TOP GIFTS FOR YOUR TODDLER

Amazon Echo Dot – Kid’s Edition: This seems like something unnecessary but let me tell you – it’s been a game changer for my kids. They can set alarms, play educational games using trivia, numbers, letter, listen to music and communicate with our other Echo Dots. You can even set a bedtime routine for stories and music of their choice to soothe them to sleep. You can control and monitor everything they do using your parent app and set boundaries based on age, etc. BONUS: They’re typically on sale over the holidays!

Fuzzy Blanket: Nothing beats something oh so soft, and oh so cozy to snuggle with. Bundle up and read a book together, get ready for sweet dreams or let your child take it with them as a security blanket. We especially love the print on this one and it’s the perfect size for little hands.

Remote Control Race Cars: On your marks, get set….GO!! Get ready to battle for fun with a remote control race car set. Steering wheel commands make it easy to navigate and roll. Little hands will love controlling their own car around obstacles, or just trying to drive on a straight line! Your little one will not be disappointed!

Hot Wheels: I can’t tell you how many hours our kids have spent loading up cars in the transporter, or making roads for them to drive on! Hot Wheels are always a hit and come in all sorts of sizes and sets. You can even make roads on your floor with tape and let the kids entertain themselves for hours of fun!

Wooden Play Food: Food sets allow your child to get creative and use their imagination. You can have a pretend BBQ or tea party or dinner party! Invite friends or have them dish up their teddy bear friends! There are so many options to choose from and you can even continue adding and get a toy kitchen! My kids always gravitated towards the “food” area any chance they got.

Lego Duplo: These building blocks are great for little hands and are larger (and safer!) than traditional legos. The pieces are easy to assemble and they allow your little one to create a whole new world of fun. Let them build cars, towers, shapes and, as a result, watch their creativity grow. See how your child’s confidence improves as they assemble new creations.

Musical Instruments: I feel terrible even adding this to the list but music is SO important in helping your child’s development. Instruments help with cognitive development, with recognizing sounds and improves their creativity as they invent new “songs” for you.

Kinetic Sand: This is my go-to gift for holidays or birthdays and it has yet to disappoint! Kids can form blocks, drive trucks on specially built roads and literally create their very own construction site. This is what entertains my 4 year old so I can get dinner ready or fold laundry without a little helper working against me!

Magnetic Tile Set: These magnetic tiles are literally the gift that keeps on giving! Watch your child create shapes, houses or towers one after another as they learn about balance, engineering, colors, geometry and imagination. They pack up easy to take to grandma’s and also clean up in a breeze.

Play Doh Set: No explanation needed, haha! Play Doh lets your kids have hands-on fun while they shape and create anything their little minds desire! They can make you “food”, discover shapes and colors or create their own little world of fun.

Train Set: Show me one kid that hasn’t loved building a train track and then pushing their train through! It’s interactive and lets their imagination run free. They can also work on engineering skills and bond with friends as they create new tracks for their trains.

Books: I stand firmly behind the idea that you can never have too many books! They encourage you to spend time together and introduce new concepts like ABCs, colors, numbers, shapes and food groups. Reading to your child helps them develop in so many ways and gets them ready for a life of learning.

Interactive Water Mat: This water mat is a clean, mess-free option that still lets your child feel like they’re getting dirty. They can get super creative and draw anything they want. You can practice creativity, coordination, color perception, letters, numbers, motor skills and shapes with them! Easy to pack up and tidy, it’s a win for parents everywhere.