Once upon a time I had envisioned picking out American Girl Dolls and make-up sets for Christmas presents. Then God gave me two boys, and I was thrown into the world of the unknown. For the past few years I have navigated the world of boy toys with education at the forefront of my mind – I try to stay away from buying toys that serve very little purpose. I really hate “stuff”, therefore, if I am going to buy my boys an item, I want it to add value to their play time. Here is a list of toys that my boys love, and I feel are worth the investment:
Educational
I love to sit with my oldest son (who is five) and work on the patterns together. These are great for teaching colors, patterns, and shapes. Pattern boards are especially handy on rainy or cold winter days when I am trying to fight boredom and cabin fever. Recommended for ages 3+
I let my boys watch very little television, however, I do allow them to have some screen time each week. They love the Leap Pad Ultra because of all of the fun features including taking pictures or coloring. I love the Leap Pad because there is no way for my boys to search the internet. We had an old iPad they could use, but I was always worried about them accidentally stumbling upon the internet. With the Leap Pad Ultra, I know that everything they can access is safe. Recommended for ages 2+
Although it says ages 8+ on the box, my three and five year olds love creating snap circuits with their dad. It’s an educational and hands-on experience designing and building models of working electrical circuits. They learn about show electricity works and it’s all hands on. I absolutely love this toy! Recommended for ages 8+
Outdoor/Gross Motor
This is perhaps the most loved toy my boys have ever gotten. They adore riding their Microkick all around the neighborhood! The three wheel design is perfect for ages 2.5 and up. My sons each received one for their birthdays and use them all the time. Bonus: The scooters come in some awesome bright colors that my boys love!
Little Tikes Indoor Trampoline
The indoor trampoline was our kids’ big Christmas gift last year. It’s perfect for the winter because it allows them to burn off some energy when it’s too cold to play outside (or too cold for mom to go outside!). I also love the safety netting and how durable it is. Recommended for ages 3+.
Creative
The very word “sand” is enough to drive me crazy, however, this sand is manageable. My boys create fortresses for their action figures to live in, and it comes in lots of bright colors! Recommended for ages 2+
This. Is. Amazing. My walls have had more than their share of marker and crayon graffiti. With the Water Wow books all you need is water and the fun pictures turn to color. These are also one of my favorite items to take on vacations. There is no mess, and my boys love to color! Recommended for ages 2+
Building
I recently found out about these fun blocks from one of my sweet friends who has three boys of her own. They are from Denmark, but have no fear: you can order them on Amazon! What I love most about these blocks are their versatility and simplicity. They are easy enough for my 3 year old build yet complex enough for my five year old. Recommended for ages 3+
The toy’s slogan is “Where math, science, and creativity meet!” Yep, I’m sold. From an educational and building standpoint, these blocks are perfect. My boys love building towers and creating patterns with these blocks. Magna Tiles are a great way to develop math, science and gross motor skills. You can’t go wrong with these blocks! Recommended for ages 2+
My boys have built cars, houses, jails, and forts with these blocks, and they are always a favorite during play dates. They are easy to build with and very durable, too. Recommended for ages 2+
Sounds like a toy from Harry Potter right? Rest assured these bright stacking blocks having nothing to do with wizardry. These blocks are unique in that they can stack, nest, and link together. My boys love these blocks and spend hours a week building with them. Recommended for ages 2-6 years old
As Christmas time grows closer, I want to ensure that my kids receive gifts that are fun and contribute to their learning. We also try and buy experience presents as well: this year we bought our boys tickets to see Marvel Super Heroes on ice (shhhhh, its a surprise!). It will be a fun family adventure to go to the show together! Check out my post “Memories Over Materialism” for more ideas on “experience” gifts for the whole family!
christmas gifts for boys
