The Ultimate Holiday Toy Guide for Kids
- Lucie Duffy
- Nov 25, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 1
Minimalist, STEM-Forward, Beautifully Curated, and Mom Approved
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If family keeps asking what to get the kids this year, or you’re looking for ideas that won’t add clutter, this guide will make your life easier. We polled our community and rounded up the gifts kids truly love and return to long after the holidays. These are the toys that consistently come up in conversations, the ones moms swear by, and the items that genuinely grow with your child. If you want thoughtful, non-plastic, STEM-friendly gifts that won’t take over your home, you’re in the right place.
Everything is organized by age to make gifting simple, intentional, and stress-free.
If this guide is helpful, send it to your family members and share it with friends. It truly helps our community grow.
Holiday Gift Ideas by Age
Baby to One Year
Soft, simple, sensory-based toys that support early development
A community favorite for good reason. Beautiful, developmentally aligned toys delivered every few months. High-quality, non-plastic, and designed for each stage of growth.
Builds early problem solving and hand-eye coordination in a calm, purposeful way.
Lightweight, bath friendly, and ideal for open-ended exploration. Easy to pack and store.
Washable, textured, and great for early grasping, rolling, and gross motor development.
Encourages early walking and supports gentle, timeless play. Bonus that its also a shape sorter.
A compact wooden ride-on that builds balance and coordination. Perfect for toddlers who want independence without taking up much space.
A beautifully designed wooden dump truck that’s sturdy, simple, and perfect for imaginative play. Smooth wheels, easy steering, and a classic look that grows with your toddler.
A sturdy, neutral-toned wooden walker with adjustable speed and simple activity features. Perfect for building balance and confidence during those early first steps.
A multifunctional learning center recommended by physical therapists for building core strength, practicing sitting, and supporting pull to stand. Great for early learning, music, and motor development.
A soft foam climbing set that is great for kids learning to crawl and building early motor skills. Physical therapist recommended and easy to clean, making it perfect for safe indoor play.
A beautifully designed wooden shelf that makes toy rotation simple and organized. Encourages independent play, keeps your space minimal, and fits seamlessly into any room.
A beautifully crafted Montessori inspired play kitchen with a real working sink. Thoughtfully designed to support imaginative play and practical life skills with a modern, minimal look.
Ages Two to Four
Open-ended play essentials that grow with your toddler
A cozy, 100 percent cotton play tent with a padded mat and soft star lights. Folds easily, stores compactly, and creates the perfect little hideaway for imaginative play.
A timeless wooden train set with a figure-eight track, train, depot, and trees. Durable, FSC-certified wood and perfect for imaginative play that lasts for years.
A small set goes a long way. Build towers, roads, houses, and imaginative worlds without overwhelming your space.
A toddler favorite for pretend play. This set includes firefighter, explorer, and other role-play pieces that spark imagination, build confidence, and keep little ones busy for ages.
LEGO DUPLO Set ages 2-4
A toddler-friendly building set that supports creativity, fine motor skills, and early STEM play. Easy to stack, safe for little hands, and always a hit.
LEGO Classic Creative Brick Box ages 4+
A timeless building set with endless open-ended possibilities. Great for early STEM skills, creativity, and family building time. Stores easily in its own box and grows with your child.
Toniebox Audio Player Bundle ages 2+
A screen-free storytelling system kids love. Just place a character on top and listen to music, stories, and calming audio. Easy for little hands, great for quiet time, and perfect for ages three and up.
Yoto Player (3rd Gen) ages 3+
A screen-free audio player that grows with your child. Kids insert cards to play stories, music, and educational content. Great for independent quiet time and perfect for ages three to twelve.
A lightweight, no-damage indoor ball kids can kick, toss, and play with safely inside. Comes with markers for coloring and customizing, making it a fun, energy-burning toy for all ages.
Guardian 16 Inch Bike ages 4+
A lightweight, easy to control kids’ bike with superior safety features and smooth handling. Perfect for first rides.
Range Rover 2 Seater Ride On Car ages 3+
A sleek, two seater electric ride on with smooth steering, a 24V motor, bluetooth compatible and a parent remote for added safety. Perfect for outdoor adventures and sibling rides.
Ages Five to Seven
STEM Building Kits
Simple robotics or engineering sets that encourage experimentation, logic, and problem solving.
A STEM favorite for big kids. These modular kits let kids build their own ride-on creations—from scooters to go-karts—using real tools and parts. Durable, educational, and endlessly customizable for years of play.
Monthly hands-on projects that spark creativity, problem solving, and curiosity. Each box is age-specific and packed with fun, educational activities kids actually look forward to. Perfect for clutter-free gifting.
A hands-on STEM kit where kids design and build their own moving bots. Great for engineering skills, creativity, and independent play. Perfect for curious kids who love to tinker.
Arts and Crafts Kits
Open-ended craft sets that inspire creativity, fine motor skills, and independent play. Perfect for kids who love making, designing, and creating their own masterpieces.
A colorful, easy-to-use bracelet kit that lets kids create personalized jewelry with alphabet beads and charms. Great for creativity, fine motor skills, and quiet play.
A giant box of craft supplies that inspires endless creativity. Packed with beads, pom poms, stickers, and more for hours of open-ended art projects.
Screen-Free Coding Robot
A playful introduction to sequencing and logic that doesn’t require a screen.
A beginner-friendly coding and robotics kit that teaches kids to build, program, and experiment using Scratch and Arduino. Perfect for ages eight to twelve and great for hands-on STEM learning.
A hands-on introductory robotics set that teaches kids how to build, wire, and code simple robots. Great for STEM learning, problem solving, and encouraging curiosity in older kids.
Experience Gift Ideas
Meaningful, memorable, and zero clutter
Perfect for relatives who ask “What should we get the kids?”
Chicago Memberships and Passes
Encourage learning, movement, and family adventures all year long.
Ask loved ones to include parking when available.
These gifts last all year and give kids something to look forward to beyond the holidays.
Family Gift Ideas
Useful, long-lasting, and perfect as shared holiday surprises
Wagons
A top choice for families who want durability, versatility, and accessories that extend its use for years.
Budget-friendly, classic, and ideal for zoo trips, park days, and neighborhood walks.
Highly rated for its smooth ride, easy fold, and spacious design.
Outdoor Gear
A spacious pop up play yard designed for easy outdoor adventures. Comes with a cushioned self inflating pad and a waterproof tote, making it perfect for park days, backyard play, and travel.
A compact cedar wood playset with a wave slide, swings, rock wall, and shaded play deck. Durable, weather friendly, and perfect for hours of outdoor play without overwhelming your yard.
A charming cedar playhouse with a mini kitchen, snack bar, working doorbell, and flower box details. Perfect for outdoor imaginative play and year round backyard fun.
A durable, portable hoop with an adjustable height from seven and a half to ten feet. Features a shatterproof backboard and wheeled base, making it easy to move and perfect for backyard family games.
The Minimalist Holiday Toy Philosophy
Buy fewer things that last longer
Buy fewer things that last longer. Choose toys that grow with your child, encourage curiosity, and invite open ended play. A few well loved pieces will always go further than a room full of toys that get forgotten by January.
Toy rotation is one of the best ways to keep play fresh throughout the year. Instead of having everything out at once, rotate a small selection every couple of weeks. Kids rediscover toys with new excitement, your home feels calmer and more organized, and you get more value out of the toys you already own.
The goal is not to buy more. It is to choose thoughtfully, keep play intentional, and create a space where your kids can learn, explore, and imagine without clutter taking over.
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