It’s that wonderful time of year again where we go on the hunt to find all of the things that our kiddos need and don’t need to fill our Christmas Tree landings. When I had my first son, I had no clue where to start or manage my urges to buy him the world. Not to mention December 25th is Christmas in our home and our firstborn’s birthday. I’m sure you can imagine the pressure to celebrate both uniquely. In my efforts to do so, I came across this amazing idea somewhere in another corner of the internet that helped me organize my thoughts and make reasonable purchases, so I wanted to share it with you!
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed with all of the incredible things available for our kiddos, worry not. Here, I am sharing my number one strategy and a gift guide to help you select the most intentional and appropriate items for your child(ren). I’ve chosen a few things that I love and plan to purchase or have purchased in the past for my toddler and put them all here just for you! As you read, click any pictures to go straight to the item, or use the highlighted description links below!
THE STRATEGY.
There are four categories to consider; things the child(ren) want, need, wear, and read. Cute, right?! I love it because it covers all bases and keeps me in check in each area so that I don’t go overboard in one versus another. The goal is to purchase a few items per category. That part is up to your discretion, so I won’t tell you how many you should or shouldn’t aim for. As Tabitha Brown would say, “That’s your business.” mmk? lol
When planning for each category, some questions to consider are:
- What does my child really seem to be drawn to?
- What can I introduce to my child?
- What activities or items has my child expressed interest in?
- What have I observed my child being really good at and how can I better foster it?
- What does my child already know and/or need to learn?
- How are his/her clothes currently fitting?
- Does their wardrobe match or exede my own in caliber, style, and effort?
1. WANT
This category comprises all the things your little one has expressed in some way that they genuinely want if possible. Or, it can also be the items that you think they’ll love, including characters of their favorite character or types of vehicles. All of the things you know without a doubt they would love and enjoy almost no matter what.
Bounce House What kid doesn’t want their own bounce house? Not only is it a great gift for your little one that the entire family can enjoy!
An Easel Accessory Kit is perfect for your little one to explore their creative side. It’s also neat because it comes with awesome cups to put the paint in, minimizing the risk factor of a spill which is the last thing any parent wants to clean up. Am I right?
This Kinetic Sand Folding Sandbox is an excellent attention-keeping alternative to actual sand or even playdoh. It’s great for sensory play, has a magnet-like feature, and doesn’t stick to anything, making it easy to clean up. There are also so many different colors to choose from for your little to enjoy!
2. NEED
This category comprises all of the items that you know your child needs. The things that may be missing from their wardrobe are tools to assist them in their adjustment and/or navigation of everyday life, etcetera.
A Hooded Plush Robe is a perfect way to add comfort to your little one’s bath time experience. We love a good robe, so why wouldn’t they?
This Mini Kanken Backpack is not only classic and stylish but waterproof. Whether your little one attends daycare or school or not, this is an excellent addition to teaching and increasing responsibility at an early age. Most children get to a place of desiring independence, and I love using a personal backpack like one of my many tools to facilitate this developmental milestone. Plus, you don’t have to carry and keep up with the little things yourself anymore.
VTech’s Write & Learn Creative Center is a favorite in my house. It is excellent to use for fun or educational purposes to prepare for preschool or kindergarten.
3. WEAR
This category comprises all the items you’d like to add to their wardrobe. We all know how fast these little people grow so it never hurts to have a few new items on deck in the next size up or even to add for the winter season.
This Ranch Jacket was too adorable to pass up! Kids also deserve quality and statement pieces in their wardrobes, making this stand-out piece the perfect addition.
Underwear is a must-have if you are or plan to start potty training any time soon, and this assortment will come in handy. I love these as well.
Jeans are a staple in my wardrobe and a must in my son’s. You can never have enough good capsule wardrobe jeans, primarily black or blue, to go with pretty much everything. Plus, the way these kids grow, it never hurts to add the next size up in advance.
Classic Air Force 1’s are also a solid staple for my son and will be on deck for my next. They are so cute and go with almost everything, so having a pair of these ready to go is a must.
4. READ
This category comprises all things educational—everything from books to activities that foster academic growth.
The Conscious Kid Board Book Bundle is a remarkable addition to any book collection. We love to bring them out, especially during Black History Month, as they teach about historical figures throughout history. But they are great at any point, and my little one often pulls them off the bookshelf. You can find even more of my favorite academic tools here.
Do you have a method of choice that you use to make these tough decisions? Was this helpful to you? If so, I would love to hear more about it so be sure to leave a comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe for updates! Happy Holidays to you and yours from me and mine!
