As a former first grade teacher, my students spanned a wide spectrum of knowledge so I know that kids this age are the same way. Kindergarten through second graders are experience huge growth in their social, emotional, gross motor, and academic skills. Gifts that allow them to have fun while practicing what they know are always the best in increasing their confidence and self-esteem. Knowing your kids and their interests and skills should always drive your purchases and here are my gift picks designed to help you wade through the endless options for this age group.
Reptangles by Fat Brain Toys ($27.95)
Who doesn’t love a good challenge with endless possibilities? That’s what Reptangles provides while giving kids a chance to exercise fine motor skills as they find ways to construct polyhedra with these colorful turtle shaped building pieces. They’re also great for reinforcing math skills like patterning, sequencing, and geometry.
Razor DeltaWing Scooter ($99.99)
This is not your older sibling’s scooter. Well known for their scooters, Razor has reimagined their popular scooter with a new design with three wheels. The steel frame features polymer wings to allow kids to stand or sit while riding this self-propelled scooter that uses low angle trailing casters that allow turning, drifting, and acceleration without ever having to push.
Hero Droid Star Wars Multi-Sport Helmet ($24.99)
Kids this age are active so protect their heads while letting them embrace their love of Star Wars with this awesome BB8 multi-sport helmet that they can use for biking, scootering, and according to some users via the comments section, even skiing and snowboarding. I’m also a fan of R2D2. Too bad they don’t make these in adult sizes!
Tetris Link ($32)
Parents who loved Tetris can teach their kids the fun of the game all over again through a non-digital game that can be played with a partner. Drop blocks (called Tetriminos) into the grid to link same colored ones together to earn points while blocking your opponent from doing the same. Points are deducted for leaving empty spaces in the grid to challenge spatial skills.
Boogie Board Jot ($21)
Highly addictive to use in the best way, Boogie Board Jot is a LCD writing surface that can be written on and erased over and over again and feels just like writing on paper. Kids will love the novelty of using Boogie Board for drawing and writing and parents will appreciate that kids will want to write on it, helping them perfect their handwriting. Even practicing beginning math facts are more fun when done on Boogie Board!
Disney Classic Moana Doll ($19.95 at the Disney Store)
While the movie isn’t quite out yet (in theaters November 23), Moana is sure to be an animated hit this holiday season and characters and toys from the movie will be in high demand and potentially short supply making it a perfect time to order Disney’s Moana Classic Doll. Budget friend at just under $20, this poseable doll is clad in her signature island style for whatever adventures may be head but what’s even better about this doll is her packaging! The packaging turns into a boat so it can be used for playtime instead of immediately thrown in the trash or recycled! I applaud Disney sustainability for challenging their toy manufacturers to come up with smart packaging and hope that other companies will follow!
Pie Face Showdown Game ($24.99)
Fans of the original PieFace game are in for more tasty and suspenseful fun when you load up the arm with whipped cream (not included!), count to 3, and see if you’re the first to pound the button to activate the hand to throw the whipped cream. If you’re too slow, the hand will move closer to your side and when it gets too close, will spring and fling whipped cream. Guaranteed laughs for the whole family. Just be sure to gift this with some whipped cream and some sponges so the kids can assist with game cleanup as they play!
Indoor/Outdoor Rope Ladder ($22.99)
If you have a child who loves to climb, a rope climbing ladder can help them use their gross motor skills and burn some energy even during the colder months. I love this particular rope ladder because it allows you to adjust the distance between two rungs, especially helpful for shorter legs who need rungs that are closer together right now but will want them farther apart as they grow up.
Hot Wheels Track Builder System Power Booster Kit ($44.99)
Kids who love racing cars will love the opportunity to build up to 4 different races to race with a friend. Stackable arrow shaped boosters propel cars as they perform stunts on speed loops. The included Builder’s Guide is bound to get kids thinking as scientists as they try to hack the track and build it for maximum speed!
Shrinky Dinks 10 Crystal Clear 10 Sheet Creative Pack ($12.05)
If you loved Shrinky Dinks at this age, chances are your child will too! The Crystal Clear 10 Sheet Creative Pack includes 10 8×10” clear transparent sheets for your child to color, bake, and shrink all winter long.
Nintendo 2DS Yo-Kai Watch Bundle ($79.99 at Best Buy or GameStop)
If your child is clamoring for their own gaming device, the Nintendo 2DS is the perfect choice for kids of this age. With the ability to play 3DS games (just not in 3D, hence the 2DS name) and almost all the features of its 3DS counterpart, it’s a budget friendly choice. Chances are if you get this for your child, they won’t even notice that they can’t play in 3D. Trust me, this is a good thing for their young eyes! Note: You can get the Nintendo 2DS from Amazon but right now they’re pricing out at over $94.90.
Visit my other age appropriate gift guides for more gift suggestions:
- (ages 18 months-5 years)
- (grades 3-7 or ages 8-12)
- (ages 13+)
Specialty Gift Guides:
- (preK-teen)
- Gadget Lovers
Must-Read Gift Guides Compiled by Friends:
- Gifts that Give Back by ThirdEyeMom’s Nicole Melancon
Samples were received for review purposes. Amazon Affiliate links included in this post. All images courtesy of the companies.
