From one mom to another, toys for Christmas can be pretty frustrating to buy. There’s always that element of wondering if the toy will be a waste of money. The good news for you is that I have just experienced a Thanksgiving with 6 kids and my son’s birthday, so I’ve had a mini focus group of toy testing with cousins and friends! This post consists of the winning toys! Well, and a few other great gift ideas I couldn’t help sharing.
Oh, and most of these toys will help with the cabin fever that will set in by about day two of the break. Ha!
The kids LOVE this game! We played it over Thanksgiving with all of the cousins, and it was fun for all, EVEN THE ADULTS. I love games we can all enjoy. You put whip cream on the plastic hand, you spin for a number and see if you get pie faced! I have to admit, I got a little grossed out after my first go round, but it was still fun to do with the kids!
Look familiar? My cousin bought this for the kids to play at Thanksgiving. Guess Who played it first? Pun intended. Ha!
I have a secret obsession with Table Topics (more on that later). I recently bought these for fun to play with my kids. I learned more about them in ten minutes than I do spending an entire afternoon asking how school was in all sorts of creative ways. Here are a few of my favorite questions: What’s your favorite thing to do at recess? What do you consider your best qualities? If some go over their heads, I rephrase them. It’s the best game ever! I’ve put them by our kitchen table to play at dinner time.
Bean Boozled
Juicy pear or booger? Tutti-fruitti or stinky socks? Another fun hilarious game for ALL! I Iike this one because it comes with 45 individual little packs of jelly beans. That way, when it’s stored in the game closet, I don’t have to worry about bugs getting to it.
Pineapple/ Owl/ Cactus/ Dinosaur
How cute are these nighlights/lamps?!?! They are darling to have on a nightstand or desk for decoration, but then you realize they are nightlights/lamps and they become irrestiable! How cute would the wise old owl be on a bookcase in a play room, the pineapple be in a girls room, or the dinosaur be in a boys room? I love all the bright colors!
I’m all for a board game that my sons can play by themselves! They love this game and…so do I! Can you blame me? HA!
I’m not one for messes, but I remember loving spin art when I was a kid, so I acquiesced. My son got this one for his birthday. What I like about this version is that it’s hand operated, which seems to make it less messy. Typically, if the paint starts flying, they back off the spin (typically). Plus, I don’t have to change the batteries!
I bought this to give as a birthday present to friends, but that didn’t happen. The boys started playing with it as soon as we got home from the store, while it was still in the box! They were having so much fun, we decided to keep it. Now we play it as a family! We love to play it in the mode where you can pass it around in a circle and either, bop it, twist it, or pull it. It’s so fun!
After receiving this game, my boys when straight to setting it up (I helped of course)! It’s like setting up an obstacle course in their room with a string that has clips you zig zag to different objects! Each time you touch the string, it buzzes. You can set the timer (bomb) to make it more fun!
Wonder
After I finished a book, my Kindle recommended I read this book. At the time, I didn’t realize it was a kid’s book. In fact, it wasn’t until I was telling a friend about how GREAT this book was that I realized it was for kids. Every kid should read this book. It’s about a boy who has an abnormality that affects his face. It’s written from his perspective, his sister’s perspective, and his friend’s perspective. It’s light hearted and fills you with compassion and a little bit more understanding of what it’s like in someone elses shoes. It’s a MUST! A perfect stocking stuffer. Maybe I’ll start reading it to my older son at night.
Up your kid’s fun dance parties with Spin-Balls! Turn off the lights, turn on the music, and they’ll have a ball! Well, at least mine did. I have an iPad full of Spin-Ball dance party videos to prove it!
My friend told me this is the new thing at her daughter’s school. They all bring S’Well water bottles to school. She’s getting her kid’s names monogrammed on them with those cute peel and stick stickers. Knowing my slacker self, I’ll probably try to make my sharpie handwritting look pretty instead. Ha!
Absolutely LOVED this post!!! I have 5-6 items in my cart now!! Also, for some reason the Monopoly Junior link didn’t work for me? Kept directing me to Wonder. Thank you for putting so much thought into these gift ideas!! My girls are going to love these games!!!
Hi Anne! I’ve fixed the link! Thank you for letting me know! It makes me happy to know you found items you liked!
THANK you for not doing digital gift ideas! I refuse to buy my kids one more thing that contains a digital screen. Love these ideas!
Ha! That was unintentional, but I guess not in a way. I’m so glad you like the post! Thanks for letting me know!
I read Wonder and the other 2 books Auggie books (they don’t call the sequels) with my son at night. It was the best to read them together. Love.
Ok, I’m going to do it too!
Fun game ideas! Thanks!
Thank you, Sarah!
Great and helpful post
Good, I’m so glad!