We know you’re busy so we went ahead and did the research on gifts this year, so you don’t have to. Just think of us as your personal holiday shopping helper and wrap up the best gifts for every kid on your list. From newborns and wee babies to toddlers, kinders, preschoolers and even tweens, this list covers them all.
Baby (0 – 1 year):
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Travel-Sized Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether
Comprised of the same natural rubber and non-toxic paint that has made Sophie the Giraffe a classic for generations, this travel-sized teether is just as safe and soft as the original, but has two added, textured handles to soothe baby’s sore gums.
Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether, $18. Available at mastermindtoys.com.
Hatley Little Bear Bum Infant Coveralls and Knot Cap
With its soft, 100% ribbed cotton construction, front applique, embroidery or silkscreen design, this gorgeous set from beloved Canadian outfitter, Hatley, is sure to become a staple in any baby’s wardrobe.
Hatley Little Bear Coverall and Knot Cap, $28. Available at hatleystore.com.
Eeny, Meeny, Miny Zoo Building Blocks
Eeny, meeny, miny, zoo! First comes alligator and then elephant too! These 25 beautifully painted blocks will help with building and identifying colours and animals.
Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Zoo! Building Blocks, $51. Available at moolka.com.
Toddler (1 – 2 ½ Years)
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Pavillion Wooden Bowling Set
This mini bowling game teaches fine and gross motor skills, numbers and colours as toddlers knock over their animal friends.
Pavillion Wooden Bowling Set, $20. Available at toysrus.ca.
Dress-Up Pirate Doll
Wee ones can work on their dressing skills by helping this friendly get ready to go. Activities include button, zip, snap, lace, buckle and Velcro, with removable clothes for plenty of practice…a pirate, a pirate, a pirate says “arrrrr!”.
Dress-Up Pirate Doll, $35. Available at familyplayroom.com
Derby Rocking Horse
They may start off demanding the real thing, but they’ll be just as pleased to receive a rocking horse (and you’ll be pleased to bypass the stable fees).
Derby Rocking Horse, $130. Available at toysrus.ca.
Pre-School Kids (2 ½ – 4 Years)
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Strider Balance Bike
Instead of a first tricycle, try a strider bike — a pedal-less creation designed to help your little one safely learn the difficult art of balancing on two-wheels.
Strider Balance Bike, $125. Available at stridersports.ca.
Crazy Forts Construction Toy
Get creative and connect balls and sticks to build the framework for your perfect fort with this portable kit for hours of fun.
Crazy Forts Construction Toy, $50. Available at mastermindtoys.com.
Plasma Car – Exclusive in Pink!
Your kids can wiggle and jiggle their way to adventure as they use their very own brand of kid-power (fueled by milk and cookies of course) to move this kid-sized vehicle along, anywhere.
Plasma Car, $52 (in pink, red or blue). Available at chapters.indigo.ca.
School Age Kids (4 – 8 Years)
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Playschool Showcam 2-in-1 Digital Camera and Projector
This rugged digital camera, gives the kids a way to add fun animations, stories and sounds to their photos. Little ones can customize their pics with over 50 silly effects and project them with the simple flip of a switch!.
Playschool Showcam 2-in-1 Digital Camera & Projector, $80. Available at sears.ca.
Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Game
The goal of the Harry Potter Hogwarts Game is to be the first to race through the castle and gather all of your homework along the way, but before you begin, you’ll have to build your board and the pieces that go in it! It’s a double-dose of Harry Potter and Lego fun for the entire family.
Harry Potter Hogwarts Game, $40. Available at toysrus.com.
Raise a Reader with Tintin
Children can never have too many books. We love gifting a classic set (especially ones we loved to read when we were little) to expand their library each holiday.
Adventures of Tintin Complete Slipcase, $75. Available at www.chapters.indigo.ca.
Tweens (8 – 12 Years):
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Perplexus Game
Part-labyrinth, part-maze, all fun! It takes patience, persistence and a steady hand to roll the ball through the barriers in this gravity-defying sphere, but once you begin, it’s impossible to put down!
Perplexus Original, $25. Available at chapters.indigo.ca.
Scientific Explorer Tasty Science Kit
Who knew science could taste so good? With this kit, you’ll whip up cupcakes, cookies, candy, and more all in the name of science! Learn what makes cakes rise, candy crystallize, and more real chemistry happen in the kitchen.
Scientific Explorer Tasty Science Kit, $25. Available at mastermindtoys.com.
Criss Angel Magic Kit
With step by step directions for over 250 magic tricks to choose from, your mini magicians will be busy for hours practicing and perfecting their tricks.
Criss Angel Mind Freak Platinum Magic Kit, $40. Available at mixdirect.com.
Teens (13 – 17 Years):
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Fuji Instax Instant Camera
The newest mini version of Fuji’s super stylish instant camera features simple exposure adjustment and automatic flash, with a pop-out & collapsible lens. It has great photo quality, and we love that with it, our teens can express their pleasure and displeasure with a click and a print out, quickly and *quietly*.
Fuji Instax Instant Camera, $100. Available at urbanoutfitters.com.
The Hunger Games Trilogy Box Set of Books
If they haven’t already read it, this set of books will keep teens very happy and busy for at least a week. Of course along with them holed up in their rooms reading, we will be regaled with stories of Katniss for months to come.
The Hunger Games Trilogy Box Set, $25. Available at indigo.ca.
Oversized Mike And Ike Candy Box
For our ever-sweet teens, we give them enough of their fave candy to last a full year (or one very long study session).
Oversized Mike and Ike Candy Box, $20.00. Available at urbanoutfitters.com.
Our Kids’ Dad:
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Faux Wood Bow Tie
What does dad need this year? Definitely a faux wood bowtie. Why? Because it will make him feel dapper and rakish at the same time…and isn’t that what all dads really want?
Faux Wood Bow Tie with Teal Wool Reverse, $65. Available at etsy.com/ca.
Johnny Cash: The Life
Robert Hilburn conveys the unvarnished truth about a musical icon whose colorful career stretched from his days at Sun Records with Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis to the remarkable creative last hurrah, at age sixty-nine, that resulted in the brave, moving “Hurt” video.
Johnny Cash: The Life, $20. Available at amazon.ca.
Whiskey Rocks
Made in Vermont from natural soapstone, Teroforma’s Whisky Stones are flavourless, non-porous cubes that will chill your drink without watering it down.
Teroforma’s Whisky Stones, $25. Available at chapters.indigo.ca.
Our Best Girl Friend or Us:
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A Trio of Kicking Horse Coffee
Who wouldn’t want to wake up to Kicking Horse Coffee on their holiday this year (or any year for that matter)? This pack has a 1 lb. bag of three different blends of Kicking Horse: 454 Horse Power, Kick Ass, and Three Sisters. All certified organic, certified fairtrade, certified delicious.
Kicking Horse Trio of Coffee, $41. Available at www.kickinghorsecoffee.com.
Apple TV
Who’s kidding who? We really want this this year. We can watch movies on Netflix, search our fave videos on YouTube, enjoy our music via iCloud and stream from our iOS devices via AirPlay. What more could a girl need this holiday?
Apple TV, $109. Available at store.apple.com/ca
Kim Crawford Wine Gift Set
A bottle of Kim Crawford 2010 Merlot and a 2012 Chardonnay will certainly help us (or a friend) get through the holidays in style.
Kim Crawford Wine Gift Set, $40. Available at www.lcbo.com.
Our Kids’ Grand Mother(s):
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Colour Block Cashmere Scarf
Our moms have put up with a lot from us over the years. We think treating her to a soft as soft can be cashmere scarf says that we love and appreciate her in ways our words never could.
Cashmere Scarf, $150. Available at bananarepublic.gapcanada.ca.
iPad
We are dragging our moms into the digital age with an iPad this year. Once she realizes how simple it is to use we expect emails, texts and even videos come January.
32 Gig iPad Air, $619. Available at store.apple.com/ca.
Natalie B Jewelry Locket Necklace
Our mom loves carrying around pics of our wee ones, and this locket allows her to do just that, in serious style. These lockets are made from actual vintage pieces, and each one is totally unique, just like our moms.
Natalie B. Jewelry Locket Necklace, $435.00. Available at urbanoutfitters.com.
Our Kids’ Grand Father(s):
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PhotoBook
Compile memories from the past year and beyond into a book grandpa will treasure forever, and tote around to show off his clan.
Photobook, $11.99-$63.99, Available at blacks.ca
Magnasonic Wireless Key Finder
Help even the busiest of grandparents find lost items instantly. Attach one of the colour-coded receivers to keys, wallet, remote control, purse, MP3 player, camera or anything else that tends to sneak away. When it goes missing, a simple button press will lead them directly to that item.
Magnasonic Wireless Key Finder, $35. Available at bestbuy.ca
Scandinavian 70s style iPod Alarm Clock
This alarm clock takes us back to Scandinavian 70s style. Simply download the app for your iPhone or iPod touch to experience the digital flip.
Alarm Clock iPhone Dock, $48. Available at drakegeneralstore.ca
Our Kids’ Aunt(s):
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Toms Mixed Woven Women’s Nepal Boots
Our favourite give-back shoes still do good in the winter season with comfy fleece booties, available for women and men. What’s more, Tom’s is now giving winter boots in select cold-weather areas. There’s never been a better reason to boot up.
Toms Mixed Woven Women’s Nepal Boots, $120. Available at toms.ca
Krups Silver Art Espresso Machine
Nothing will perk up these potential babysitters like a strong cup of espresso, brewed at home in a shiny and sleek machine.
Krups Silver Art Espresso Machine, $290. Available at thebay.com
Cable-Knit Trapper Hat
Who doesn’t love Trapper Hats? And this slightly more feminine one will suit our sister just fine. Of course just so we don’t get jealous and want it back, we’ll probably buy one for us at the same time.
J. Crew Cable-Knit Trapper Hat, $57 USD. Available at jcrew.com.
Our Kids’ Uncle(s):
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Joe Beef Cookbook
One of Montreal’s famed restaurants puts pen to paper with over 135 hearty recipes, personal stories, a Montreal travel guide and other whimsy like how to build a backyard smoker.
Joe Beef, The Art of Living, $26. Available at chapters.indigo.ca
BBQ Sword
We just might have to kiss the cook now that we have armed him with more than just fire. This BBQ tool will make him feel even more manly.
BBQ Sword, $34. Available at shop.mortimernodgrass.com
Grolsch Premium Lager, 1500 ml Bottle
Uncles usually get the bottom of the pile when it comes to love and kisses from our kids. This year, show Uncle Dave and Uncle Sam just how much your wee ones adore them (and their drumming/biking/spitting lessons) by presenting them with a six pack of 1500 ml bottles of their fave lager with the swing-top lid.
Grolsch Premium Lager, 1500 ml bottles, $11.40 each. Available at lcbo.com.
Our Kids’ Babysitter
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Braided Friendship Bracelet
Need to express your love and gratitude to your kids’ Babysitter? Woven with multi-coloured string and neatly accented with brass beads, your BSF (Baby-Sitter-Forever) can wear this forever and ever.
Braided Friendship Bracelet, $15. Available at drakegeneralstore.ca.
Lush Winter Garden Gift Set
Spoil the babysitter with a pack of five luxurious soaps and creams for skin that’s as soft and fragrant as fresh rose petals.
Lush Winter Garden Gift Set, $38. Available at lush.ca.
Day of the Dead Skull Ornament
Beautifully rendered glass ornaments to decorate their home for the holidays – or any occasion!
Day of the Dead Skull Ornament, $14. Available at drakegeneralstore.ca.
Our Kids’ Teacher:
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Tea Duckie
The cutest way to keep tea bags from sinking into a cup, this duckie keeps them afloat while being super cute.
Tea Duckie, $14. Available at shop.mortimersnodgrass.com.
Starbucks Christmas Blend Coffee Beans
After dealing with 20+ little monsters all day we know they need caffeine, we’re just making it sweeter for the holidays with a dash of Christmas.
Starbucks Christmas Blend Coffee Beans, $19. Available at starbucks.ca.
Fleur de Sel French Sea Salt
Fleur de sel, literally “flower of salt,” has been gathered on the island of Ré, off France’s Atlantic coast, since the seventh century. What is more fitting for the person who puts up with our slightly bitter, very spicy child all day long?
Fleur de Sel French Sea Salt, $19. Available in-store at Williams-Sonoma.
Our Neighbour
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Tea for the Tree
The prettiest teas we’ve ever seen come packaged as ornaments in three flavours: Elf Help, Oh Christmas Treat and Santa’s Secret.
Tea for the Tree, set of 3 for $12.50. Available at davidstea.com.
Godiva Chocolates 12-piece Signature Chocolate Truffles
Our neighbours will be charmed by Godiva’s 12-piece gift box of signature chocolate truffles…how can they refuse our kids’ access to their yard to retrieve lost baseballs after we drop this off for them this holiday?
Godiva Chocolates 12-piece Signature Chocolate Truffles. Available at godiva.com.
IKEA Cactaceae Potted Plants
For the neighbour who has it all get them a few adorable cacti…seriously.
IKEA Cactaceae Potted Plants, $4. Available at ikea.ca.
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