What a year! I’m not sure I can remember a time with more struggle, innovation, division, community, and growth. Even though this year may look a little different, one thing we can count on is the magic of the holiday season. We’ve been busy updating a variety of extra special holiday gift guides for all the people on your list.
Fan Favorites
We polled our readers, and the following treasures are on the top of the list for each shopping category.
Holiday Gift Guides for Kids
- Gifts for Babies and Expecting Parents: From the minute babies start reaching until well into their preschool years, Oball provides hours of fun.
- Gifts for Little Kids (ages 2-4): If you’re looking for something that encourages creativity and motor skills, Duplos are a great option. There are basic building kits, themed kits, and even Disney sets.
- Gifts for Kids (ages 5-7): If someone on your shopping list loves stuffed animals, Squishmallows are the way to go! There are adorable holiday options as well as dozens of other animals, ranging in size from 3.5″ to a whopping 24″.
- Gifts for Older Kids (ages 8+): Tweens and teens love to document the fun they experience and FujiFilm Instax Mini is a great way to capture the moment. The film can get pricy, so watch for Black Friday sales and stock up when it goes on sale.
Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone Else
- Gifts for Moms: The Ultimate Lounge Pants were the hands-down winner in this category. My sister gave me a pair of these a few years ago and they are so comfy. I’ve basically been living in them since the pandemic started. If matching is your thing, there’s a similar child version.
- Gifts for Dads: The weather is perfect for barbecuing during the winter in Arizona. The Traeger Grill & Smoker lets you grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise or BBQ. While this item comes with a big price tag, the whole family will enjoy the delicious meals.
- Gifts for Grandparents: Whether your parents have a favorite hobby or just enjoy spoiling the grandkids, there’s probably a funny t-shirt for them.
- Gifts for Teachers: If ever there was a year to show teachers a little extra appreciation, it’s 2020. Whether your kids are still doing online learning or you’re unsure of what to give them, an Amazon Gift Card is a great solution that fits any budget – plus you can print from home or simply send an email link.
Most Popular Write-Ins
While we try to find all the best things for our holiday gift guides, we do miss a few. Our readers shared some of their favorite gifts in each category and let’s just say, we found some pretty creative people sharing their secrets!
Write-Ins for Kids
- Gifts for Babies and Expecting Parents: One mom said, if you buy anything at all, don’t forget this baby bum brush. With almost all five star reviews, she’s not alone in that thinking.
- Gifts for Little Kids (ages 2-4): While not the cheapest toy option, Magnatiles definitely offer hours of endless, open-ended play. They have packs that include basic shapes, themed add-on sets, and even glow in the dark options!
- Gifts for Kids (ages 5-7): A popular write-in for this age range was all things BARBIE! Whether you’re looking for the three story camper or a Barbie that matches your child’s interests, Mattel has something for everyone.
- Gifts for Older Kids (ages 8+): If you’re looking for a splurge gift, Nintendo is a great option. We had multiple families write-in that this was high on their older kids’ wish lists.
Write-Ins for Everyone Else
- Gifts for Moms: Quite possibly the best write-in answer ever was the gift of a babysitter! While our holiday gift guides can’t help you there, we do know some people… Whether you need a nanny, an occasional babysitter, or a little extra help during pandemic-learning, Trusting Connections has you covered!
- Gifts for Dads: What’s better than breakfast fresh off the griddle?! The Blackstone 36″ Griddle Grill is the perfect solution whether you’re enjoying a family brunch or entertaining a crowd.
- Gifts for Grandparents: Multiple people voted that a Photo Calendar is the best gift for grandparents. Whether they see their grandkids every day after school or live halfway around the world, photos are such a great reminder of the fun times shared together. Watch Shutterfly for promotions – there are usually some great offers leading up to the holidays.
- Gifts for Teachers: If you aren’t sure what to buy for the teachers on your list, consider asking if they have an Amazon Wish List. That way, you’ll know exactly what they want and it can ship directly to them.
Looking for more gift ideas?
No matter the age of kids in your life (Babies, Little Kids, Kids, or Older Kids), we have some of the most popular gifts of the season compiled in easy to browse lists. We’ve also pulled together some creative and unique holiday gift guides for the Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and Teachers on your list. It doesn’t get much easier than scrolling down a page, finding the perfect gift, and having it delivered to your (or their!) doorstep.
We also have more specific gift guides, including Stocking Stuffers, STEAM, Sensory Activities, “Welcome to Arizona,” and Travel Essentials.
When all else fails, whether you’re looking for a hostess gift or something for someone you barely know, you can’t go wrong with gifting a book. Our Book Shopping Guides are broken down by ages. We even have a list for bedtime books and parenting books.
Here’s to hoping this is the only pandemic year we ever face and cheers to 2021!
Note: Once you click on a Shopping Guide link, it opens to a page with a few of our favorite products, recommended by our writers and readers. When you click the images on the Guides they’ll redirect you to Amazon using an affiliate link. If you make a purchase after clicking our link, it doesn’t charge you any extra money, but it does send a little commission to SMB as a thank you for referring traffic. This helps us bring you more great content for FREE!