Each year, I love sharing what we’re actually giving our kids for Christmas. It’s always my most popular gift guide, which I understand because I love seeing what real people are actually gifting, not just sharing in theory.
Here’s what we’re giving our kids for Christmas 2023. This year, we opted to do one STEM toy family gift for the kids to play with and work on together. We’re also sharing a trip that Dan and I booked that we haven’t told the kids about yet, and using that as a chance to give them a needed item for school. We also already gave them our annual Christmas pajamas and holiday outfits!
In addition to the family gifts, we decided each child would receive an individual experience, some sort of toy (since we shipped very few to London), and a book. I hope it’s fun to read and gives you some ideas, too!
Family Gifts for Christmas 2023
Family Trip
This will be the main, final gift we share. We always do some sort of fun activity for them to guess what it is, and I can’t wait for them to figure it out. for which we’ll create some sort of fun activity to figure it out.
We’re going to include an umbrella for each child, as it’s tied to the history of the place we’re going. We were planning to get them each one, anyway, as they need one for the walk to and from school since it rains so frequently here. We just had one big family one before in dry California, and have got soaked in sudden rain a couple times already! I wanted something sturdy that would last instead of immediately flipping inside out because I’m NOT interested in repurchasing these every couple months.
Here are the umbrellas we’re giving them:
- N in Navy (over 70k positive reviews!)
- K in Yellow
- T in Green
- Dinosaur color-changing umbrella for A
- Rainbow & unicorn color changing umbrella for M
Gravitrax Marble Run & STEAM Toy
I’d heard about Gravitrax for a little while and it seems like my STEM-loving kids are a great age for it right now. I’m hoping it will be fun for even my 13-year old, but still accessible for my 6 year old (and possibly the 3 year old with help!). Especially since we shipped very limited toys to London, I’m excited to give them a full set of something that’s going to last for a long while and encourage joint play and learning.
We chose to get the original starter set with the vertical expansion pack. At the shop where we purchased here in London, those were on sale along with several other accessories, so we included the trampoline, zipline, and catapult. The total came out to just over $100 for all the pieces.
Available on Amazon, Target, Walmart
Adsumudi Math Game
I’ve had this game on my radar for a little bit – it looks great for a variety of ages to be able to participate and be challenged while having fun with math facts.
Christmas Pajamas
We actually gifted our kids their Christmas pajamas at the start of the season so we could enjoy them all month long!
This year, we did these classic tartan pajamas for the whole family and I adore them. We’ve done this brand before and they wear and wash so well and stay sooooo soft. The flannel is especially cozy and I love this year’s pattern. Here are the styles we got:
I shared lots of suggestions for where to get matching family Christmas pajamas right HERE.
Christmas Church Outfits
We also gift these earlier in the month with our family Christmas Advent Box to wear all season long! This year, we did these gorgeous red plaid & velvet dresses with a matching hair accessory for the girls, this adorable green Nutcracker pullover for my younger boys, and this plain green pullover for N.
I also got myself this gorgeous red taffeta pull-on skirt and this cozy cardigan with a rhinestone bow.
Christmas Gifts for a 13 Year Old (N)
EXPERIENCE GIFT: MLB Game in London
Our main gift to the kids for the last few years has been a special experience and we love it. It’s so fun to be able to something special and exciting for them that we wouldn’t pay for otherwise. N loves and has been missing American baseball, so we got him tickets to a game next summer!
TOY/ACTIVITY: Tabletop Air Hockey/Foosball/Table Tennis
I saw this 3-in-1 game table and knew N would be a big fan. Fortunately, it was on sale for much less in the UK!
PERSONALIZED BOOK STAMP + BOOK: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
I’ve wanted to get my kids book stamps for a while and this felt like a great year when they’ll start getting a few new English ones. I ordered mine from this Etsy shop and they’re great! I did the self-inking ones because I didn’t want my kids making a mess with stamp pads, ha.
We’re giving N a copy of The Wright Brothers and I’m so excited. He loves aviation and has been into nonficion the last few years, and enjoyed reading 1776 by the same author. I hope he loves this one – it’s so fun having your kids read stuff you’ve read and want to discuss! (Purchase on Amazon, Target, Walmart, Bookshop)
13 Year Old Boy Stocking Stuffers
- Some chocolate!
- Nationals baseball cap – he sadly lost his old one on a trip when helping the baby so I’m replacing it for him – this is what bumped his stocking price higher but I wanted to do it for him since he was actually trying to help <3
- Ancient Treasures Adult Puzzle & Brain Teasers – I spotted this brand new set at a nearby charity shop for just a few pounds. I knew it would be perfect for my kiddo who loves puzzles and tinkering, as well as ancient cultures. It’s recommended for ages 14+ so I’m hoping it gives him a challenge, too!
- Sharpie gel pens – his favorite pens for school that I’m usually too cheap to buy 😉
- Wool socks – several of his pairs need replacing and I got these during the big REI sale
- Disposable soap sheets (I’ll split this 6-pack between the kids and put one in each stocking)
- Color-changing straw cup – we have a severe dearth of taller cups in our new place so each person will get a different colored cup for smoothies and such. I’ll split these between the stockings so they end up being under $2 each.
- Magic Clay – another thing I’ll split between all the kids so everyone will get a couple colors
- Poppy Remembrance Day pin – I loved how everyone wore their poppies during Remembrance week this year. It’s a beautiful reminder to honor and feel gratitude for those who have protected others. I got a 6-pack so each kid will have a pin to wear next year if they choose.
Christmas Gifts for an 11 Year Old Girl (K)
EXPERIENCE GIFT: Taylor Swift Tickets!
K has really wanted to go to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert (so have I!) but it just hasn’t worked out in terms of where we were living and the timing. Plus, I just couldn’t justify the cost of crazy expensive tickets at home, or spending a lot to fly somewhere.
Lucky us, a week or so ago, a friend of a friend was selling a couple tickets to her show in London. They’re terrible seats, which means the tickets were cheap (under £50 each!) – perfect for what we wanted. I can’t wait to surprise her!!
TOY/ACTIVITY: Face Painting Set + Friendship Bracelet Kit
After my friend Janssen shared about how much her oldest daughter is loving doing some face painting, I thought it would be a really fun project for my art-loving girl (with lots of little siblings to practice on!). (This set also comes with some gems and stencils.)
I also addad in a cute friendship bracelet-making kit similar to THIS. I remember loving making these and think it would be really fun with her new friends.
PERSONALIZED BOOK STAMP + BOOK: Step Into Your Power: 23 lessons on how to live your best life
I picked this book up at the Design Museum and I think it’ll be perfect for my girlie who will be heading to secondary school next year.
11 year Old Girl Stocking Stuffers
- Some chocolate!
- Harry Potter Glasses stud earrings – K is still a big Harry Potter fan and loves switching out her earrings. These were a great deal (use code PREETHI for 15% off) and I had them shipped to my mom to bring with her when she comes to visit.
- Boggle Slam! card game – K is a big game fan and I found this for a pound at the charity shop
- Matte mini claw hair clips – Mini claw clips were the only thing K asked for for Christmas, so I figured I could make that happen
- Wool socks – another pair that I got very discounted during the REI sale
- Disposable soap sheets (I’ll split this 6-pack between the kids and put one in each stocking)
- Color-changing straw cup – we have a severe dearth of taller cups in our new place so each person will get a different colored cup for smoothies and such.
- Magic Clay – another thing I’ll split between all the kids so everyone will get a few colors
- Poppy Remembrance Day pin – I loved how everyone wore their poppies during Remembrance week this year. It’s a beautiful reminder to honor and feel gratitude for those who have protected others. I got a 6-pack so each kid will have a pin to wear next year if they choose.
Christmas Gifts for a 9 Year Old Boy (T)
The other style didn’t come in green but this one had excellent reviews so I grabbed it for T.
EXPERIENCE GIFT: Pottery Making Class
Over the summer, the kids got to throw pottery briefly in Nepal. They LOVED it, especially T & A, and have been asking to do it again. There’s a studio near us that has a workshop for kids to come in and throw pottery, and then they can fire, glaze, and paint it after. I know they’ll be thrilled to get to do this!
TOY/ACTIVITY: Magnetic Dart Board
We shipped very few toys to London, and basically no outdoor ones. T has been doing archery at school this term and I think a similar activity would be great for him to do in the backyard.
PERSONALIZED BOOK STAMP + BOOK: National Trust Nature Origami
T has been very into origami lately and is still in love with animals, so I knew this book would be perfect for him.
9 year Old Boy Stocking Stuffers
- Some chocolate!
- Rush Hour Traffic Jam Logic Game – I’d heard great things about this game and found a secondhand one for really cheap
- Walkie Talkies – so fun to use, and another item I found for just 2 pounds at the charity shop
- Click Counter – When my friend Susie shared these, I knew my younger boys would love them to count steps, spiders, cars, and anything else
- Wool socks – T’s been really needing some new socks, so I was happy to find these for a really reasonable price during the REI sale
- Disposable soap sheets (I’ll split this 6-pack between the kids and put one in each stocking)
- Color-changing straw cup – we have a severe dearth of taller cups in our new place so each person will get a different colored cup for smoothies and such.
- Magic Clay – another thing I’ll split between all the kids so everyone will get a few colors
- Poppy Remembrance Day pin – I loved how everyone wore their poppies during Remembrance week this year. It’s a beautiful reminder to honor and feel gratitude for those who have protected others. I got a 6-pack so each kid will have a pin to wear next year if they choose.
Christmas Gifts for a 6 Year Old Boy (A)
EXPERIENCE GIFT: Pottery Making Class
A just might be the most excited for this class!
TOY/ACTIVITY: Squap Catch Ball Game
We saw this game when we popped into Hamley’s Toy Store here in London. Fortunately, it was decidedly less expensive here, but here’s a different brand that looks very similar and is much less pricey.
PERSONALIZED BOOK STAMP + BOOK: There Are Reptiles Everywhere
I saw this book in a school library and immediately knew A would love it. The illustrations are gorgeous and it has so many fun facts.
6 year Old Boy Stocking Stuffers
- Some chocolate!
- Wildlife Detective Experiment Kit – This was another charity shop special for 2 pounds! Love giving a home to unused or gently used items that work for our family instead of purchasing new. A loves exploring nature, so this will be fun for him. I can’t find a link to it, but it’s similar to this.
- Click Counter – Another click counter! He’ll love it.
- Wool socks – Socks for A, too!
- Disposable soap sheets (I’ll split this 6-pack between the kids and put one in each stocking)
- Color-changing straw cup – we have a severe dearth of taller cups in our new place so each person will get a different colored cup for smoothies and such.
- Magic Clay – another thing I’ll split between all the kids so everyone will get a few colors
- Poppy Remembrance Day pin – I loved how everyone wore their poppies during Remembrance week this year. It’s a beautiful reminder to honor and feel gratitude for those who have protected others. I got a 6-pack so each kid will have a pin to wear next year if they choose.
Christmas Gifts for a 3 Year Old Girl (M)
EXPERIENCE GIFT: Unicorn Theater Show
Someone on Instagram messaged me to ask if I’d heard of the Unicorn Theater for children here in London. I hadn’t, and it turns out it’s perfect for her age. It’s even called the Unicorn Theater – she’ll love it just for the name!
We’re taking her to the Ready, Steady, Lift Off! interactive space-themed theater production and she’s going to LOVE it. Not only is it perfect with music and storytelling and more, but M has been saying for about a year that she wants to be an astronaut (like Mae Jemison). She’ll be delighted!
TOY/ACTIVITY: Magnetic Pretend Play Wooden Doll
M has never had any little dolls. Paper ones feel a bit old for her, but this magnetic one is so sweet for her age. I love that it has dress ups for lots of different professions, too!
PERSONALIZED BOOK STAMP + BOOK: Size Wize: From Colossal Squids to Snowflakes, a Life-Sized Look At Nature
I’ve seen and loved this book before, and think she’ll find it so fun to get up close and personal with life-sized animals in book form.
3 year Old Girl Stocking Stuffers
- Some chocolate!
- Ghost stud earrings – M got hear ears pierced earlier this year and has been so excited to change them out. These are great for sensitive little ears and an awesome deal (use code PREETHI for 15% off).
- Unicorn sticky notes & gel pens – Something else I found brand new and for just a few pounds at the charity shop. M is always getting into her siblings’ special crafts, so she’ll be delighted to have her own.
- Click Counter – One more for fun.
- Wool socks – love the print on these socks
- Disposable soap sheets (I’ll split this 6-pack between the kids and put one in each stocking)
- Color-changing straw cup – we have a severe dearth of taller cups in our new place so each person will get a different colored cup for smoothies and such.
- Magic Clay – another thing I’ll split between all the kids so everyone will get a few colors
- Poppy Remembrance Day pin – I loved how everyone wore their poppies during Remembrance week this year. It’s a beautiful reminder to honor and feel gratitude for those who have protected others. I got a 6-pack so each kid will have a pin to wear next year if they choose.
Christmas Gifts for a 1 Year Old Girl (S)
EXPERIENCE GIFT: Adventure Babies Sensory Storytelling Class
I thought about skipping an experience for S since she won’t know or care much, but then I saw this Adventure Babies event at the Natural History Museum. It’s a sensory storytelling class with play and music and she’s going to absolutely LOVE it, and I’ll love doing it with her.
TOY/ACTIVITY: Hamley’s Wooden London Shape Sorter Bus
I love a shape sorter for a baby and we don’t currently have one. I was enamored the second I saw this Hamley’s London bus verison! If you’re not in the UK, this wooden one is perfect.
PERSONALIZED BOOK STAMP + BOOK: Gruffalo Finger Puppet Book
She obviously won’t need a book stamp quite yet, but I’m sure she’ll want it soon enough. I also got her this Gruffalo finger puppet book, which WOW, is way cheaper in the UK! (Makes sense, since the author is British.)
NEEDED ITEM: Abacus
Okay, she definitely doesn’t need an abacus, but she definitely didn’t need an umbrella that we were gifting the older kids with the family trip. I think these are so fun for babies and I found one for just a couple pounds at the thrift store. (This simple one is perfect.)
1 year Old Girl Stocking Stuffers
- Some good chocolate!
- Sparkle butterfly hair clips
- Wool socks – so excited to find a brand here that has baby sizes that actually stay on
- Disposable soap sheets (I’ll split this 6-pack between the kids and put one in each stocking)
- Color-changing straw cup – we have a severe dearth of taller cups in our new place so each person will get a different colored cup for smoothies and such.
- Magic Clay – another thing I’ll split between all the kids so everyone will get a few colors
- Poppy Remembrance Day pin – I loved how everyone wore their poppies during Remembrance week this year. It’s a beautiful reminder to honor and feel gratitude for those who have protected others. I got a 6-pack so each kid will have a pin to wear next year if they choose.
Cost of Christmas Gifts for Kids
I really appreciate transparency in how much things cost, so here’s a quick recap of the breakdown for us. For their gifts, their toys were all $15-25, and each book + book stamp was around $35, for a total of around $50-60. Their experiences were anywhere from $15-80, depending on the activity. The stockings came out to somewhere between $20-40 each.
That brings the total per child to around $70-130, or $90-150 including the umbrellas they need for school that we included with the family trip gift. They’ll also have a gift each from their sibling gift exchange. I’m pleased with how it worked out!
Any questions about our kids’ Christmas gifts this year? Feel free to drop a comment!
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