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What We’re ACTUALLY Giving Our Kids for Christmas 2024

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I love deciding all our kids’ Christmas gifts early in the season and then sharing what we’re actually giving them. It’s always my most popular gift guide by far – I get it, because I also love seeing what people are actually gifting the people they love!

Here’s what we’re giving our kids for Christmas 2024. The kids’ big gift again this year is a family trip that we had planned but will reveal to them on Christmas – they have no idea we’ll be leaving just a few days later! 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 or craft project, a book, and something they need. I hope it’s fun to read and gives you some ideas, too!

Family Gifts for Christmas 2024

Family Trip

This will be the main, final gift we share. We always do some sort of fun activity like a scavenger hunt or escape room for them to guess what it is, and I can’t wait for them to figure it out.

We’re going to include some rechargeable hand warmers for each child, as a clue for the place we’re going. They’ve asked for them a few times but they haven’t really been needed. But we’re going somewhere COLD so I think they’ll be great to have on hand. THESE are the ones we got because they’re powerful with great reviews (we’re splitting the 2-packs and giving them each one).

Klask Family Game

It’s always nice having a new family game to enjoy together during the winter break, and I’ve heard absolute rave reviews of this one. I think it’ll be a blast for our whole family!

Cotton Candy Machine

Very occasionally, I am a fun mom. I’m going to surprise the kids AND Dan with a mini cotton candy machine – they’re all way more into sweets than I am, and will think this is the absolute best thing ever. I’m hoping it makes for some fun birthday parties, too! (I didn’t get this exact one as it’s not available in the UK, but I wish it were because it’s way cuter than the basic one I got, and about the same price!)

Craft Supply Refresh

We’re running low on several craft supplies so I’m boxing up just a few for general use (works better for us than gifting them to an individual kid and asking them to share).

Here’s what I’m including:

Sparkle Maple Syrup

I’ve thought this sparkly gold maple syrup has looked so fun for a couple years now. I finally decided to get a bottle and will stick it on the table to go with our Christmas morning breakfast. I think my kids will be absolutely delighted by it. It would also be really fun to stick in a stocking!

Christmas Pajamas

We actually gifted our kids their Christmas pajamas at the start of the season – we love enjoying them throughout festive season. We did a classic red plaid flannel from Marks & Spencer here in the UK this year. (THESE family matching pajamas in the US are almost exactly the same and a fantastic deal.)

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, I did navy plaid button downs for my boys (similar HERE) and a red plaid dress for K (my 12yo girl, similar HERE). I didn’t do new dresses for my 2 little girls since they already had darling red tartan dresses with velvet collars that still fit. (Similar HERE.)

I also got myself this stunning green velvet v-neck dress (the sparkly buttons are so pretty).

Christmas Gifts for a 14 Year Old Boy (N)

EXPERIENCE GIFT (Show): Dear England

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. This year, we’re taking each kid to the theatre for a special show with both parents and I can’t wait! N loves history and football, so I think he’ll really enjoy this show and I’ve heard fab reviews.

TOY/CRAFT: 3D Printer Pen

N has wanted a 3D printer for a while, so I think he’ll be totally thrilled with this. It has good reviews and will be perfect has he starts to tinker and create at an older level.

BOOKS: Sherlock Holmes Escape Room Book: Tower of London + Mythos by Stephen Fry

I always love gifting my kids a book or two – it’s so fun searching for ones unique to their interests and tastes. I purchased about half of these books secondhand, too!

I saw a few of these books when we visited the Sherlock Holmes Museum here in London. While the museum itself was pretty lame (gimmicky and forgettable), these books looked SO fun. I think it’ll be perfect for N, who loves puzzles and escape rooms. (Available on Amazon, Target, Walmart)

This second one is wildly popular, and I think N, who loves Greek mythology, will really enjoy it. (Available on Amazon, Target, Walmart)

NEED/USEFUL: Nice Violin

N has been playing on my violin for a few years now. He recently passed a big music exam, and I think it’s time to upgrade him to his own special instrument. I’m excited to work with him to pick one out that suits him well.

14 Year Old Boy Stocking Stuffers

  • Giant chocolate coin – Dan saw these in a shop and immediately knew the kids would lose their minds over them. He felt very satisfied with himself when a couple of the kids saw them in a museum gift shop a few weeks later and begged to get them (we said no, ha). 😉 They’ll each get just one coin in their stocking, of course.
  • Lip balm – a basic and moisturizing one for his bike rides in the cold
  • Mini portable colored pencils with sharpener – T asked for these a few weeks ago to keep in his bag when we travel, and I figured all the kids would like a set
  • Inexpensive but warm & cozy men’s wool socks – everyone needed new warm socks!
  • Mini frisbee – I put a Zip Chip in N’s stocking several years ago and he and his friends loved it. It sadly got lost on a roof at some point, so I figured I’d replace it for him. (I found a generic that’s about half the price, but the original is really fantastic.)
  • Multi tool pen – great for my kid who loves tinkering and is perennially responsible. This was so popular from my $5 travel gift guide!

Christmas Gifts for a 12 Year Old Girl (K)

EXPERIENCE GIFT (Show): The Play That Goes Wrong

K’s show experience is to see The Play That Goes Wrong. She loves humor and I think this will be great to see together!

TOY/CRAFT: Gummy Candy Science Kit

K loves candy and is always especially asking to buy gummy candy. She also loves creating unique flavors in the kitchen, so I think this will be a massive hit for her.

BOOKS: Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell + Lore by Alexandra Bracken

This fantasy book has been wildly popular and I think K will love it. (Available on Amazon, Target, Walmart)

The second book is one K specifically requested. It made me smile because I asked if there was anything she was specifically hoping for for Christmas, and she paused and said she needed to think about it because nothing was coming to mind. Then later that night, she said, “Oh I thought of something I want!” I was expecting it to be something bigger, but she asked for this book. She was just so excited and earnest about it and it was so sweet; I figured I can grant that wish. 😉 (Available on Amazon, Target, Walmart)

NEED/USEFUL: Nice Violin

K has been on a 3/4 size violin and also passed some big music exams recently! Excited to help her find one she loves, too.

12 Year Old Girl Stocking Stuffers

Christmas Gifts for a 10 Year Old Boy (T)

EXPERIENCE GIFT (Show): The Percy Jackson Musical

T gets ridiculously excited every time he sees a poster for this musical (he’s super into the Percy Jackson books right now) so I know he’ll be thrilled.

TOY/CRAFT: Micro Bit

I’m still not 100% clear on what exactly this is…but T is really excited about it, lol. He’s mentioned this tiny coding device they’ve used in school several times, and would love to do some creating at home. The reviews are great and it seems educational and fun!

BOOKS: Mythologica: An encyclopedia of gods, monsters and mortals from ancient Greece + The Danger Gang by Tom Fletcher

Again with being really into Greek mythology! I love a theme and he’s going to adore this book. (Purchase on Amazon, Target, Walmart)

This second book is by a very popular British children’s author and he has a ton of others, as well. Hoping T enjoys it so he can continue on in a series! (Purchase on Amazon, Walmart)

NEED/USEFUL: Watch

T has been asking for a watch for months – he’ll be so excited to finally get one.

10 Year Old Boy Stocking Stuffers

Christmas Gifts for a 7 Year Old Boy (A)

EXPERIENCE GIFT (Show): Starlight Express

One of our friends who is super into theatre said this was his first show as a kid and that it is SO FUN. I can’t wait to take A, who loves theatre!

TOY/CRAFT: Portable Watercolor Palette

A loves doing crafts, and this set is a perfect one that allows you to do watercolor on the go with this great little palette that includes a brush with a water compartment. The older 3 kids all got a watercolor set a few years ago so it’s fun for A to get one now, too.

BOOK: Chronicles of Narnia set

A has been reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and loving it recently, so I thought it was a great time to get him his very own full set. I found a secondhand leather edition that I’m so excited about, but you can also purchase a set at Amazon, Target, or Walmart.

NEED/USEFUL: Kids’ Digital Camera

Shockingly, none of our kids has ever had a kids’ camera! A loves borrowing our phones to take photos of his various creations, and I think it’ll be really special for him (who is very much a middle/4th child) to be able to document some of his own special experiences. This one is so cute, has great reviews, and currently has a big sale.

7 Year Old Boy Stocking Stuffers

Christmas Gifts for an almost 5 Year Old Girl (M)

EXPERIENCE GIFT (Show): Matilda

M LOVES the story of Matilda, and we already took the older 4 kids to see it last year. This will be the perfect date with her!

TOY/CRAFT: Foil Art Card Making Set

M did some foil art recently when we were out and it was so fun. I think she’ll absolutely love this set and the cards are especially fun for her to be able to send to family far away. Currently on major deal!

BOOK: Days with Frog & Toad + Minibeast Explorer Book

M’s reading has really taken off lately, and I think her own copy of the beloved Frog & Toad will be great to help her start reading some very short chapters on her own. I have super fond memories of reading this one with our other kids, so I’m excited for her to get her own! (Purchase on Amazon, Target, Walmart)

Then this Minibeast Explorer book is so fun and interactive. I think she’ll love making notes and drawings in it!

NEED/USEFUL: Kids’ Kindle

It’s M’s turn to get a Kindle! With her reading getting so much stronger, I think it will be really nice to have this for our travels, both for her to be able to read without packing a bunch of little books, but also for us to read alouds together while on planes and such.

Almost 5 Year Old Girl Stocking Stuffers

Christmas Gifts for a 2 Year Old Girl (S)

EXPERIENCE GIFT (Show):

We haven’t quite decided what show to take baby S to yet – looking at a few options!

TOY/CRAFT: Mess-Free Finger Painting

S is at that age when crafts are really fun, especially for getting fully immersed in them. This mess-free finger painting sounds like a dream for home and travel!

BOOK: The Snowman & Peepo

Both of these are super classic British children’s books and I’m excited to add them to our collection. I think S will love them!

The Snowman available on Amazon, Target, Walmart

Peepo available on Amazon, Walmart

NEED/USEFUL:

Haven’t quite decided this yet for S, either! The funny thing with a toddler is she doesn’t need all that much (especially with 5 older siblings), and is super happy with a box to play with. I might just give her one with some markers and let her go to town!

2 Year Old Girl Stocking Stuffers

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