I wanted to make my Christmas Gift
Guide this year really useful!!
When I start thinking about our Christmas gift list..
I know I want to do a mix of gifts to BUY and DIY.
So I put together different sections of pretend play themes where you
can see toy options to buy, with a variety of prices, and mixing in
some DIY options for those feeling crafty!
I am a huge fan of real-life pretend play!
So I created all my categories of toys with that theme.
Each Category has it’s own graphic, for those of you wanting to
pin to pinterest something that catches your eye!
Gift Idea Categories: Doctor/Nurse, Mail Man, Little Artist, Vet, Little Mommy,
Fix it Guys & Girls, Pizzeria, Grocery, Ice Cream Shop and Little Cook!
Hopefully you can spot some things you want to BUY or DIY..
and then get in on the black friday deals!
Most of the items are found in major local stores(Target, Toys R Us & Walmart, etc.),
Handmade items from etsy shops or blogged DIY Projects.
Happy gift giving everyone!
My girls LOVE playing doctor or nurse.
I plan on making the little nurse outfits for both of them. How ridiculously cute is it?!
Sophie spotted it while I was putting this post together… and with her reaction..
I knew I had to make that DIY happen. ;)
Both of my girls put “doctor” on their letter to santa…
I wasn’t able to find it online, but Target has a really cute pink kit with a clear briefcase.
Imaginarium Doctor Dress Up Set – Green 5-Piece – $21.99
Let’s Play Doctor Playset – $10
Dress up Nurse Costume – DIY
Fisher-Price Medical Kit – Pink – $14.99
Pretend Play: Doctor Kit – DIY
Fisher-Price Medical Kit – $13.88
Even with it being cold outside..
the idea of Gardening is so fun for little ones!
My Sophie(4), especially loves it. She gathers up all her vegetable felt food in a basket..
and goes to work in her “Garden”.. which is..nothing… so, I’m thinking of making the
DIY garden on the bottom left below. I love the idea of using turf..
and having tubes that they can “plant” their flowers
in and then pick them! so sweet. And I love toys that keep kids busy.
I might kill every plant that I touch…But I think I can handle the fake ones. :)
Sending and getting mail is so fun for kids!
We made the cardboard mailbox a while back..
and it is used almost every day at some point.
I never got around to painting it.. but I think it could be really cute pink or blue!
The little wooden mailbox is a splurge
but my sophia has always eyed that toy up at stores..
I know so many people who have it and love it!
With a house of girls…
we play mommy a lot. I mean… a lot.
everything is mothered in our house. ;)
There are so many cute little mommy (or daddy) items out there..and lots of DIY’s!
We have the circo car seat and diaper bag full of goodies. they LOVE it.
This Christmas is going to be a big Mommy gift year I think..
especially with baby #3 arriving right before in november.
I really want to make up some felt diapers and the swaddlers! I think I’ll get my
mom in on that when she comes up to help out with baby. (are you reading this mom? :)
we play mommy a lot. I mean… a lot.
everything is mothered in our house. ;)
There are so many cute little mommy (or daddy) items out there..and lots of DIY’s!
We have the circo car seat and diaper bag full of goodies. they LOVE it.
This Christmas is going to be a big Mommy gift year I think..
especially with baby #3 arriving right before in november.
I really want to make up some felt diapers and the swaddlers! I think I’ll get my
mom in on that when she comes up to help out with baby. (are you reading this mom? :)
And here’s a whole nother batch of little mommy gifts!
I found so many great DIY projects..I couldn’t edit this list down.. had to share. ;)
Fix it time! I am seriously considering making..
or getting my husband to make.. one of these tool tables below!
My girls are always drawn to those things at friend’s houses.
And I have to hide my tape measurer from them.. they are fascinated by it. I think a kid friendly version might be good to have. :) I put the hammering toy on this list…
only because sienna loves it so much whenever we go to IKEA.
I’m not sure I could handle that in our house… all the time.. ;)
I came across the felt dog treats and almost died!!
So cute! My girls are really into animals.. and doctor… so playing vet is the perfect combo!
I have seen some cute DIY stuffed animal band aids out there too.
I think my girls would flip over the little cage and vet kit!
So cute! My girls are really into animals.. and doctor… so playing vet is the perfect combo!
I have seen some cute DIY stuffed animal band aids out there too.
I think my girls would flip over the little cage and vet kit!
Do you have a little artist in your house?? We have the IKEA easel and love it. And the monster crayon bag?!? adorable. There are so many great ways to showcase and carry around your little ones crayons! and I think every kid loves crayons..and loves putting them in something.
My sienna fills up purses and baskets all day long.
She would love having a spot for each crayon and then taking it to church with us!
Love these gift ideas for your little chef!
We have a little kitchen area in our Play Room and the girls are in there every day..
cooking up something yummy! Sharing a link to my felt food in this round up.
I made up a bunch of stuff one year..most of them really easy to do!
I love when the girls bring me a plate full of yummy felt donuts, cookies,
bacon and lettuce. perfect snack combo. ;)
I loveeee the elephant apron. it’s too adorable.
Kids love the idea of buying stuff…
putting stuff into their cart!
Here’s some cute and fun grocery themed items..
I love the felt money. and the little grocery basket…. $8.99?? love it.
My sienna would carry that around all day!
I scream, You scream,
We all scream for Ice Cream!
I think some of these items are soo cute! I love the idea of filling up
containers with different colors of play dough and making cute labels.
Shared my ice cream felt board in this set.. I’m not selling them at this time,
But hope you can get some inspiration to make your own!
My girls LOVE stacking up the flavors.
Sienna sometimes licks the felt..still working on that. ;)
Pizza and kids… it just goes together!
My girls love the felt Pizza I made them. I love the idea of little ones being able to count
the toppings as they put them on… or making their pizza up just how they want it!
And kids love the pizza shop fun of taking orders and making the delivery. :)
Thanks for checking out my
Christmas Gift Guide for 2012!
Happy gifting everyone!
joe
November 17, 2012 at 1:54 amScore. I’m getting that easel for my nephew. Thanks Natalie. We’ll either solve differential equations with it or draw dinosaurs.
Lauren Bell
November 17, 2012 at 6:22 amThis is sooo fantastic! Thankyou so much for such great ideas, especially the DIY items.
Holly
November 17, 2012 at 9:57 amI wish I knew how to sew so I could make some of that adorable play food for my daughter.
You gave me some great ideas though!!
Laura@Cowboy Boots
November 17, 2012 at 9:59 amreid got that IKEA tool belt for a gift at his bday back in feb. such a cute gift and he pretends he’s daddy!
sending some strong (sorry) labor dust ur way!
Anonymous
November 17, 2012 at 5:48 pmJust to add, target dollar spot has many different packs of felt foods that are super cute and well made…so if your readers don’t have an IKEA nearby, target has affordable felt stuff :)
mackenzie
November 17, 2012 at 6:57 pmGreat blog, such a mix of excellent things for families. So useful. Thanks so much, really enjoying it.
Jen | Family Sponge
November 17, 2012 at 9:14 pmThanks so much for featuring our pretend flower garden project. Kids really do love it and it’s a great way to get your green thumb fix in the middle of winter!
Shannon
December 6, 2012 at 4:46 pmGreat compilations! Thanks. This helps me with my holiday shopping. :o)
Cori
December 10, 2012 at 7:57 amThanks for the great list, but seriously, stop giving away your time! You need to include some affiliant links in there. You deserve it :)
hubina
March 15, 2013 at 6:50 pmI remember my mom making an apron for me.. it had different size/width “pockets” for crayons, paint brushes, markers.. I wore it all the time, whether I was crafting or not.. it was just fun to wear! :)
John Decker
December 10, 2013 at 1:31 pmThis is a great article with some good gift ideas. I love Christmas shopping and I always start early. I think Christmas shopping can be hard, especially when I am shopping for my wife and daughter. I usually get them some sort of fashion object because they love clothes. Last year I got my daughter something unique such as different color contact lenses. I think colored contact lens are a great gift because it gives girls the ability to change their eye color for certain occasions. I think she really liked them and even used them for her Halloween costume this year.
Anonymous
February 18, 2014 at 7:32 pmWish I had found this post last week… Would have saved me hours of research and budgeting for my son’s new play kitchen! Although I plan to DIY a lot, it is nice to find a list of the products i can’t make that are budget friendly (cash register and grocery basket, for example). Thanks so much for this post.