It’s here…..the Raising Dragons Holiday Gifts for Kids Guide 2021! If you’re looking for toys, books and kits that will keep kids engaged, learning and playing, then you’ve come to the right place. All toys are not created equal and I love toys that can be used many ways and allow kids to express their imagination and creativity while promoting STEAM and literacy. Without further ado, let’s get to the list:
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TOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2021:
- Toybox 3-D Printer For Kids – My kids received this printer last year from their cousins and it has been one of our most used toys in the house! It comes pre-loaded with thousands of ready-to-print creations. This printer is truly designed to be used by kids with no adult help! Yay! Set up was easy and after a few short steps, the kids were printing all kinds of toys. We have also used this printer to create displays for school projects. Example: We needed a little airplane to put on a poster so we did a quick search in the app and before we knew it, we had a little airplane to glue onto the presentation. It also prints surprise eggs they can open, dinosaurs that move, and almost anything the can think of! The deluxe set comes with 8 rolls of printer “food” in lots of bright colors. The set is pricey at $349, but if you’re looking for that one big gift that all of your kids can enjoy, this is it! Get the printer here.
- Go-Cart Attachment for Hoverboard – I have mixed feelings on hoverboards (The potential to fall scares me!), but it honestly has been one of our most used toys this past year. We recently got this go-cart attachment for our hoverboard that has taken the hoverboard to the next level and in a good way! My kids no longer use their hoverboards to stand on (Whew!). They are now fully-functional go-carts that they ride all around our backyard and driveway on. If you already have a hoverboard that maybe doesn’t get played with as much as it used to, this attachment will bring new life to it! It’s also easy to set up and attach to the hoverboard. This one retails for $99, but there are options ranging anywhere from $50-$150. Get the attachment here. And if you need a hoverboard, click on this link to get one I recommend.
- BathBlocks Ball Run & Water Fall Set – This water play set is the perfect bath time or water play set if you want to add a STEM element to your play. My 8 & 4 year olds have been OBSESSED with this set since we got it and love building new waterways with it. From problem solving to color recognition to creativity, this set is not only super fun to play with but it builds important skills kids need! $24.99
- The Wild Robot Book Series – I love reading books aloud to my kids and my favorite series by far this year was The Wild Robot books by Peter Brown. These books follow a robot named Roz as she makes her way on an isolated, wild island. She learns how to survive and thrive amongst the animals. I found it lovely to read with simple illustrations throughout to give us just enough visual guidance that our imaginations could still run wild. We were so sad when the series was over and I’m secretly hoping Roz will have more adventures in the future. The hardcover set is $21.83 on Amazon.
- Tacto Coding & Chess Sets – If you’re looking for a fun way to teach your kids coding and chess in addition to making their tablets a 3-D, tactile experience, then I have the perfect gifts for you! PlayShifu makes these wonderful sets that attach to your tablet and allow it to move into a 3rd dimension. My kids love playing the coding games in the Tacto Coding Set. They don’t even realize they’re learning to code. They are also learning to play chess, and the Tacto Chess Set makes learning chess strategies simple and fun with lots of games besides the classic chess game. My kids love playing on tablets and I love that these sets allow them to do more than tap on a screen. The pieces that come in the sets have a soft, rubbery feel and are in fun shapes and colors, making them great for sensory play as well as developing fine motor skills. Get the Tacto Coding Set here: Get the Tacto Chess Set here:
- Raising Dragons Sensory Kit – Sensory play is by far, my kids favorite kind of play! And the benefits of sensory play are numerous – from developing nerve connections in the brain to developing motor skills to calming anxious children. I developed this kit with all these benefits in mind. The kit comes with everything you need to do 10+ sensory activities – from a calm down sensory bottle, to making playdough creatures, to making shaving cream rain clouds. It also comes with a laminated instruction sheet that fits easily inside a reusable storage container so everything can be stored together. $39.99
- Educational Insights Playfoam Shape & Learn Alphabet Set – If you have a preschooler starting to learn letters, then this set is a MUST-HAVE! Not only does the playfoam make for amazing sensory play, but the alphabet flashcards that come with it are perfection! They use arrows to show how to correctly draw the letters, so kids can trace the card with their fingers as well as make the letter shapes with the playfoam and place them on the cards. $12.99
- LEGO Education Spike Essential Set – We were fortunate enough to receive this set from LEGO Education this past year and it immediately became one of our most used (and fought over) toys to play with! I love that it combines LEGO building with coding and really helps kids build on STEAM concepts like problem solving and storytelling. This set is designed for kids in grades 1-5 and comes with everything you need to create lots of amazing creations that they then code and animate. Check out this video to see some of the cool creations we made with this set. I also love that it comes in an easy-to-store container that keeps all the pieces organized and in one place. The set is available for $275 on the LEGO education website here. If you have older kids, there is also a set called LEGO Education Spike Prime Set for kids in grades 6-8. I haven’t used it yet, but we loved the Spike Essential set so much, I’m going to get the Spike Prime Set for my older kids for Christmas.
- KEVA Contraptions Plank Set – These wooden planks may look basic but they are anything but! This is one of my go-to open-ended play activities that will actively entertain all my kids (ages 4,8,10,11). I love this particular set because it encourages them to build contraptions and it comes with 2 balls to run through their contraptions once they’re built. $49.99
- The Bean People – Bath Sprudels Bath Bombs – If your kids are anything like mine, the LOOOOOOVE bath bombs! These bath bombs are my favorite for several reasons: 1. They are made with natural ingredients, so no strong fumes or chemicals. 2. They contain a surprise sponge character in each bath bomb that can be used later for painting or other activities. 3. They are affordable! Most bath bombs I’ve found have been at least $4 each, but these are only $14.99 for a 6 pack ($2.50/each)! These continue to be a top selling item in my shop!
- Elephant & Pigge: The Complete Collection – Another series that gets read daily in our house is the Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems. I got this complete collection last year for my 5 year old and we read at least 1 or 2 of them every night. These books are simpler, yet beautifully illustrated and follow the adventures of two best friends: Gerald & Piggie. The 25 books included in this set are funny, sweet and always teach an important lesson. This full collection is $99 on Amazon and well worth every penny! It also comes with adorable elephant & piggie book ends to help hold the collection together. Get the set here.
- Kwik Stix Tempura Paint Set – 24 Pack – These quick dry paint sticks are hands down my favorite art supplies! The metaillic ones (that come in this set) are my personal favorites. You use them instead of paint and they are totally mess-free! Nothing to wash, and they easily wipe off tables or surfaces. Just apply to paper, canvas, balloons or any surface you would normally apply paint to and then wait 90 seconds and they are completely dry. These sticks will change your life…seriously. You’re welcome! $28.00
- Color Changing Squish Balls – My kids love anything sensory related, and their toys of the moment are these squish balls. They just love throwing them, squeezing them, smooshing them together and twisting them. They are super durable and we haven’t had one break yet (which is saying a lot in a house full of 4 boys). They are $16.99 for a set of 4 on Amazon.
Here are some more of my favorite gift ideas sorted by age:
Baby (0-18 months)
Toddler (18 months- 3 years)
Ages 3-5
Ages 5-7
Ages 8+
Activity Books
Stocking Stuffers
