I don’t usually subscribe to gendered gift lists but this seemed to be the easiest way to categorize. However, feel free to dabble from either list for whatever gender your little one may be, as well as the neutral gender list I put together. I give off over indulgent auntie vibes so some of these are a little expensive, especially for a child that isn’t yours and/or if you’re buying for multiples but I couldn’t resist adding a few. Perhaps just take the spirit of the gift into play.
The gift that I can’t seem to recommend enough, this year and every year, is always a book. Yes, I’m that aunt. My husband has been in love with me since the very first time we met (true story, not just hubris) so by our first Christmas together, a mere two months after we started dating, freshman year of college, we knew it was forever. I say that to explain the next very wild statement.
Since our first Christmas together at 18 years old, we having been buying children’s books for our non-existent future children. A little young and fresh in the relationship to be thinking about reproducing. But after a decade of Christmases and other gifting holidays, we’ve amassed quite the little collection. After all this time the break down seems to be that Marcus buys rationale classic stories (Corduroy, Frog and Toad, The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and I air on the side of Femininist, African and Indie books (Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughter/ Jumbo Means Hello/ Bad Girls Throughout History). Our children will absolutely have a well rounded reading collection.
Coming in this year for my gift book is “Little Leaders” by Vashti Harrison falling into the “girl’s” guide. Beautifully illustrated and very informative, it’s a great gift regardless of your child’s gender or race and I can not recommend it enough. My copy came in yesterday and I pretty much just cried flipping through it from the beauty of it all. Aside from that being my number one, everything else has my childless stamp of approval.
Little Leaders // Maeva Doll (Doesn’t her outfit scream me?) // Hooded Personalized Minion Towel // Princess Duvet Cover // Taco Purse // Party Razor Scooter // Cat Emoji Earrings
Drone // Personalized hooded minion towels // Harry Potter Lego // Storm Trooper Vtech Watch// Astronaut Duvet Cover // Razor Scooter //Paw Patrol Robo Dog and Vehicle
I just recently got as prissy as I am and in my younger years would have honestly preferred the astronaut themed duvet. (Gifting Key to success: know your audience) With that in mind, my favorite list to put together without fail was the gender neutral list. I’m on a kick about gender roles and emotional work and equitable distribution of labor in households lately and I seem to have taken it out on this list. That kick includes teaching our non-existent sons from a very young age how to manage a household and be gentle and vulnerable in safe spaces (i.e. at home) and it starts from a young age with just learning to play pretend in a way that is safe like encouraging them to take part in house. But also teaching our daughters to canoe and kick predators in the face and build houses because they’re all skills a modern girly should have. So there’s that about that and I present to you my favorite list.
Farmer Says Classic// Cash Register // Knex Thrill Ride // Frankie Beats Bat Boogie Has the best reviews I’ve ever seen for a talking toy// Day Trip Plush Canoe (Please buy this for my future child) // Melissa and Doug Fridge Play Food // Hearth and Hand with Magnolia work bench // Jetaire Camper Playhouse
And the item that isn’t included on this list but I encourage you to buy for my future child and save in your garage in any extra space you have, is this little number. My children don’t even exists yet and already they deserve it.
I demand to know the last time you’ve seen a more perfect toy. Don’t worry, I’ll wait… It’s never happened! This would be so cute as a mobile library (there I go again with the books) or a snack cart or even just for your little ones to play store with stuff around the house. I love it so much I wanna buy it for my dogs. Okay, now I’ve gone too far.
Is there anything that I missed from this list that is a glaring hole like a seasons best seller or something that someone has bought for your little ones in the past that I need to get for the kiddos in my life? Let me know.
Xo Prepford Wife