What We’re Giving the Girls This Year
Last year, one of my most popular posts was about what we were giving the girls for Christmas.
I mean, a gift guide for girls is all well and good. But what are normal people actually buying? (My mom would definitely make a joke here about how normal anyone in our family really is).
Last year, I said we’d do five gifts for each of them, with a mix of toys and activities, but then we forgot to ever actually buy the hula hoops, so it ended up being 4 gifts each, and that seemed just about right, so we’re doing the same again this year.
gift guide for girls
For Ella (who is six and a half):
1. Camelot Jr. I’ve heard rave reviews about these games for YEARS and Ella loves any sort of puzzle or logic game, so I think this will be a big hit, and I’m hopeful that Ani will be able to do it too.
2. Hula Hoop. They beg to play with these every time we walk past the display at the store, and I think they’ll get a lot of use over the next couple of years (I may be inclined to use them too, after this baby is born and I’m thinking about getting back in shape).
3. Color Changing Pen. This has been, hilariously, the one thing she’s asked for over the last four months. $3.50 and everything you’ve ever wanted can be yours.
4. Reading light. She likes to read in the car, but it gets tricky as the days get shorter or when we’re on road trips (and I live in fear of forgetting to turn off the lights in the car), so this is perfect.
5. Shopping Cart. My sister has raved about these, and my girls love this kind of thing, so when it was on sale a few days ago, I jumped on it. This one is actually a group gift for all the girls (will there be tears over sharing? Probably).
For Ani (who just turned four):
1. Hoot Owl Hoot. I’m always on the lookout for things we can all play together that are non-competitive, plus the reviews were so stellar, that I didn’t take a lot of convincing to add this to our collection.
2. Hula Hoop. Because one hula hoop isn’t as good as two.
3. Purple Clock. Ella has had a clock since she was about 2.5 so she wouldn’t come out of her room too early in the morning, but Ani usually sleeps in so much that we’ve never gotten her one. This year, though, her Christmas list included one.
4. Wet Brush. Ani has such gorgeous hair, but it gets tangled really easily and she’s super sensitive to having it brushed, so this was an obvious choice. I’ve heard so many recommendations for this brush, plus it comes in purple, which is Ani’s favorite color, so hopefully it’ll be a double win.
For Star (who will be 2 in February):
1. Hula Hoop. I’m sure she won’t be able to use it, but if the other girls get one and she doesn’t, she’ll be very sad. She’s convinced she’s one of the big kids.
2. Lambie Doll. Bart bought one of these for Ani for her birthday, and Star immediately grabbed it, snuggled it under her arm, and bounced around the living room with a huge grin, singing, “I so happy! I so happy!” There were tears when she discovered it didn’t, actually, belong to her. So . . . she’ll be getting one for Christmas.
3. Baby Stroller. We have two of these and they are some of the MOST popular toys in our house, and she would be thrilled to have one of her own to push around in (or to make her sisters push her around in, which is adorable and probably against all the manufacturer instructions).
As far as stockings go, we’re doing:
1. Harmonicas. I may live to regret this choice, but they love Bart’s harmonica so much that I can’t help but want to give them each their own. (My parents, who we’re spending Christmas with, may be very happy to see us leave. . . ).
2. Jump Ropes. They’ve been asking about these ever since they learned how to jump rope this summer with their cousins, and I’m hopeful they’ll be a good energy-burning activity in the basement this coming summer.
3. Candy. Because, what’s a Christmas stocking without some candy?
4. Washi Tape. My girls are obsessed with this stuff. A couple of rolls each and they’ll be in heaven (and my house will be covered with washi tape).
5. Magnetic Book Marks. These llama bookmarks that don’t damage your books are too cute. I also love the robot versions.
This is our official Christmas list for our girls this year and hopefully this can be a bit of a gift guide for girls you have to shop for. What are you getting your kids? I’d love to hear!
These gifts all look so fun! We have Castle Logix which I think is similar to Camelot Jr. and my girls love it. My older daughter loves coloured pens too but I never thought to get her one of those 4 in 1 pens which I use at work – now I'm going to do that for her stocking! Great idea!
We are getting our older daughter (age 5) a Boogie Board (https://www.amazon.com/Boogie-Board-8-5-Inch-Writing-Tablet/dp/B00AYIL6MY) because she loves to write and make lists constantly and Shopkins from Santa and we're getting our younger daughter (almost 3) a LeapReader because she loves her sister's. We love the LeapReader system – it's fantastic because it is electronic and helps kids to read, so they love it, but I love that it's not actually a screen 🙂 As a present to share, we got them magna-tiles, which I think they will love! I hope your girls love their gifts! Thank you for sharing this – I always love your ideas because our kids are similar ages and seem to have similar interests!
My mother-in-law is replacing our much-loved doll stroller this year, and I definitely asked her to get one with a metal frame, "because the kids all take turns riding in it." Glad to know we're not alone!
So much fun! I think maybe I should add a jump rope to my daughter's stocking…
We are getting her a Calico Critters doll house as her big gift, and then we are getting her a bunch of books. I heard good things about the Mercy Watson series, so we're going to try those out.
Legos. So many Legos. Star Wars Legos. Viking Legos. Actually, mostly they are getting knock-off Chinese-made Legos that are totally compatible with the real deal. And new gloves for their stockings, and new socks for their stockings. (Snore. But a lack of clean white socks is the number one reason we have to do laundry around here, so they get socks.) Also they both want watches, so that will top things off for them.
And I really have no idea what we are getting the baby. She likes Legos (to eat), and she seems to really like gift bows, so that ought to do it for her. But maybe we'll get her a doll stroller.
Such good ideas. We are also doing 4 presents for my three year old (that will get supplemented by family, of course). Magformers, a Melissa and Doug mailbox (she's obsessed with mail), a new Ravensburger puzzle, and some wooden food for her play kitchen (in hopes that she'll stop stealing my recyclables). And I found all of them with Amazon deals. 🙂 I definitely added the book light, brush, and washi tape as ideas for her stocking. Those are always the hardest because they can get so expensive so fast. Which really isn't the point for me!
We're doing a harmonica too! My daughter (turned 3 last week) is obsessed with music, and this might be the cheapest, smallest instrument around (we're traveling for Christmas, so I need something that fits into a suitcase). We always have such a hard time with Christmas gifts, since her birthday is in December, so this year, we're going small.
PS – Has Ella ever seen the 10 colors retractable pen that was widely popular in the early 90s? I remember they were all the rage in 3rd-4th grades. They looked like this: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/789018/Yafa-Multifunction-10-Color-Ballpoint-Pen
So now that she will have a shopping cart, you need to bring Star to the store with a Go-Pro like this little guy.
I love how simple these gifts are. I'm all about keeping it that way. And the wet brush is the best. I use it too.
My wet brush is a life saver!! The best $7 I've spent in a long time!!
Hoot Owl Hoot is so awesome! I have 3 girls and they all love it, and no sore winners or losers! The same group makes another called Stone Soup (I think) and it is also very fun! Cooperative games are the best!
You will love that Wet Brush. And I love the realistic, timeless toys you pick out. Definitely going to grab a hula hoop for my girl — thanks for the idea!
Sam (just turned four): All he wants is a glow in the dark marble track…so more little toy pieces are entering our life (ugh). Also more cars for his build-a-road and that pie face game. He's just LOVES to play board games with us right now.
Benny (18 months): A twisty stacker from Fat Brain toys
For them both: A red radio flyer wagon…they are going to think they died and went to heaven.
My mom told me after I was married that they tried to do 1. something you've wished for, 2. something to play (game), 3. something to read, and 4. something to wear. I loved Christmases growing up, and I never realized they followed a sort of pattern, but I like it.