Where Play Meets Potential
I don’t know about you, but to me it seems like Christmas comes earlier and earlier every year. This year there were Christmas decorations out at Costco in August…like summertime August. Wow!
Well, I guess it is time to start planning. Every year I say I will start shopping for Christmas early so that I can find the best deals and spread out the spending. I hope this year is the year. I especially want to be prepared because baby boy is expected to arrive at the beginning of December.
My family creates gift wish lists which makes it super easy to pick out gifts for everyone. You still get to be creative and choose unique gifts that are meaningful, but it takes a little bit of the guesswork out of buying gifts you know they will love.
Everyone is always asking what Ruby is interested in and what Ruby needs. So, this gift guide will hopefully help out my family and yours too. This is a collection of items that Ruby either has and loves or we wish we could have.
I have worked with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers for over 15 years and I can definitely see trends in what kind of toys and items they will be into. I personally love a gift that can be used for more than one stage of development. There are phases that children really just love playing with household items like boxes, remotes, or wooden spoons (see my post about that HERE), so more practical or sentimental gifts are great during those phases.
In this gift guide I tried to include a variety of items to meet lots of different types of family needs and personalities. I also tried to curate unique items that you may not see on every gift guide you come across this year because I am always trying to think outside of the toy box (hey, that’s where the name came from hehe). I hope you find something useful or inspiring on this list.
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These are my favorite types of gifts because they are sentimental and meaningful. They show that the gift-giver gave some thought and time into their gift.
The following are some ideas for personalized gifts for toddlers.
Wonderbly creates personalized books for children birth to 12 years old. A personalized story allows a child to connect to the storyline and allows them to place themselves in the story, which aids in developing their empathy, curiosity, confidence, and creativity. Personalized books have a profound effect on literacy and language development. They are one of those gifts that last for more than one phase of development. I love that you can add a personalized dedication to make it even more meaningful.
Wonderbly is a great company with an inspiring mission and excellent customer service. They also ship worldwide!
We received What Kind of Ruby Will You Be? For Christmas last year and it was one of my favorite gifts for Ruby. Ruby loves the kitty character in the book and it is short enough to sustain her toddler attention span, but also has concepts like opposites that are great for older kids too.
10 Little Yous is a perfect story for little ones as it is short, repetitive, and rhymes. It has a super imaginative story with fun adventures on each page. It is also a great bedtime story.
Counting books are great for toddlers and with their likeness as the character they are even more engaged. I love counting books because you can extend them with lots of play and learning activities.
A New Brother for Ruby is such a treasured book as we prepare to welcome Ruby’s brother in early December.
She has some other “big sister” books, but the fact that this one is personalized with a character that looks like her with her name and with a brother like she will have, makes it more meaningful. I almost cried writing the dedication page.
Although Ruby is really too young to understand the impact of a new sibling, I think it is important to talk about with her and it will continue to be important as he is here and she is older.
This has become one of her current favorite books. The story also includes animals on the farm, which I think Ruby also loves.
For older children about to get a new sibling, this book is the perfect gift to make them feel empowered, involved, and loved.
If you have a new sibling coming soon or one that has just arrived, I highly recommend A New Sibling for You.
Another great way to incorporate a child’s name is through puzzles. We got Ruby this personalized puzzle from Busy Puzzle for her first birthday. The quality is superb and the colors are perfect. It is a nice decoration as well as a toy. We have even used it for some sensory play (Check that post out HERE).
One of my favorite traditions is putting the ornaments on the Christmas tree. I love it because I get to reminisce all the milestones and good times through personalized ornaments.
I love to give and receive personalized ornaments for this reason. As a teacher I loved receiving handmade or personalized ornaments so that I could think of that student each year as I decorated the tree.
Now as a parent, I am so excited for each new milestone and for years of handmade ornaments.
It is a good idea to get your baby a personalized ornament and have one for yourself, so that when they move out, they don’t take your ornament with them. Just an idea to think about 18 years (or maybe 30 ;p) in advance.
I personally love the ones that have either a picture or a handprint to show their growth and see how small they were, but there are so many options out there.
Around one year of age, children begin to show interest in making marks. This looks like random scribbling at first and develops into more intentional scribbling, doodling, drawing, and eventually writing. The more opportunities we give them for mark making the more support they have to develop these skills.
I think using a variety of creative instruments is a great way to keep toddlers engaged with mark making. These personalized crayons are unique, beautiful, and have the added benefit of talking about letters in their name.
Photo credit: Felecias Fashions on Etsy.com
Personalized cups are perfect, especially if your toddler attends school or daycare. Their cup is already labeled and less likely to be mixed up with other cups or lost. Note I said “less likely” because, well, toddlers. This is a great gift that won’t break the bank.
Photo credit: Smitten in a Mitten on Etsy.com
To me, Christmas and birthdays are a perfect excuse to splurge on gifts. Sometimes Santa brings the extravagant gifts and other times the parents take the credit. Who gets the credit in your household?
Santa always brought the large gifts for me growing up, but we have not decided how this will work for our family yet. Ruby will only be 18 months this Christmas, so I think we have another year to decide.
The following items are fabulous items that make unique gifts, but might require a little more investment than some of the other smaller items.
We love our Pikler Triangle so much. We bought it at the beginning of the Covid quarantine because we needed some indoor gross motor activity. The one we bought is from Turkey and we received it within a week to Las Vegas (during a global pandemic). I was super impressed with the constant communication and customer service from the store owner, Ozge.
It is so beautiful and sturdy. We have even used it many more ways than climbing. I even put together a blog post “How to use the Pikler Triangle Besides Climbing” if you want to learn more about how to make this item more open-ended and versatile.
Some people worry about their safety. There has not been any major injuries from the Pikler Triangle at our house and I believe it has helped Ruby to be more conscious of her capabilities and limits. You can also read my “Guide to Risky Play” if you want to know more about that.
We created our own DIY light table, but I think someday I would love to upgrade to a professionally crafted light table because they offer so many opportunities for play provocations that incorporate lots of learning opportunities.
We have used our light table for several activities, but I have also seen some very creative teachers using the light table in the classroom for some hands-on learning activities that I am excited to try out as Ruby gets older.
Below are some really cool looking light tables that I found on Etsy. Click the image to take you to the product.
Photo credit: Ready Set Play on Etsy.com
Photo credit: PlayMeCreations on Etsy.com
Photo credit: WndrOne on Etsy.com
If you have never heard the term weaning table, no worries I only recently heard the term. It basically describes a small toddler table and chair set. They are able to get to the table and sit independently, which is a big part of the Montessori philosophy.
Many of the table and chair sets for children are too tall for toddlers to get to sitting by themselves. That is one reason I chose this set because it is low enough for Ruby to get to at one year old. Plus, this table adjusts so it will work when she is older as well. Another great gift that extends past one stage of development.
There were a few different reasons I wanted a weaning table. First, I was tired of strapping her into her high chair for every meal and snacks. I wanted a place where she could go to eat a quick and easy snack if she was hungry and choose to leave when she was done. When children have the choice to eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full, it teaches good eating habits and self-regulation without all the negative coercing that sometimes happens from parents at mealtime.
The other reason I wanted a weaning table is because I was already planning ahead to the next baby coming in December. I know the baby isn’t going to come out of the womb ready to kick Ruby out of the high chair, but I wanted to allow for a slow transition for Ruby. Eventually the baby will use the high chair and Ruby will either eat meals at the weaning table or we will figure some other plan out (possibly a booster seat). Ok, maybe I am an over-thinker and over-planner, am I alone in this?
Just so you know with this particular table from Sprout Furniture, it took about 2 and a half months to arrive. I believe it is worth the wait (wish I didn’t have to wait that long), but if you want one for Christmas, you should purchase now.
There are various push items that are fabulous for toddlers. Toddlers love to push and pull items because they are using their new skill of walking and oftentimes are developing their transporting schema. Baby strollers, wagons, or scooters are great for this stage of development.
Ruby has a few items she can push or pull, but if I could go back I would have invested in an item that was a little more sturdy. When they are sturdy, it is less likely that they can tip over and more likely that they can push securely.
Photo credit: Luma Goods Co. on Etsy.com
Photo credit: Tuku Tuk on Etsy.com
Pretend play is such a crucial aspect of learning and development for young children. They imitate what they see and they are connecting and consolidating their learning as they do so. That’s why you sometimes think, “Hey, how did they even learn that I never taught them.”
I spend quite a lot of time in the kitchen either preparing meals and snacks or cleaning up. I would love for Ruby to be able to engage in pretend play around this integral part of our day.
A play kitchen is on the top of the list for Ruby. I was unsure if I should get her one for her first birthday or when she was a little older for Christmas. I think she would have loved one earlier as she loves to play at my mom’s house where there is a play kitchen, but I think waiting a little was also a good idea.
My mom and sister have the Pottery Barn play kitchen and I love it for how sturdy it is, but the cost is a little daunting. I am hoping to find one in great condition as a resale or I may go with another option.
Of course if any of our family members reading this is feeling generous, you can go ahead and chip in on a purchase for this Pottery Barn Kitchen ;).
Chelsea All-in-One Play Kitchen by Pottery Barn Kids
Little Chef Paris Modern Play Kitchen by Teamson Kids
This year we will be getting Ruby (17 months at Christmas) a play house as her large gift for Christmas. She loves the play houses she has encountered at her cousin’s house, her Abi’s (grandma) house, and at indoor playgrounds.
I have also seen how children (both boys and girls) love play houses for several years all the way through elementary. With this knowledge I feel more comfortable making an investment in a great play house that will last through the years.
The one we found is at Walmart and is currently out of stock (you can take a look HERE). But what I looked for was multiple features for pretend play (doorbell, door, large windows, cooking area) and a neutral design.
If you are looking for something besides toys to include in your gift-giving, then practical gifts are the way to go.
Practical gifts are great for when you want to get something the child needs rather than something they may or may not love. They are also great gifts for the toddler that has ALL the toys or whose parents specifically asked for no toy gifts.
When I was younger, my mom bought us new pajamas every Christmas. We opened them and got to wear them on Christmas Eve. It was a great tradition that allowed us to have cute new pjs in our Christmas Day pictures as well.
My sister in law was actually the first to introduce me to Primary.com and she loved it for the simplicity and comfort for her little one that hates anything too itchy, tight, stiff, or with tags. We personally own a few swimsuits for Ruby that are really great quality and super cute.
We had so many hand me downs when Ruby was born that they have lasted until now when she is in 18 month clothing. I am finally having to buy clothes for her, which is so strange. If you have seen from our social media or past blog posts, we are quite busy in play everyday and oftentimes it gets messy. That’s where Primary.com is perfect for basics and they have special features like reinforced knees that make their clothing more durable.
I am looking forward to buying some of their Fall and Winter clothing. Here are some that I am eyeing (go ahead Abi and GG you can buy these in size 18-24 months for Ruby).
If you have a younger toddler or older baby and are just starting out with baby led weaning, then I highly recommend the Grabease utensils. We started baby led weaning with Ruby at about 6 months old and then at about 8 months we introduced the Grabease utensils.
She never really liked us to feed her the purées so I thought, “Well, why not you can feed yourself then.” I wanted her to be safe though and other utensils she would stick too far in her mouth and gag herself.
She didn’t have the proper fine motor control or coordination for the regular toddler utensils, so what I really loved about Grabease was the ergonomic handle and the gag guard. Pretty cool design.
They also have some other cool products like the bib that covers the high chair and their whole upper body (my husband thought that was a little extra), a double-sided toothbrush (this might be our next purchase and could also be a great toddler stocking stuffer), and they just came out with a suction bowl that also has a great design.
A few other things I love about this company is that it is run by moms and that for every item purchased they donate a meal to a child in need.
Enter code: OUTSIDETHETOYBOX at checkout for 20% off!
Have you tried cooking with your toddler? I only recently have and I was very intimidated at first. You can read more about our cooking adventures and get some helpful tips on my post “How to Successfully Involve Your Toddler in the Kitchen.” With proper preparation, it can really be an enjoyable experience. A great practical gift for baking with a toddler is Mommy and me matching aprons. My mom got us these and I love them! Ruby seemed excited to bake as soon as she had it on.
If you have been following Outside the Toy Box for awhile, you may understand my love for loose parts and open-ended toys. At one point I looked at Ruby’s shelf and realized there were only one or two conventional toys on the shelf. We utilize loose parts and recycled materials frequently at this house.
There are lots of reasons I choose open-ended materials over conventional, passive, or super mainstream/commercial type toys. Don’t get me wrong we definitely own some battery-operated toys, but I try to find the open-ended alternative instead. The main reason is to support my goal of raising creative, critical thinking, problem-solving, focused, and independent children.
Open-ended toys support these values by not giving all the answers. The child has to think for themselves when working with loose parts. They have to come up with the play idea and how to work with the material vs. pushing a button and getting a sound. The more work the toy does, the less thought the child has to have.
Another reason to choose open-ended toys is that they last longer and can be used with different ages at the same time. Like I have said before, I love a toy or child’s item that can be used for more than one phase of development and open-ended toys can be used throughout their childhood. I love when my dollar goes a little bit further.
Below are some suggestions for types of open-ended toys with some examples that would be great to add to your collection of toys, but you can also think creatively here too.
Related posts:
Photo credit: Mulberry Toes on Etsy.com
This shop is full of fun themed loose part kits.
Photo credit: Curated Set on Etsy.com
Be sure to check out this shop, so many beautiful options.
We love this Wooden Pin and ring Stacker toy from Legacy Learning. They are a great loose part for open-ended play, but this DIY activity was a fun way to use them as well.
Check out my post “Benefits of Music Play with Infants and Toddlers” to learn more about how to incorporate music into daily life to provide many learning and developmental benefits for your young child.
Montessori Wooden Instrument Matching Cards
Photo credit: WoodContourCanada on Etsy.com
Eco-friendly Musical Instruments
Photo credit: Holly and Joe on Etsy.com
We absolutely love this calligraphy mat. It is so fun to paint with water and no mess. It allowed me to leave this activity out without fear of getting paint all over my house. It is also a great way to introduce painting tools to a toddler.
Calligraphy Mat
This is an open-ended way to explore mark making with water. It’s perfect for toddlers because they can draw or “paint” again and again with no mess.
Glokers Early Learning Kids Paint Set
If you don’t mind a little mess, this paint set looks perfect for starting out. So many great brush options. Crayola paints are included, which are non-toxic.
Photo credit: Shop Sunshine and Pine on Etsy.com
Photo credit: Kubiya Games on Etsy.com
Colorful Wooden Stacking Stones
Photo credit: Dilan Store on Etsy.com
Another type of play I am super passionate about is sensory play. Sensory play can engage multiple ages at the same time and it is valuable for various ages in different ways. Infants and toddlers are just beginning to learn about the world around them and they use all their senses to do so. Providing rich sensory activities allows them to integrate the senses to connect and consolidate their learning.
Just like with open-ended toys, sensory toys are great gifts because they last for more than one stage of development and they provide great learning opportunities in a fun way.
Related posts:
What’s the Deal with Sensory Play
This play sink is probably my number 1 recommended gift for a toddler. Ruby loves hers and it keeps her interest for so long. It’s like a fountain so it recycles water and young children love playing with the faucet. Why not save water?
These mini pitchers are perfect water play and practical life tools too. They are actually just creamer pitchers, but they are just the right size for little toddler hands. We use them all the time for our sensory play.
This zig zag dropper is part of a fine motor tool set from Learning Resources. Ruby is starting to get the hang of it at 16 months old. It is a nice size for little hands also.
Photo credit: Curated Set on Etsy.com
Photo credit: Bits of Imperfection on Etsy.com
Photo credit: Moon Mama Creations on Etsy.com
Photo credit: Kid Kits USA on Etsy.com
Photo credit: Creative Play Kits on Etsy.com
Toddler Blippi Inspired Sensory Kit
Photo credit: Play at Home Mom Co. on Etsy.com
Photo credit: Woodcraft by Cobas on Etsy.com
These are my top unique gifts for toddlers and I am sure I have missed some really great ideas, but I hope to have inspired some of you with your wish lists. Happy shopping!
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