Yes, I recommend first shopping locally and with small businesses — always. But, I’m also a realist, and I completely get the convenience of shopping online, especially if you’ve got small children (going to stores with them during the holidays: my nightmare), a heavy workload, or a busy holiday schedule.

Here’s a few of my gift recommendations.

For Littles

  1. Green Toys tea set, truck, or ferry boat
  2. Wooden play kitchen +  wooden cutting food
  3. Geometric Stacker
  4. Scoot Around Wood Bike
  5. 12-pack tennis balls (sounds crazy, I know, but our babies and toddlers loved these — they don’t know they’re not officially toys)

For Kids

  1. Lego Classic Brick Box
  2. Zingo
  3. Pretend Cash Register
  4. Box World Crafty Projects
  5. Pirate Telescope
  6. Friendship Bracelet Kit
  7. Fort-Building Kit

For Older Kids/Tweens

  1. Mocassin Slippers
  2. Digital Practice Target
  3. Magic Tricks Set
  4. Rubik’s Cube
  5. Snap Circuits
  6. Geode Collection
  7. Slammo
  8. Microscope + STEM Kit

For Teens

  1. Freewaters Slippers
  2. Telescope
  3. Pennyboard
  4. Bluetooth Turntable
  5. How to Draw Cool Stuff + Good Pencils
  6. Ukulele
  7. Hook & Ring Toss Game
  8. Movie Theater Gift Card

For Anyone, Really

  1. Homesick Candle
  2. Bluetooth Shower Speaker
  3. Bear Shredder Claws + Apron
  4. One Line a Day Journal + an amazing erasable pen
  5. Table Topics
  6. Never Have I Ever Game
  7. Window Birdfeeder
  8. Cool Weighted Blanket
  9. Paint by Number Kit

For Bibliophiles

  1. Tequila Mockingbird + Cocktail Shaker Set
  2. Atlas Obscura + Packable Travel Daypack
  3. At Home in the World (written by yours truly) + Hammock
  4. What If? + Leuchtturm Notebook
  5. Salt Fat Acid Heat + Mixing Bowls
  6. Uncommon Type + Fairtrade Coffee

For Stockings

  1. Booklight
  2. Mexican Chocolate Set
  3. Compact Key Holder
  4. Rainbow Mini-Notes
  5. Mad Libs
  6. Slinky
  7. Essie Nail Polish
  8. Swiss Army Multi-Tool
  9. Wikki Stix

If you don’t yet have Amazon Prime, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial, to see if it’s helpful for the next few weeks.

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