Each year a birthday rolls around or Christmas season starts to ramp up, the thought of, “What do I get for (*insert friend, spouse, child, extended family member’s name here*)?” pops into your mind and twirls around and around in circles like a dancer in The Nutcracker.
If you’re anything like me, gifts are not your love language, but being meaningful and intentional are, so the idea of gift giving can feel slightly overwhelming with the pressure of trying to give THE perfect gift.
When my husband and I were first married, and celebrating just the two of us, we came across a gift-giving model that we felt was the perfect fit for us and we’ve held onto it for over 11 years now. It’s a simple, four-gift rule divided in very practical and intentional categories:
- Something they want.
- Something they need.
- Something to wear.
- Something to read.
For Christmas we normally gift each other (and now our children) one gift in each category, but for birthdays/anniversaries and gifts for extended family and friends, we try to give one gift from just one category. It takes a little more of the guess work out of where to start when choosing a gift for someone.
With the four gift idea in mind, I am sharing a few of my favorite things to gift to friends and family in my Practical Gift Guides below!
First up, my Practical Gift Guide for Toddlers:
1. A BOOKROO SUBSCRIPTION BOX.
Bookroo is a monthly subscription for kids that helps them fall in love with reading by combining the excitement of opening a gift with the discovery of a new, treasured book. My 3-year-old has gotten Bookroo books for the past year and a half and each month he sees that teal box in the mail, the excitement on his face is priceless! Every book is individually wrapped in fun wrapping paper and specially curated for their age group (board books, picture books, and chapter books). We’ve loved finding new-to-us authors through Bookroo and reading the sweetest books together as a family!
Subscriptions are available for a year, 6 months, 3 months, or a one-time gift. Perfect for any gift-giving budget you might have! You can also save a little more off your subscription by using the code MERRYHOMEBODY until December 25th for 15% off a subscription.
If you have a budding chef or a mini Next Great Baker in your life, a beautifully made and durable kitchen apron just their size would be perfect! I recommend these aprons by Poppy Laurel because they are double layered, their toddler size fits 12 months to 5 years, AND they also have the option to order a matching adult size apron.
The toddler aprons are all under $30 and you can save even more with the code HOMESWEET10 for 10% off.
If you’ve ever had to change a child’s diaper in the middle of the night, you’ve probably sworn under your breath at pajamas with snap buttons and vowed to never use them again. *raises hand* Ain’t nobody got time for that!
I never thought I’d be a 30-something excited about footed pajamas with a special zipper JUST for diaper changes, but alas, here I have arrived and I feel no shame. The zipper just for diaper changes allows you to unzip across the pajamas from foot to foot and keeps their arms and torso inside the pajamas so they don’t get chilly or squirm right out of them. ZippyJamz pajamas ARE THE BEST! I wish I had known about them with my first kid.
They are made with premium GOTS Organic Cotton, they have fully-lined YKK zippers, food-grade silicone grippy feet, and they run a little big so they last a long while. When we’re talking kids clothing and how fast they grow into the next size, this is a lifesaver. My youngest has worn the same pair of ZippyJamz from 6 months to 16 months and I’m still in awe of how that’s even possible!
4. CAMELBAK STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE
I’ve yet to find a sippy cup that doesn’t leak, so I simply gave up on searching. I love having a water bottle for myself that I can carry around with me, toss into my bag, in the car, next to me on the couch, etc. and not worry about water dripping out. When I came across this water bottle from Camelbak that was just the right size for little hands, I knew it was a, “Yes, please!”
Easy to clean (no gross mold build up in the flip spout), keeps liquids cold all day long, and it’s made of heavy duty stainless steel that won’t budge when it gets dropped on the floor sixteen times in a day. They have numerous fun designs as well as simple colors for just $20.
5. SWIMMING LESSONS
We’re pretty big on gifting experiences in our house because experiences build deposits in your memory bank and are more likely to be remembered long after toys and gadgets have been outgrown and donated.
Swim lessons are a great experience gift! Most children love the water and teaching them proper water safety while also having fun with other kids (or with you!) is a definite win-win.
Local YMCAs host swimming lessons as well as the American Red Cross. There are also many private swim classes taught locally and a quick Google search for your area will help you find them.
6. A ZOO MEMBERSHIP
Another great experience gift is a zoo membership. Fresh air, free exercise, and animals around every corner! Most zoo memberships can be customized to fit all family sizes and you’ll find you can get discounts on rides, events, and other perks at the zoo.
We love having a zoo membership because it makes our time there less rushed and more enjoyable. There isn’t this pressure to see all the exhibits every time, instead you can focus on a section of the zoo or just meet some friends for a picnic lunch and a ride on the train. It makes each visit different and exciting!
Simple, but sensible: a pair of classic Converse shoes that will go with almost every outfit a child wears. Our little ones have worn a pair of Converse since they could walk and each pair has been handed down in great condition. They are super durable! I’m partial to the high top Converse because younger toddlers need a little more ankle support, but the nice thing about Converse is that you can buy their classics in either high or low top.
A minimalistic bicycle without pedals or training wheels. It makes it easy for toddlers to learn the skill of balancing on a bike (the hardest part of learning to ride) before they learn to pedal. While using their feet to propel themselves forward, they quickly learn how to balance while coasting. Our three-year-old loves his Strider balance bike and often times he zooms by faster than kids his age who have training wheels. Such a neat concept for a bike that I wish had been around when I was a kid!
Now that you’ve seen my favorite and practical gifts for toddlers and young kids, I hope that the thought of holiday or gift shopping is now one of joy and excitement and less stressful and overwhelming.
Remember my four minimalist categories if you get stuck in the aisles of Target on the eve of a party: something they want, something they need, something to wear, or something to read.
Keep it simple, keep it practical, and keep your sanity. Happy gift giving!