The holidays are a great time to stock up on resources that foster play and learning! And with lots of shops offering sales right now, it can be helpful to nudge grandma and grandpa in the right direction ;) Here’s a roundup of our favorite screen-free gift ideas!
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WOODEN TOYS
I had to mention this right? :) Beyond what we make in our shop, I like to look for quality, handcrafted toys and games from places like Mirus Toys, Wren and Mae, Prodigal Handmade and Jack and Link.
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BOOKS OR MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS
It’s hard to beat a good stack of books, especially ones that are classic and can grow with the child. Don’t have money for lots of books? Try shopping secondhand at places like local thrift stores, Thrift Books or Better World Books. Or if your child doesn’t have a library card, consider taking them to the library to sign up for their own card! (what a gift that is -- access to thousands of books!)
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SUBSCRIPTION BOX
We’ve been gifted Little Passports and Kiwi Crates over the years and both have been really great for open-ended learning and play! This is also a nice gift option for spacing things out throughout the year.
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We have invested in and been gifted a lot of great tools, it’s hard to choose just a few. But a list of our top choices can be found here.
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I’ve thrown together a list of our top 10 go-to supplies here. These are staples around our house and some years, we ask the grandparents to help replenish low supplies.
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CLASS OR WORKSHOP
Giving experiences to kids is a wonderful way to watch them grow in their confidence and create fun memories at the same time. Check local community centers for kids classes in things like pottery, dance, photography, cooking or music. Grandma loves to bake? Your neighbor is an amazing portrait artist? It doesn’t hurt to ask skilled experts around you if they’d be up for teaching your child for an hour or two!
What did I miss? What would you add to the list?