I get asked a lot about gift ideas, so I thought it might be helpful to throw a few out there with some of my thoughts on a few of them. We personally own everything I recommend, and I will never recommend something we don’t love! I will also link to any reviews we have done or Play with Me posts where we have featured the item on Totally Tots.
I am also a believer in LESS is MORE, so although I recommend things, please know that I don’t believe things make us happy…they are just a small addition to an already full life in Christ. I don’t in any way believe that Christmas is about stuff. I realize gifts are a natural part {especially from grandparents!}, and I love getting recommendations also, which is why I share with you.
This is my list of ideas for tots, which is actually a wide range, gearing towards ages 1-3. I will link to everything where I find the best online price {most of the time it is Amazon}. Most links are affiliate links, some are not {if I am not affiliated with the particular company}. If you purchase anything through an affiliate link, you give back a percentage to our family…thanks! 
- AlphaTales Set {we began using these when Ladybug was 2 1/2 when she began Animal ABCs, we also use them for RRSP}
- Little Scholastic Books {we own many and these are some of our favorites for little ones, Ladybug especially likes Uh-Oh, I’m Sorry, Please and Thank You}
- Signing Smart: My First Signs, What Do you See?
- That’s Not My…
- Touch and Feel ~ we have so many of these mostly from consignment sales!
- How Do I Love You?
- I Love You Through and Through
- Yancy Little Praise Party, buy on her site, or iTunes {review here}
- Scripture Lullabies {review here}
- Songs for Saplings {review here, printables here}
- Signing Time ~ We have #1 {pictured below}, #2, and #3 and still love them all!
- Praise Baby ~ even my boys still enjoy these, the praise music is simply beautiful and timeless.
- Laurie Berkner ~ We LOVE this DVD, all of us!!!!
- Letter Construction Activity Set {review here}
- ABC Magnetic Fishing
- Candy Construction Set {review here}
- Magnetic Pattern Blocks
- Color Cubes Set
- Magneatos {Play with Me post here}
- Stacking Pegs Set {Play with Me post here}
- Rainbow Blocks {Play with Me post here}
- Foam Blocks {see “On the List…” here}
- Large Foam ABC Floor Puzzle ~ you can usually find these for around $20-$25 at Toys R Us or even less at a discount store like Ross {Play with Me post here}
- Nesting Blocks {Play with Me post here}
- Fisher Price Piggy Bank
- Counting Bears
- Wooden Cutting Food Sets
- Chunky Wooden Puzzles
- Leapfrog Magnet Sets
- Lauri ABC Puzzle ~ my very favorite ABC puzzle!
- Magnetic Chalk/Dry Erase Board with ABCs
- Crayola Dry Erase Activity Center ~ Ladybug loves this, so does Krash! Be sure to get Expo thin markers to go with it, the Crayola are no good.
- Large ABC Floor Puzzle ~ We have the one linked, but there are many options.
- Who Lives Where Wooden Game ~ One of our favorites!
![image[1]](https://lh6.ggpht.com/-sfC-ijlxtB8/Trb7sKc37iI/AAAAAAAAjK8/5WbSJq6hYk4/image121.png?imgmax=800 "image[1]")
![image91[2]](https://lh3.ggpht.com/-kjBAALU8i8o/Trb7tQ4fRdI/AAAAAAAAjLM/Vum7U9epK8s/image9121.png?imgmax=800 "image91[2]")
{all images are linked to Amazon}
See our top favorites here in “Favorite Learning Tools for Tots”
- Finger Paint
- Easel ~ if you live near an Ikea I highly recommend their easel and it is only $15!!!
- Play Doh
- Dot Paint
- Triangular Crayons, Pip Squeak Markers
- Cookie Sheet ~ Yes, every tot needs his/her own cookie sheet and a set of homemade pom pom , and gem magnets would be nice too!
- Tongs ~ We got a tiny pair at a kitchen store, but also have these medium sized tongs.
- Tweezers ~ We have simple black plastic tweezers like these, and these colorful ones!
- Table Top Pocket Chart ~ We begin using this early, around age 2. It is a wonderful size for so many activities
- Stacking Photo Cubes ~ We use ours with many fun Education Cubes printables!
- Ball Pit {we got ours at Target on clearance}
- Strider Bike ~ See our “On the List…” post here & our original review here
- Plasma Car ~ I would suggest 3 and up for this, or a very physically able 2 year old, Ladybug began enjoying it around 2 1/2 and loves it now at age 3 1/2 😉 {review here}
- Bean Bag Chair ~ ours is from www.ahhprods.com expensive but totally worth it, we use our 3 daily! {read our full review here}
- Doll Furniture {review here}
- Hideaway Kitchen
You can get super creative and use one of the ideas below to create a gift for your own child or someone you think would love something like this!
- Magnetic Gems and pom poms {make the magnets, and give with a cookie sheet, and maybe even a few dot fun printables}
- Busy Hands Play Dough Box {tools, dough, and a cool box make a great gift!}
- Tot Time Notebook {put the notebook together, and give with a set of dry erase markers or crayons, and an eraser}
- Busy Bags {what mom wouldn’t love a set of already made busy bags, Allyson shares fabulous ideas!}
- Dot Fun Activity Box {put together a gift box all focused around dot fun; add in dot paint, dot stickers, finger paint, mini magnets, mini markers and of course-some dot fun printables!}
I hope these lists help you as you purchase gifts for your own children or other children you love! Looking for gift ideas for kids a bit older, check out Gift Ideas for Preschoolers !
Disclaimer: NONE of the companies who make any of these products gave me anything to be included in this post, this is an honest list of items we love as a family. I was not paid in any way, nor did the companies represented even have any idea they would be included! Surprise! Some of these items were review items at one time, and that is noted with a link above.