Gift Ideas for Kids 2023

If you are in the market for kids gifts, look no further! Below we have linked some of our favorite gift ideas for kids, organized by brand. You’ll also notice letters besides each link indicating the suggested age – B stands for baby, T for toddler, LE for lower elementary, and UE for upper elementary. Additionally, a “-” indicates a range, while a “+” indicates a continuation of play as the child ages. (Between our own family and Erica’s personal experience as a teacher and child care provider, we feel most comfortable with recommendations capped at upper elementary, but that may change as our own children grow!)

Note: These companies are mostly online-based, so if you are wanting to purchase items for the holidays, you will need to keep in mind shipping times.

With each company/product, we have done our best to stick to our values of toys and games that use safe and non-toxic materials, invite screen-free play, yield minimal plastic/waste, are high quality, and have simplicity of use.

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From Palumba

• This DIY yoyo (UE+)
• This mini bowling kit (LE+)
• This wooden egg cup (B-T)
• This set of wooden play dough accessories (T+)
• This wood and cotton, colored jumprope that is 7.5 ft. or this one that is undyed and 8 ft. (UE+)
• This set of 4 bean bags (T+)

From Pure Play Kids

• This spinning top (LE+)
• These 100% cotton scavenger hunt and bingo bandanas (T+)
• This sun art greeting card kit (UE+)
• This travel tic-tac-toe game (LE+)
• This natural earth paints kit (UE+)
• This rattle with spinning beads (B-T)
• This shape sorter bench (B-LE)
• This 100% organic cotton (inside and outside) cloth doll (B+)
• This reptile bingo (or any of the other bingo sets from this company) (LE+)

From Treasures from Jennifer

• This wooden craft board (T+)
• These water painting boards (non-toxic alternative to water reveal pads) (T+)
• This paint jar holder (T+)
• This Honeysticks holder, with or without Honeysticks (non-toxic crayons) (T+)
• This Honeysticks Thins holder, with or without Honeysticks Thins (T+)
• This fractions wedges set (UE+)
• This customizable wooden name puzzle (T+)
• This cursive alphabet tracing board (UE+)
• This 1-10 reversible numbers tracing board (T+)
• This sewing board (LE+)
• This large wooden bow and arrow set (LE+)
• This large geoboard (LE+)
• This wooden mancala game board (LE+)
• This triangle peg game (UE+)
• This wood shapes block set (T+)
• These wooden animal plates (B+)

From Under the Nile (all linked items made with organic cotton)

*Use this link and then select your items to get 15% off!

• This lovey blanket friend (or any others in this line) (B-T)
• This scrappy cat stuffed animal (or any others in this line) (B-T)
• This dress up doll (or any others in this line) (T-LE)
• This whale stuffed animal (B+)
• This octopus stuffed animal (or any others in this line) (B-T)
• This carrot stuffed toy (or any others in this line) (B-T)
• This wooden teething ring lovey toy (B)
• This side snap baby footie (or any other clothing items on their website) (B+)

From Etsy

• Gina’s Soft Cloth Shop – These organic cotton flannel wipes (good for diapering, as well as cleaning up little messes + bath time) (B+)
• ORIGINAL ONLY – Any of Suren’s nature-themed, original artwork (B+)
• Letter C. Design – These craft paper pocket journals (LE+)
• Menique – These merino cashmere wool gloves (sizes T-UE)
• Bean Products Inc. – This organic millet pillow with cotton cover (T+)

Kids Clothing Brands We Like (look for certified 100% organic cotton options)

• *Under the Nile (sizes B-6)
  • *By clicking the link given, you will get 15% off!
• *Honest Baby Clothing (sizes B-7, plus up to adult sizes for their matching family pajama lines)
  • *By clicking the link given, first time customers will get 20%!
• Hanna Andersson (sizes B-14, plus up to adult sizes for their matching family pajama lines)
• Little Planet by Carter’s (sizes B-5T)
• Makemake Organic (sizes B-6)
• Colored Organics (sizes B-6)
• Burt’s Bees Baby (sizes B-12, plus up to adult sizes for their matching family pajama lines)
• A few other brands with organic cotton items, but who do not hold organic certification on those items: Gap and Touched by Nature.

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We hope this list is helpful as you think through items that might bless the kids in your life. Don’t forget to shop sales and look for coupon codes when you can, and perhaps even check secondhand sites first to help make the most of your money. If you start to feel overwhelmed or pressured by what you see others purchasing or the marketing that seems to attack us at full speed this time of year, remember to keep things simple, stay within your means, and purchase better-not more!

If you have any additional brands or products to share that align with the values we shared at the top of this post, feel free to comment below so we can check them out, too!

Yours truly,

Erica Barlow