideas
I think this is a fun age to buy gifts for- children in this range generally still really like toys, pretend, and continue to have the awe and magic of the season in their hearts. Our 5 year old has had a few specific requests throughout the year. I take notes in my phone and pretty much purchased most of the things on my list for her. Not to say we spent extravagantly, but I listened to her wants and needs and went from there while still staying relatively low cost.
Instant print camera- a camera has been on her wish list ever since her sister got one last year. This one will print more than 370 pictures without having to refill the photo paper. I am anticipating this to be a fun one for her.
Bike lock- we sometimes ride bikes to school if the weather allows it, so this is a very functional gift that she asked for. We have this same bike lock in a different color for our oldest daughter, so I know the quality is solid.
We are getting her ears pierced! She has been asking consistently for months and she does really well with blood draws and shots, so I think she is ready.
Sophie’s Squash- she has loved this book for over 2 years. We borrow it from the library and she will read it over and over again. It was on my list for her for a while, but this is the year that I remembered to buy it for her while she still likes picture books.
Thin dot markers- we have the thicker dot markers which get a ton of use at our house, but she has been loving the thinner ones at school. This gift will get a lot of use!
Light table with sensory bin- I am pumped for this gift! A light table has been on my wish list for the kids for a few years, but I never knew which one to get. I was worried a flat one without raised edges would be limiting, but this one solves that problem. It’s a decent size and will be great for a new way to play with sensory bases, draw letters, and explore shapes and colors.
Watercolor paints and watercolor notecards with envelopes- our oldest daughter got a watercolor set last year from Santa and our 5 year old has been really wanting one ever since. This of course had to come from the man in red, so it was an easy decision this year. She also loves making cards for everyone, so I think this will be a well-received gift!
3 Year Old Gift Ideas
Even being the third daughter, our 3 year old was pretty easy to shop for this year. She has such enthusiasm for almost everything and is still very much in the toy age. Reminder that we follow want, need, wear, read, make, do, something just for you (our version of a Santa gift). Here is what we will actually be gifting her this year:
Baby doll- everyone in my house has strong opinions on what makes a great baby doll and this will hopefully fit the bill. Soft body, no scratchy hair, big enough to wear clothes, and able to change clothes.
Table lamp- we have a Hatch sound machine in her room and not in the nursery, so we moved her old lamp with permission. Lettie has mentioned several times how she really does need a lamp in her room to help her see when she gets ready for bed. I like the shape and color of this one, the shade isn’t glass which is perfect for what we want, and it’s easy to adjust. I took this out of the package and it felt pretty solid.
Pajamas- these are our favorites and all the kids will get a matching pair. I especially love that we can get 1-2 years for each child out of one size and they wash super well so they can be handed down.
Rain boots- this brand has held up really well for us, we just didn’t have the size she needs this season.
I Wish You More book- this book is very sweet and makes my eyes just a little leaky. We always write the date and a little note. My hope is the kids want to take some of these as they get older and maybe have children of their own.
Puzzle race track- this looks amazing! Lettie loves cars, trains, and puzzles right now, so I’m expecting this toy to be a winner.
Magnetic drawing boards- a great quiet time or travel toy . The kids have played with these before at a museum and they were a hit.
Barbie Camper- Lettie loves Barbies way more than my older children ever did! We also went camping over the summer and she still talks about it pretty regularly. This will be wrapped in separate paper with Santa on it to differentiate.
I hope this gives you some good inspiration if you are shopping for a 3 year old. Head back here as I will add ideas for my other children and some details on how we handle sibling gifts.
1 Year Old Gift Ideas
Our 4th daughter was born days after Christmas, so we have a double whammy for the first time this year. Plus, being the fourth girl with very generous family members leaves us really not needing (or wanting) too many extra things. We of course want to celebrate Christmas with her and continue to intentionally teach all of our children about gift giving, generosity, thinking of others, etc., but we are keeping Christmas gifts for our 1 year old very minimal this year. If we are being honest, her favorite part will be trying to eat the wrapping paper anyway.
Silicone bath toys- these will spray water when squeezed, open completely to dry, and are dishwasher safe so we can make sure no mold grows in our bath toys!
Hangers- this is really one of the only things this darling girl of ours needs. We have the child sized felt hangers and they have been awesome for all of the kids, especially as they are learning to hang up their own clothes and don’t do it perfectly.
Pajamas- I love a matching moment. All of the kids are still very into matching each other. I will continue to do this for as long as they will let me.
Never Touch a Hungry Hippo- the whole collection of the “Never Touch a” books are so cute and the textures on them are perfect for babies and toddlers.
We are skipping the make and do gift categories this year for Amma. She will be absolutely fine, and honestly, she makes a mess and her favorite thing to do is try to eat anything she finds on the floor. We don’t need a new toy to help her accomplish those activities.
GO Tots School Yard Tumble- we don’t have any toys like this and it looks very engaging for a toddler. Box says 12 months+, but I usually try to give gifts for the “something just for you” category that would at least be somewhat interesting to the older siblings. I think it helps the sharing feel more balanced.
Stocking Stuffers
Traditionally, we keep our stocking stuffers fairly minimal. We stick to small things the kids would love to play with, functional or necessary things I would normally buy anyway, with a few extra fun things sprinkled in. I also check out the clearance rack at craft stores if I’m ever there in person and save my finds for stockings. Here are a few of our stocking stuffers this year:
Glow in the dark gloves- these look amazing and are a bit more expensive than I usually go for stockings, but I know the kids will absolutely go nuts with these! Plus, we value outside time and this will help extend that in the winter.
Barrel of Monkeys- I used to love these as a child and can picture the kids creating so many play scenarios.
Glow in the dark tape- apparently I was really loving the glow in the dark theme this year! I know this will provide hours of laughter and fun (with a little bickering mixed in).
Sibling Gifts
We, as parents, provide each child with a certain dollar amount (usually between $5-10) to spend on each sibling. The kids can team up to buy something more expensive if they choose, which they almost always do. Even if the gifts are inexpensive, I love the way we live out our values with this idea. The kids are invested in thinking about their siblings and there are some good money lessons involved. This might evolve as the kids get older, but this is where we are at right now. Here are the gifts they selected for each other this year:
Air dry clay- the older kids love this in school and the younger kids listened when the oldest said she wanted some months ago. They remembered and we found some within the price range.
Taco vs. Burrito expansion pack- all of the kids and adults love this game in our house, so the expansion pack will be super fun!
Gems, stickers, and washi tape- gems and washi tape were a request from the 3 year old a few months ago and the older children took note and instantly had an idea when I asked what they wanted to get. To keep this within budget, we are separating the packs. Some will go to a different child from the siblings and I will keep the rest for Easter baskets.
Stuffed pig- Our 5 year old has a stuffed hippo that the baby LOVES! It would be too confusing if we had an identical hippo, so the kids searched through every animal from the same brand and decided a little piggy was the most similar. They are all very excited for the baby to open this gift!
Nieces and Nephews
This year all of my nieces and nephews are 5 and under, but honestly everything on this list would be well received by all of my children. I try to give things the children will use frequently, enjoy immensely, or be able to consume. I don’t like short lived toys at my house, so I try not to give them. I’m also adding in some clothes and books, but here are the toys we are gifting:
Glow in the dark soccer ball- THIS. LOOKS. SO. COOL. I almost ordered 2 so we could keep one at my house, but I stuck to my categories and have other things I feel confident my children will love.
Sticker and coloring book- we actually own this and all of my children flock to it even months after it entered our home.
Helicopter toy- this is a favorite bath toy in our house and I love basically everything from Green Toys.
Stretchy sensory strings- don’t ask why, but these things are a hit! You can find my children carrying these around in purses, backpacks, the diaper bag, on their dressers, as pretend money, or in a multitude of other ways in pretend play.
Monkey foam- a fun and unique sensory toy that doesn’t make a mess. Fun to mold into shapes or just squeeze.
Nesting gnomes- great for counting, color sorting, object permanence, coordination, size ordering, and just plain fun. I’m also betting these will age well for pretend play.
My children will also be making a special gift for their cousins, which I will share soon. Happy shopping and Merry Christmas!
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