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By Meredith Ethington

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15 Toy Gift Ideas That Kids Will Actually Play With

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I don’t know about you, but I constantly teeter between please don’t give my kids any more toys and please give my kids toys that they will love and will keep them entertained for five minutes or more.

So, I thought I’d round up some ideas for toys that will hopefully NOT annoy you, the parent, but also be something your kid really loves that will give you some free time.

These ideas are based on what I’ve seen my own kids actually play with, or things that I THINK they would love to play with. I have another list here if you still don’t find something that makes you get excited.

So, here are 15 gift ideas for toys that your kids might actually play with:


Santa got these Air Hog Remote Controlled vehicles for my boys last Christmas, and they have been a huge hit. They go in the water, on dirt, and on SNOW. It was the perfect gift last year when we had a white Christmas. We also fill up our bathtub and play with them too!


For little ones, the VTech Drop & Go Dump Truck is a fun pull-a-long toy that is also a learning tool. As your child drops a boulder into the truck the truck teaches them to count.

Scripture Stackers are a faith-based building toys that fit with most block sets such as Legos. Several sets are available including this 140 piece Nativity Set.

Skip the stroller and your little one can ride in a Step2 Mclaren 570S Push Sports Car Ride-on Toy for your evening walk with a parent handle included for guiding your child along. There is even a drink holder built in for mom and dad.

 

Bathtime can be a fun relaxing time when adding the Nuby Octopus Hoopla Bathtime Fun Set. It comes with three rings to toss on the octopus legs. Bath toys, in general, are always a big hit in my house.

 

 

WellieWishers by American Girl are sweet little girl dolls with Wellie boots that are easy to change and play with without mom’s help.

Guess Who? is a classic game for kids to learn evaluation skills while having fun too.

It’s hard to beat the LEGO Classic Creative Brick Box for Christmas. Boy and girls will love to spend hours building. The lego sets are nice, but I love how this sparks more creativity!

With Play-Doh Touch Shape to Life Studio, your kids can bring their playdoh creations to virtual life.

Uno teamed up with Minecraft for the Mattel Uno Minecraft Card Game. The perfect gift for your kids who love Minecraft.

Fingerling Monkeys are apparently all the rage the year, and I can see why. It’s like a little tiny Furby, except less annoying and smaller.



Gel pens are my kids’ favorite thing to color with. They LOVE coloring really detailed coloring books with these pens too. Perfect for age five and up.


The Boogie board is by far one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Get one for each kid. Totally worth the money to not hear them arguing over it. They are great for the car, church, or waiting at a doctor’s office. It’s small and lightweight and will fit in your purse easily.


Another awesome toy that my kids love are these flexible race tracks with cars that drive themselves. They are pretty durable and easy to move around and rearrange.


Magformers are always a hit with kids. And, while they aren’t exactly inexpensive they WILL get played with. My kids love these, and they are a toy that is consistently used in my house.

One more bonus idea – If you love subscription boxes, I’m loving the idea of the Pley Boxes. They have a Disney Princess one, Hot Wheels, AND a National Geographic.

This is a great idea for Grandparents to give, and will keep your kids excited for the mail to come and OFF screens too!

What is Santa bringing for your kids this Christmas? Got any great ideas for ME? If you’re STILL looking for ideas, I’ve got last year’s list gift idea list here.


3 Comments

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Comments

  1. Melissa Muhlestein says

    December 5, 2017 at 3:50 pm

    These all look so fun! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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  1. Please Don't Buy My Kids Toys for Christmas. Here's What You Can Do Instead. - Perfection Pending says:
    December 7, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    […] 15 Toy Gift Ideas That Kids Will Actually Play With […]

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  2. The Important Lesson To Remember When We Want What Someone Else Has - Perfection Pending says:
    February 7, 2018 at 9:02 pm

    […] spent months and months and months planning, and listening, and browsing Amazon for the perfect Christmas presents for each one of my kids. And then I spent even more time price-checking everything at Target and […]

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Welcome! I’m Meredith.

Mom. Writer. Diet Coke connoisseur. Born and raised Texan. Lover of real talk and laughter with a hint of sarcasm mixed in.

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Meredith Ethington

perfectpending

Mom • Author • Mental Health Therapist In Training
Grab my new book, The Mother Load, available now. 👇👇

Night night! 😤 Night night! 😤
If you missed my last post about how raising teens If you missed my last post about how raising teens can wreck you mentally….wellll this is part of the reason why. So lonely! But we are in this together somehow. 😂 Make sure to check out my latest substack and grab a copy of my book —- The Mother Load!
NEW ---> "When there are problems in these big kid NEW ---> "When there are problems in these big kid years, it’s no longer really acceptable to call a friend and air the annoyances of the situation. At least not the specifics.

Sure, you can commiserate with a fellow parent about teenagers being the worst.

But, to be honest - they’re not the worst. They’re kind of amazing. But their problems make me tired to my core." 

Read the latest on my substack. I promise you'll relate. ❤️
So sweet. ❤️ Follow me @perfectpending and bet So sweet. ❤️
Follow me @perfectpending and better yet buy my book or subscribe to my substack to support me.
"I don’t know about you, but I don’t really wa "I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want same-ness anymore. I want messy. I want admissions that shit is hard and we don’t have it all together. I want to have a makeup free, messy bun in my sweats run in with a mom friend and not feel worried she’s checking out my un-groomed eyebrows.

I don’t want to try to give off this illusion that I’m control of my life any better than the next person. It’s a shitshow for all of us, and we continue to hide it for fear of what? Being human?"

Read the rest on my Substack. Link in profile.
WHAT IF THIS IS THE HAPPIEST I’LL EVER BE AND I WHAT IF THIS IS THE HAPPIEST I’LL EVER BE AND I MISS IT? What if I miss the best time of my life. What if it’s right this second?
What if it’s right now while I’m in finals week of grad school, and have a kid that’s sick? 
I already miss so much. The gummy smiles of babes without any teeth. The squeaky voices of 2 year olds. The babbling of a baby that’s just trying so hard to say mama. The grammar mistakes my kids make when they’re talking that I don’t have the heart to correct because I love it too much. 

I miss a lot about those younger years that have already slipped away. My youngest is sick, much like in this picture, but he is too big to snuggle in my arms now when he’s running a fever. 

Today I had the thought, what if this is it? What if this IS the happiest I’ll ever be?
For a moment, I lingered in that thought as I stood over my sink and did the dishes. I started to cry.
Am I missing it? AM I? I felt a tug that maybe I was. Maybe I wasn’t relishing enough, and enjoying enough, and being present enough.
But, then I realized, it will never be ENOUGH. 

Read the rest in my substack ❤️
New year, same me. 😂 #mentalhealth #anxiety #de New year, same me. 😂
#mentalhealth #anxiety #depression
"I don't care" as I literally care about every sin "I don't care" as I literally care about every single thing.
I’ve got to admit - I’m kind of over all of th I’ve got to admit - I’m kind of over all of this. *sweeps arm generally at planet earth*

Look, I’ve never been a half glass full kind of gal. I can ALWAYS find the negative in every situation. 

But, right now it’s easy to say that I’m over it. It being.....

The state of our economy. Social media. People being unemployed. People being racist and homophobic. The debate over politics. People judging people. ALLLLLL of it. 

Everything is crap right now. We joke about it a lot. We have to in order to survive. 

It’s the one millionth day of January but Spring feels so far away. 

I’m over these four damn walls that we call home. 

Yeah, I know. Even as I’m typing this it all sounds like a bunch of ungrateful whiney BS. I hear it. I don’t need you to point it out, Karen. 

But, my guess is you’re reading this right now and realizing you’re over it too. Whatever “it” is in your life.

Some days the world feels like total crap. Everything is a mess. Everything costs too much. For E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y. 

Yes, even for you Karen. ➡️➡️ to keep reading.
Yes. Boundaries are healthy and good. And they mea Yes. Boundaries are healthy and good. And they mean someone loves you that much to communicate them! Love this wisdom from @wittyidiot
NEW POST ----> "This is not a post about loss of a NEW POST ----> "This is not a post about loss of a loved one. Or loss of a child. Those things are real, and they’re heart wrenching. And, this post is certainly not to compare that loss with the one I’m going to talk about.

But, the loss of yourself in motherhood is real. And It’s not talked about enough." 

Do you feel like you lost yourself in motherhood? How? I really want to know. 

Psss - I am in grad school to become a therapist, and am not ashamed to ask that you subscribe to my paid substack. I just lowered the cost to $36/year! That's like $4/month and you'll have access to all my previous posts, and some new weekly short posts to give you ideas to help with balancing motherhood and your own mental health. I'm learning a lot in school, and will only continue to do so, so subscribe and we'll support each other. ❤️
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Saaaame. @womenwhorunwiththemoon Saaaame. @womenwhorunwiththemoon
I’m sorry are you really wearing doc martens and I’m sorry are you really wearing doc martens and a dress with spaghetti straps and a Tshirt under it while you’re telling me I’m doing it wrong? 🤣 Life is wild. Teenagers are fun.
Found in my pediatricians office. 🤣 What’s th Found in my pediatricians office. 🤣 What’s the moral of the story friends? If you think your household is always sick - it’s because they probably are. Kids make everything more germ-y
Here’s what I do know 👇 No one knows what th Here’s what I do know 👇

No one knows what they’re doing. 
We all feel like imposters. 
Our kids love us anyway. 
We’re all going to be OK. 
You’ve got this (as much as any of us do) 😘

#momspiration #momlife #funnymoms #memtalhealth #parentinglife #parentingquotes
"By trying to be perfect, we're actually trying to "By trying to be perfect, we're actually trying to avoid being human." 

Do you struggle with perfectionism? Parenthood has helped me quite a bit, but It's something I've battled my whole life. I still struggle occasionally, although it's gotten better. But, let's stop trying to avoid being human and instead embrace ourselves an in turn embrace the entire human race. ❤️ I'd love to hear how you embrace being imperfect. 

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Mood. Mood.
Some of you wanted sources on my last reel where I Some of you wanted sources on my last reel where I said we only need to be getting it right 30% of the time for our kids to have secure attachments. Well I wrote a bit more about the concept of being the “good enough mother” a term coined in the 50’s by a researcher and pediatrician. Check it all out in my newest post. Link in profile.
It’s true! Researchers have found that as long a It’s true! Researchers have found that as long as you’re doing the repair after mistakes the other times - then 30% is enough! Sometimes I worry I’m not doing it right but I definitely know I’m doing it right 30% of the time! 
Probably a whole lot more to be honest. I bet you are too. #momlife #encouragement #momspiration
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