10 Gifts We Love for the Holidays
Hello dear parents and educators!
As we eagerly anticipate the festive season, it's time to consider gifts that offer more than just momentary joy for our children. This year, let's select presents that not only delight but also inspire curiosity, creativity, and kindness. I've curated a list of our favorite holiday gifts for 2023, each chosen for its unique blend of fun and learning.
1. Sparkle Stories
We can't help but start off this list with our own company — because we think our product is amazing! Sparkle Stories is an enchanting collection of over 1,400 original audio stories designed for children ages 3 to 9+. These stories are meticulously crafted to captivate young minds while nurturing their sense of curiosity, play, and joy. By focusing on age-appropriate content, Sparkle Stories aims to provide strengths-based opportunities for mental and emotional growth. Moreover, these stories serve as an invaluable resource for parents, modeling heart-centered parenting techniques and offering guidance through various parenting challenges. Each narrative weaves together imagination and life lessons, emphasizing values like kindness, empathy, and respect. This auditory treasure trove is an ideal holiday gift, combining entertainment with meaningful educational content.
2. Waldorfish
Waldorfish presents a creative approach to learning rooted in the principles of Waldorf education. Their offerings include a wide range of online art classes and tutorials specifically designed to inspire imagination and nurture artistic skills in children. These resources are ideal for young artists and creators, providing them with a platform to explore various art forms and techniques. Waldorfish's approach to learning is holistic, focusing on the development of the whole child including their artistic, emotional, and intellectual growth. This makes Waldorfish an excellent gift choice for children who show a keen interest in creativity and artistic expression. (Reach out to Waldorfish directly for gift options.)
3. Nova Natural Waldorf Dolls
Nova Natural's Waldorf Dolls are lovingly handcrafted, offering more than just playtime companionship. Made from natural materials, these dolls are designed to inspire imaginative play which is crucial for emotional and cognitive development in children. Each doll's soft, warm texture makes them ideal cuddle companions, fostering a sense of comfort and security in young children. The simplicity of the dolls' features encourages children to project their own emotions and narratives onto the dolls, making playtime a rich, imaginative experience. These dolls are a thoughtful gift, perfect for encouraging creative storytelling and emotional exploration in children.
4. Cuddle + Kind Hand-Knit Dolls
Cuddle + Kind's collection of hand-knit dolls is as heartwarming as it is socially responsible. Each doll is intricately crafted and paired with its own unique personality and story — a perfectly endearing companion for a child. For every doll purchased, Cuddle + Kind provides meals to children in need, making this gift a lesson in empathy and social responsibility. The dolls are made from high-quality, safe materials for a cuddly and durable toy. But these charming dolls are not merely toys; they are symbols of kindness and care — a truly meaningful gift for children.
5. Land of Dough - Planet Earth
Land of Dough's Planet Earth play dough offers a tactile and imaginative play experience. Made with natural ingredients and environmentally friendly colors, this play dough is a safe choice for young children. The dough's consistency and vibrant colors encourage creative expression and sensory exploration. Playing with dough helps in the development of fine motor skills and can be a calming, therapeutic activity for children. This eco-friendly, creative play option is a wonderful gift for fostering imagination and environmental awareness in children.
6. Weather Watch Wooden Toy Set
The Weather Watch Wooden Toy Set from Tender Leaf Toys is an innovative educational tool that introduces children to the fascinating world of weather. This interactive set includes various elements that help explain weather patterns, seasons, and natural phenomena. It encourages children to observe and understand the environment around them, sparking curiosity about meteorology and the natural world. The toy set is made from sustainable materials, aligning with the values of environmental responsibility. This engaging and educational gift is perfect for young, curious minds interested in science and nature.
7. Filana Organic Beeswax Crayon Blocks
We absolutely love this set of 12 organic beeswax crayon blocks. They are smooth, bright, and don’t roll around. They are easy for small hands to grasp and bigger kids enjoy using them to try out different coloring techniques. Children can use these to explore textures, learn to grip, and play with color. The beauty and quality of these crayon blocks engages kids and invites them to create.
8. Wooden Blocks
Children of all ages enjoy wooden blocks, and we love this set we found at The Wooden Wagon made with beechwood, natural dyes, and beeswax. Building blocks provide hours of open-ended exploration, creative play, and imaginative building. This beautiful set of 30 blocks in a variety of shapes allows for lots of possibility, and the blocks are packed in a wooden tray for ease of storage and added opportunity for puzzling and creating order.
9. Backyard Birds Wooden Memory Game
Each of the beautiful birch tiles in this game from Maple Landmark has a colorful illustration of birds commonly seen in many areas of the United States. This engaging toy helps children learn new species while working on their memory and increases their awareness of the natural world. It encourages focus and attention and inspires continued learning. Featured birds include goldfinch, cardinal, oriole, woodpecker, bluebird, hummingbird, bald eagle, chickadee, bluejay, and snowy owl.
10. Build Your Own Solar Powered Car
This 3D STEM puzzle kit from Teni & Tayo Creations is so much fun for kids and adults — it’s a perfect gift to bring children and their caretakers together. This kit is one of several offered by Teni & Tayo. It encourages problem solving and attention to detail, it sparks imagination, critical thinking, and creativity, and it supports developing fine motor skills while offering a sense of accomplishment. The kit includes all the parts necessary to build and paint a solar-powered car that actually runs — so exciting!
