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At Reverie Home Collective, we don't believe that there are toys for boys or toys for girls. We do, however, believe in buying intentionally so that the gifts received help challenge what the mainstream tells your boy or girl that they can be.
For years now, for every birthday or holiday where gifts are given, I specifically shop for my boys on "both sides of the aisle". |
I don't just buy "neutrally"; I buy them a tea set with their nerf guns, barbies with their science kits, a dollhouse with their baseball bat. Try to think of the reasons we buy certain things for each gender, and then realize how incredible it would be if we turned the tables and gave boys gifts that encouraged nurturing, positive home environments, and creativity and gave girls gifts that encouraged scientific exploration, strategy, and a sense of adventure. In my opinion, it's less important to give "neutrally" and more important to give in a way that challenges the stereotypes imposed on them, so they can have a healthy sense of self as they grow.
[OK, real quick: This list takes me FOREVER to put together. You would not believe how much time it takes. I love doing it, but it is time away from work and family, so if you love one of the ideas below, I would be thrilled if you'd click through the photo to purchase. I do get a percentage of the purchase, and it's not marked up in any way for me to get that commission. Thank you so much for supporting me as I do this, so I can keep building this blog and posting more posts!]
[OK, real quick: This list takes me FOREVER to put together. You would not believe how much time it takes. I love doing it, but it is time away from work and family, so if you love one of the ideas below, I would be thrilled if you'd click through the photo to purchase. I do get a percentage of the purchase, and it's not marked up in any way for me to get that commission. Thank you so much for supporting me as I do this, so I can keep building this blog and posting more posts!]
RHCO Holiday Gift Guide for Kids
Click through the images for purchasing options (what did we ever do before Amazon, right?).
Keep an eye out for RHCO Favorites...these are the toys I wouldn't live without!
Also, these are ordered from youngest to oldest...and as it gets older, the ideas might be more expensive...but that's because they share an educational role. We are always willing to spend a little more on a present that might teach them something invaluable.
Keep an eye out for RHCO Favorites...these are the toys I wouldn't live without!
Also, these are ordered from youngest to oldest...and as it gets older, the ideas might be more expensive...but that's because they share an educational role. We are always willing to spend a little more on a present that might teach them something invaluable.
 
Spinning Stacker
*RHCO Favorite*
Pass on your mom's vintage stacker. This stacker entertains babies to big kids.
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Flexible Blocks
Flexible and chewable for babies, stackable for toddlers, throwable for big kids.
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Active Books
Get babies or distracted toddlers to pay attention from page to page with these busy books. There are tabs to pull, wheels to turn, and your baby will love it.
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Rattle Cars
Babies grip these easier and kids still using them for racing.
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Activity Cube
Activity cubes are a must. When they eventually get bored, turn it on it's side...they'll play with it like it's new.
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Chuckle Ball
This will keep your baby interested for a long time...and your older kids will get a kick out of it.
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Sounds Books
Like Active Books, Sounds Books help create excitement with books at younger ages. These books have the most beautiful natural sounds.
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Keyboard
Skip the baby keyboards. Get a basic beginner keyboard that your baby will still love but will grow with your child as they get older and are capable of playing.
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Balance Toys
Babies can play with it without thinking about balance, but as they develop, you can start balancing with them.
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Wood Alphabet Puzzle
*RHCO Favorite*
This puzzle is beautiful, the pieces can be played with on their own for fun, and the puzzle is complicated so it's fun for older kids.
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Doctor Kit
Nurture that nurturing side with a doctor kit. Make sure to play with it before doctor appointments, it helps with doctor anxiety!
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Color Wonder Markers
These are INCREDIBLE for encouraging creativity at early toddler ages without giving them a real marker to ruin your home.
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Tea Set
Some of my favorite memories are playing tea with my boys. Grab a book of kids poetry for fun.
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Wiggle Car
*RHCO Favorite*
These are the BEST. Especially if you have cold winters where you live. My kids ride these around my kitchen every day for hours.
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Leap Laptop
Babies love the buttons. Little kids love the activities. Big kids love pretending they are working.
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Non-toxic Nail Polish
For some fun creative expression.
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Pogo Jumper
The beginner pogo stick! A safe and fun way to get your kids moving in your living room.
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Magic Tracks
*RHCO Favorite*
Best track set EVER. You can set it up a million different ways. Everyone enjoys it, from babies to big kids.
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Apron & Baking Supplies
Encourage your child to help you in the kitchen by getting them their very own tools!
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Marble Run
Not for babies. At earlier ages, parents set up, but as they grow, they will love creating their own masterpiece!
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Ken Dolls
Help your children act out relationships, situations, and behaviors through dolls. Make sure your collection of dolls reflects the real world, from sizing to diversity.
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Magformers
So easy to use and so much fun to create with! Every year, we ask for a new set, just so we have more to build!
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Kid-safe Camera
Taking photos is about seeing beauty in everything and capturing what matters. Having their very own camera teaches children these skills naturally.
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Chef Dress-Up
Let them dress up and play restaurant for hours!
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Adventure Vest
Send your kids exploring with a vest that accommodates snacks, binoculars, and snap-on exploring tools.
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Artist Easel
I picked this one in particular, because I want it to grow with them. It's not kid-ish. This beautiful easel will inspire your artist to take themselves seriously in their craft.
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Pencil Roll
For your budding artist. It makes carrying pencils around easier and again...it will grow with them.
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LeapReader
Pen Set *RHCO Favorite*
I LOVE this pen. For the age before your child can read, this pen will help them explore LeapBooks freely. One of my favorite homeschool tools.
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LeapReader
Human Body *RHCO Favorite*
For use with the LeapReader Pen. They explore the different systems of the body, learn about how to take care of their own body, and have fun solving body puzzles.
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LeapReader
Space Exploration *RHCO Favorite*
For use with the LeapReader Pen. Explore the planets, answer solar system questions...SO MUCH LEARNING BEFORE THEY CAN READ.
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Snap Circuits
*RHCO Favorite*
This cool circuit kit allows your kid to follow easy instructions to build 100 different projects! Also, there are more awesome options, if you already have this one.
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Superheroes
Falcon is a favorite of my boys. When it's time to buy superheroes, nearly all of the most popular ones are white and male. Make sure to get some awesomely diverse choices for your kids collection. Superheroes save the world...diversity in the squad MATTERS.
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Weather Lab
I had one of these growing up and I loved measuring rainfall and writing down the daily wind direction. Encourage a scientific spirit with a weather lab!
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A Creativity Guide
This is an incredible book for encouraging and supporting the creativity in your child. Whether they are an inventor, an artist, a writer, or still discovering what they love.
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Journal Pack
I love these neutral journals. It allows your child to be creative and select one journal for ideas, one for reflection, one for gratitude, and so on. If you want to encourage mindfulness, these are a great gift.
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Colorful Pens
I gave these to my son one year. He went nuts. These are fun to give with the journals.
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Strong Females
Representation matters, and in every area of your toy box, make sure that women are represented in strong, intelligent characters. This is important for girls AND boys to see.
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Cash Register
From playing restaurant, to solving math problems, to cash management, this particular cash register is incredible. It fits real-sized cash & speaks in 3 languages. I looked at a lot of registers before choosing this one.
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Board Games
I buy board games for the boys at every holiday. I think they teach so much, from strategy, to healthy competition, to learning how to be a good sport.
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Disney Fairies
Not only do I love these whimsical movies for the boys, but I love adding fairies to their action figures. Strength and cleverness comes in all sizes.
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Puzzles
Puzzles make a fantastic gift, but I like to double them with education by picking out ones that teach about the body, space, or animals. It's so fun to do the puzzle together, and THEN read it after excitedly.
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Spy Goggles
These "night vision" goggles are more for pretend...they can't see in the dark. My eldest was a touch disappointed that he couldn't see in the dark, but now he wears them every time he pretends to be a spy.
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Ozobots
*RHCO Favorite*
When a gift combines fun and creativity with a very valuable form of education, we will spend the extra money on it. Ozobot is a brilliant way to introduce your child to coding and programming.
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Stereo Microscope
*RHCO Favorite*
Don't buy just any microscope. There are a lot of bad ones out there. This is a big purchase, but we considered it worth it for inspiring curiosity. This microscope zooms in, but just close enough to still tell what the item is. Look at fly wings, let them see their own boogers, or what their toothbrush bristles look like. It's so much fun that us adults use it after the kids go to bed.
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Solar Power Experiment
Create a car with the provided solar materials and a can from your own recycling bin. Very fun experiment and learning experience.
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Excavation Project
This would have been the present that I adored as a kid. Let them patiently dig up fossils.
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Representation Matters
This robotic engineer is one of the coolest dolls this year and would make an awesome addition to any doll collection.
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Globe
Globes are cool. And super important when you start talking to your kids about other places and cultures and people.
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Magnet Science Kit
Kids and magnets are a no brainer. Get this cool science kit to help them learn some important concepts while having fun.
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Black Panther Set
Awesome set of characters from an incredible awesome movie.
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Dollhouse
We don't have one of this magnitude, but my boys would just die if I bought this. Dollhouses are a cool way to let your kids play out healthy relationships through their dolls.
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Magic Tricks
My favorite way to do this is to buy an old suitcase from a thrift shop and then put the magic tricks in. Change out tricks as they get older and better.
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Junior Game Versions
*RHCO Favorite*
I've already told you how much I love giving games as gifts, but in case you didn't know, there are Jr versions of all of the classics so you can start games earlier than you think. Scrabble Jr, Boggle Jr, Life Jr, Clue Jr, etc. They are AMAZING.
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Tool Belt
Skip the simple kid-ish belts and get a good one that can grow with them for awhile. My boys love working with their dad on projects, and this was a huge deal for my 6 year old.
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Magic Wand
Because what kid (or grown up) doesn't want a magic wand?? Great gift if you are currently reading Harry Potter to your kid.
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Kid FitBit Watch
Don't tell my kids, but their auntie got them this for Christmas. They love keeping an eye on the time, and this has all sorts of cool things on it from sleep monitors to activity trackers.
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Structural Engineering
Kit
This incredible set challenges your child to build and create while learning about true engineering concepts. Definitely something to do with a parent, but the best gifts create excitement while inviting us to do fun things with our kids!
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I hope this list helped you shop for the little people in your life!
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