Shop Small Gift Guide: The Kiddos
Last holiday season was the first pandemic Christmas and I made it a goal to try to buy as many gifts as I could from small and/or local businesses. Of course there were some exceptions, but I ended up having a lot of fun exploring new brands and shops and finding the perfect gift for all the people on my list. I enjoyed it so much that earlier this week I decided to share some of my best tips for supporting small businesses in the hopes of encouraging you to do the same this upcoming holiday season. In that post I also shared a list of some of my favourite small shops to browse for gifts, but I decided it may be helpful to gather specific items together in a fun little gift guide to make your small-biz Christmas shopping even easier. This post is the kick-off to a series of gift guides I’ll be sharing over the next week or two, starting with the kiddos.
Shopping for kids from small businesses has never been easier! There are so many amazing mom-owned shops that know exactly what works (and doesn’t) for kids. This list includes a variety of options, from stocking stuffers to the main event, for babies to 8-year olds. Even if there isn’t a specific item that could work for you on here, at the very least, my hope is that it will introduce you to some new small businesses that you can explore even further to find exactly what you’re looking for. Now let’s get into it.
Muslin Wooden Rattle (lapetiteleonne) - An all natural teething ring made of pure maple and soft plant-dyed muslin material. This is such a practical gift for the little baby in your life who will love to explore the different textures, and you can feel good knowing that it isn’t made of anything that can harm them.
Plush Sheep (KiouKiout) - The softest, most adorable little handmade plush toy that is perfect to gift a new little one. I have personally purchased a few of these plush stuffed animals from this shop over the past couple of years and each one is made with so much love and care.
Kitty Hair Pins (Cabin) - These adorable little hair clips would be the perfect stocking stuffer. Not into cats? They offer tons of different animals in their shop.
Art Out Of The Box (The Wonder Cabinet) - If only this game existed when I was a kid. The game involves pulling a topic card and pulling a technique card so you combine them into your one-of-a-kind art challenge (ie. draw a house using your non-dominant hand). It’s perfect for any creative kid and is guaranteed to bring endless hours of fun.
Forever Young Banner (Gladfolk) - The perfect wall hanging for any kid (or any kid-at-heart). I can totally picture it hanging in a playroom.
Small Weaving Loom (The Wonder Cabinet) - The perfect gift for a hands-on kid, this loom will give them the opportunity to explore a new craft and dream up endless creations in the coming year.
All The Ways To Be Smart (The Wonder Cabinet) - This is an adorable and inspiring book for any kiddo to explore. I’ve seen it available on Amazon, but I challenge you to consider sourcing even your book gifts from small or local businesses. Same product, bigger impact.
ABC’s of Kindness Flash Cards (Oliver & Ko) - These cards are designed so well and will not only help you teach your kiddo their ABC’s, but will also help you introduce them to a more robust vocabulary and empathic emotional intelligence.
Night Sky Wooden Puzzle (Soul Rose) - A simple, adorable, and timeless puzzle that you could pass down over the years, from kid to kid.
Dinosaur Bingo (The Wonder Cabinet) - This is such a cute game for a snowy (or rainy) day. If your kiddo isn’t interested in dinos, they also offer Ocean Bingo, Bug Bingo, and Bird Bingo versions instead.
Canoe Adventure Wooden Playset (Woodpecker’s Toys) - This adorable set is handmade and comes with various add-ons to customize your set to your exact preference and budget.
DIY Earring Kit (Cabin) - Another cute option for the crafty kiddo, this DIY kit comes with everything they need to make 4 pairs of wooden earrings that they can either gift to a friend or wear themselves. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
Those are a few of the items that caught my eye, but there are endless more out there. It’s fun to shop for kids - it brings me back to my own childhood as I imagine which things I would have loved to receive when I was younger. The art and craft options would definitely be right up my alley. I know that sometimes it can be hard to shop from small businesses for kiddo gifts when most kids already have a specific gift in mind that they hope to receive at Christmas. But at the very least, I hope this list can inspire you to incorporate even one or two small gifts from a small business under the tree. Even the little things add up to big support.
Happy shopping!
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