As a mom to 2 very busy toddlers that spend more time outside than in, I know the importance of giving them gifts they will use and love. I don’t want a bunch of junk sitting around our house or things they will get bored of after the Christmas fun runs out. These gifts are tried and true favorites that my kids love, some toys and some practical items, but all things your kid will be excited to open, and that you’ll be excited for them to use.
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GIFTS UNDER $25
Sequence for Kids
Sequence for Kids: I love playing games and having a kid that’s finally old enough to start playing games with is so fun. My 3 year old can play this, his strategy isn’t the best but it’s still fun.
Butterfly Garden Kit
Butterfly Garden Kit: This kit comes with everything you need to watch caterpillars grow into butterflies.
Kinetic Sand
Kinetic Sand: This sensory sand really is good for all ages (not for kids who put everything in their mouth of course). Even I like playing with it. Dump it in a bucket or bowl, throw in some spoons and little cups and let your kid’s imagination run wild.
Binoculars
Binoculars: These are such a fun addition to our outdoor adventures. My 3 year old has a little bit of a hard time focusing them himself, he mostly looks through the other end. But for older kids they would be able to see so much. And my toddler loves feeling like a “real adventurer” when he wears these.
Spot It
Spot It: This game is small and easy to bring on the go or play at home. You try and find items on your cards that match the one in the middle.
Play Silks
Play Silks: Play silks are a great open ended toy. They can use them for endless things like a cape, setting up a scene with the blue silk as water and the green silk as the grass.
Synthetic Base Layer (bottoms)
Synthetic Base Layer (bottoms): Base layers are a great clothing gift for kids because they are cozy, but also functional. These inexpensive layers are great to layer under your kids winter clothes, camping pajamas, or just a fun layer to run around in.
Kids Headphones
Kids Headphones: A good pair of over the ear headphones are great if you have any travel plans, or you have multiple kids. These have amazing reviews and I know multiple people who’ve had them for years. We got them for our toddler for our plane ride to Europe and they were great! He didn’t mind wearing them at all and they are built well. I like that they have a metal connecting piece.
REI Merino Wool socks
REI Merino Wool socks: Wool socks are a necessity for myself when hiking and as my toddler is hiking more and more on his own, I wanted his feet to have the same courtesy as mine. Merino wool keeps you warm even when wet, helps reduce blisters because of the moisture wicking properties, and are odor resistant.
I Spy Book
I Spy Book: This is a fun book that keeps my kids occupied longer than your average book.
Walker Family Lil Louie Sling Bag
Walker Family Lil Louie Sling Bag: This mini fanny pack is not only adorable, but also functional! My toddler can carry around his own toys and snacks and get them out whenever he wants.
*Discount Code: Hailey15 for 15% off
Wooden Train set
Wooden Train set: A wooden train set equals hours (or at least 30 minutes) of fun. This is a smaller set but sometimes it’s nice to not have 100 pieces to store and have to pick up every time. This set is a perfect size with some fun different pieces like the bridge.
Carhartt Kids Beanie
Carhartt Kids Beanie: This was the first beanie I got for my baby. We got dozens of compliments on it and it kept his head nice and toasty.
Badger Balm Kids Sunscreen
Badger Balm Kids Sunscreen: This is my favorite sunscreen for my kids (6 months+). It has clean ingredients, is reef safe, and it smells really good! And while it is a zinc mineral sunscreen, it doesn’t leave their faces white.
GIFTS UNDER $50
Kid Microspikes
Kid Microspikes: I am going to get these for my 4 year old this winter to help him have better traction on our winter hikes. I wouldn’t recommend these for younger kids but if you have a kid that’s doing a lot of hiking on his own, these are great to throw on for the compact snow on the trails.
Magna-Qubix magnetic building blocks
Magna-Qubix magnetic building blocks: These small magnetic blocks are lightweight and one of my favorite purchases. We brought them on our trip to Europe and my toddler played with them on the airplane, at restaurants, and at our airbnb. Magnetic toys are completely open-ended and great for all ages, even adults! This is the holder we use to travel with the blocks.
Kid Hiking shoes
Kid Hiking shoes: Depending on where you live, these might not work for the winter. But if you live somewhere with milder temps (or you want to buy for next season) these hiking shoes have been awesome for my toddler. He’s had 2 pairs as he needed a new size this summer.
Vitamin Gummies
Vitamin Gummies: My kids love these Mary Ruth Organics vitamin gummies and they will be stoked to have more in their stocking!
*Discount Code: MROHailey20
Bentgo Kids Lunchbox
Bentgo Kids Lunchbox: While a lunchbox may seem less exciting than a toy dinosaur, it is something your toddler can use daily and will make your life easier. It has rubber seals so the food stays fresh and is *almost completely leak proof. (dips and thicker liquids like peanut butter and jam don’t leak)
REI Fleece Jacket
REI Fleece Jacket: This fleece jacket is a must for the cooler temperature. I have it for both of my kids and it’s warm, lightweight, and packs down small.
Tonka Dump Truck
Tonka Dump Truck: We’ve had this large metal dump truck for a few years and it gets played with so much. We keep ours outside and it gets filled with dirt, the rock blocks, other toys, or whatever is around.
Rock Blocks
Rock Blocks: Switch up your kid’s regular blocks for these blocks that look like rocks. My toddler likes to load them up in his dump truck, stack them up as high as he can, or pretend they are precious gems. Lots of material to work with here.
Giro Bike Helmet
Giro Bike Helmet: This is the bike helmet we got when my son turned 1 and it’s been well loved since. I love that the back is flat so it’s not uncomfortable to lay their heads back in our bike trailer. They have since come out with a MIPS version, which I highly recommend if you are riding faster with your kids.
Picasso Magnet tiles 60pc the 100pc
Picasso Magnet tiles (60pc the 100pc): As I said with the other magnetic set, magnet toys are my favorite open ended toys. I can play with my toddler for an extended period of time building car garages, towers, birthday cakes, houses, you name it. This bigger set is perfect to have in your toy room or living room.
Toddler Fleece Jumpsuit
Toddler Fleece Jumpsuit: A fleece bunting/jumpsuit is a must (or at least an extremely nice thing to have) for any outdoorsy kid. I love throwing this on my toddler when we are out in cooler temperatures–around camp, on the trail, running around the neighborhood. He can get it dirty and it washes up great. And I don’t have to worry about him getting dirt down his pants and it keeps him warmer than just a jacket because there is no draft.
Toddler Digital Camera
Toddler Digital Camera: My toddler loves taking pictures on his little camera and I love it because he doesn’t ask to take them on my phone. It’s a simple design and he mastered it when he was just 2.5. And the pictures he takes are extremely fun to look back at.
Wooden Balance Board
Wooden Balance Board: This is actually something we are getting my toddler this year for Christmas, so I haven’t used this one myself! But I’m excited to have this in our house because of the endless option it offers. A ramp for his cars, a rocker for his baby doll, balancing on it himself, a tunnel..there are endless ways to play with it.
Reima Ote Mittens
Reima Ote Mittens: Mittens in the winter are a necessity. These mittens are rated for down to 20 to -20 °F, are waterproof, and have a cinch to keep on. Cold hands when playing outside are a quick road to meltdowns or having to turn back early so don’t skimp on mittens for your little ones.
*Discount Code: Hailey20 for 20% off
Black Diamond Wiz Kids Headlamp
Black Diamond Wiz Kids Headlamp: This is another item we are getting for my toddler for Christmas. He absolutely loves wearing mine and my husbands headlamps so it’s time for him to have his own. This headlamp is designed for kids, is lightweight, isn’t too bright so they won’t be blinding anyone, and simple to use.
GIFTS UNDER $100
Pikler Triangle
Pikler Triangle: We love our pikler triangle in our house. It’s fun for the kids to climb on and get some energy out even when we’re inside.
Sensory Table
Sensory Table: I am going to get this for my toddler for Christmas after seeing how much he loved the Kinetic sand. You need to buy the bins separately but it still make the whole set up under $100. There are endless options of what you can fill the bins with.
Stepping Stones
Stepping Stones: I just got these this year and the whole family loves them. We play the ground is hot lava mostly but my kids also use them to store things, hide things underneath, and they stack them to stand up higher. They have a rubber lining on the bottom so they don’t slip.
REI sleeping bag
REI sleeping bag: This is such fun gift for a kid if you have camping trips planned in 2024. It’s synthetic so it won’t compress down as small as a down sleeping bag, but that’s why it’s such a great price.
Yoto Player Mini and Yoto Player
Yoto Player Mini and Yoto Player: This screen free audio device has become one of our favorite forms of entertainment. If you haven’t seen it before, you insert a card into the top and it plays whatever is recorded on it. There are cards with music, stories, and sounds on them. The knobs control the volume and which track you want to play. My almost 3 year old can almost completely control it on his own. Before, he still really enjoyed it, but needed help choosing the track.
We have both the mini and full size. We love the full size at home but the mini is really nice when traveling. You can check out this post if you want to read my comparison of the two players.
*Discount Code: Hailey10 for 10% off
Lovevery Block Set
Lovevery Block Set: Yes, this an expensive set of blocks, I get it. However, we have put it through the ringer and it still looks brand new. There is so much you can build and the case the blocks store in can be turned into a car with pieces it comes with. You will never need to buy another block after you have this one.
Morrison Outdoors Toddler Sleeping Bag
Morrison Outdoors Toddler Sleeping Bag: I have used these sleeping bags since my oldest was a baby. We upgraded to the Big Mo when my toddler was about 2.5 and he loves to put it on at night. It’s extremely warm and true to its temperature rating. They have both a 40°F synthetic filled bag and a 20°F down filled bag. If you plan on camping mostly in the summer then the 40° bag will be sufficient. But if you are camping in early spring or late fall, you will likely need the 20° bag. I have both and while we mostly use the 40° bag, there are some trips where it is in the 30’s and we need the warmer bag.
*Discount Code: Haileyoutside for 10% off
Trail Magik Toddler Carrier
Trail Magik Toddler Carrier: This is an amazing piece of gear to have if you are backpacking with your toddler, or even double carrying your kids on hikes. It’s intended to carry your toddler on the trail when their legs need a break. You can strap it to any pack that has load lifters. It’s such a great design, lightweight, and minimal.
*Discount Code: HaileyOutside10 for 10% off
Toddler Trampoline
Toddler Trampoline: My in-laws have a little trampoline in their basement and it is the first thing my toddler runs to. He loves to do “tricks” on it and bounce his toys on it. It’s a great way for him to exert some energy even if we can’t get outside.
GIFTS $100+
Strider Balance Bike
Strider Balance Bike: Do yourself and your kid a favor and get them this bike. This is a sure fire way to get our toddler outside. She absolutely loves riding her bike and she can seriously fly down the street on this. It is designed to help them learn to balance and ride a bike, vs having training wheels limits their mobility and getting the feel of riding a bike. When we switched my oldest to a pedal bike, it was a very smooth transition.
Reima Winter Snowsuit
Reima Winter Snowsuit: This is the snowsuit I have picked out for my toddler this winter. I have multiple friends who have it for their kids and it is the best! So cute, extremely warm, and waterproof. If you live in a snowy location and want to spend time outside with your toddler this winter, a snowsuit is a must.
*Discount Code: Hailey20 for 20% off
Mac Ride Seat
Mac Ride Seat: This is a pricey gift but it’s something my husband loves as do both of my kids. It’s a seat you can safely mount to your mountain bike to let your toddler go on rides with you.
Iksplor Merino Wool Base Layers
Iksplor Merino Wool Base Layers: I will rave about merino wool until the end of time. There are so many incredible benefits: it’s temperature regulating meaning even when it’s warm it will help keep you cool, it is odor resistant, it keeps you warm even when it’s wet, and it’s moisture wicking. This is the only material I dress my kids in when we are out on winter hikes. If they have an accident (pee/poop/spit up), get sweaty, snow gets down their snow suit, they spill on themselves, I want to make sure they have a good material against their skin to help prevent hypothermia. (If you’d like to know more about how I dress my kids for winter hiking, check out this post)
I also use these as pajamas when we camp (and even at home) for the reasons I listed above. I’ve already passed down multiple sets to my baby which goes to show that they are high quality.
*Discount Code: HaileyOutside for 10% off
Lovevery Play Kit Subscription
Lovevery Play Kit Subscription: While this is last on my list, it is definitely not something to be overlooked. You could just order one of these and your shopping is done. We love our Lovevery play kits and I get them for both my kids. They come every few months and have multiple, high quality toys perfect for your child’s age. They are Montessori inspired toys that are open-ended and inspire free play.
If you enjoyed this post, check out my other gift guides for kids:
