It’s hard to believe we’re almost at that time of year again! If you’re looking for some great, thoughtful gift ideas this upcoming holiday season, look no further! I’ve rounded up a bunch of our favorite things around here on Fern to help make your shopping a breeze! Read on to discover the Most Meaningful Holiday Gift Ideas!
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PRACTICAL & PAMPERING GIFTS FOR WOMEN FRIENDS:
#1 High-Quality Aluminum Waterbottle like this Owala! These are by far the best water bottles we have invested in. One of my friends recommended to me over the summer and we now have two of them. They come in bright, fun colors also. Option of sipping directly from spout or using straw. Nice and easy to clean.
#2 “MAMA” Hat I love wearing my “Mama” hat! I wear it proud (…and often to cover un-washed hair!)
#3 Mom Set Free Book – This is an encouraging read for any moms you might know who are feeling overwhelmed.
#4 Why not gift a beautiful one-of-a-kind hand-painted mug like this beautiful Georgia & Poppy one my talented friend made?
#5 Bread of Life Book – For any person interested in learning how to bake their own bread, while also discovering how bread-making ties in so beautifully with scripture! I’ve bundled this with bread-baking accessories like proofing baskets, and bags of high-quality bread flour, etc.
#6 For any tea lover – my favorite little Honey-bee Spoon is so sweet and pairs well with a unique mug, raw honey or honey sticks, etc. Take this gift theme further and get this lovely Natural Bamboo Tea Organizer – I loved giving this as a Christmas gift to a bunch of people a few years ago. You can even stock it up with their favorite assorted teas before wrapping it!
#7 “God Says You Are” Makeup Bag – This makeup bag was sent to me for my birthday from the sweetest friend, and since then I have given them to other friends – I just love how every day when you are getting ready you can be reminded over and over of God’s promises and truths about who He says you are!
#8 Shaklee Women’s VitaLea Multivitamins – Give the gift of health! Life Shake, Vitamins, Collagen powder, or better yet, a Shaklee Membership! This company’s “Beyond Organic” vitamins and supplements have changed my life! They far surpass any other supplements I’ve ever used, and I’m a certified health coach! Click here to purchase through my link!
#9 Half-Baked Harvest Cookbook – Tieghan Gerard’s cookbooks are gorgeous and full of great, cozy meal recipes! A favorite!
#10 Chatbooks – Either customize a photo-book for a loved one or gift a subscription! These books are a great un-complicated, no-stress way to get those photos off your phone and into your hands. My kids LOVE looking through them all the time! I have an annual subscription where you choose your best photos each month, hit print and they send your book with free shipping.
#11 Handheld Frother for Lattes and Coffee drinks – Nothing beats a cozy foamy latte or warm coffee drink and this sleek rechargeable frother is the best! I use it every day. Comes in a variety of colors. Gift this with a nice mug and a bag of organic coffee, matcha or a latte powder.
#12 Annual Subscription to a beautiful magazine – A gift that keeps giving all year long! Some ideas include: Eden & Vine Magazine, Life Beautiful, Magnolia Journal or Farmhouse Style
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This lightweight heated vest was an awesome Christmas gift I received from my husband a couple of years back and I pretty much wear it every day through the Fall and Winter! This was such a thoughtful gift – I think he was really sick of hearing me complain about how I was always cold in the house and wanting to turn up the heat! You charge the battery just like you do a phone. Highly recommend!
This Electric Portable Crockpot is so cute and perfect for moms-on-the-go! The perfect size to keep your lunch warm while you travel or whatever your day looks like!
These vegan, organic bath bombs with a variety of essential oils are great to help unwind in a bath at the end of a long day. I love that these don’t contain all the icky chemicals!
I always order these hand-crafted 100% soy candles by Wax & Wit. Good price and come in amazing scents! My favorites are “Hot Cinnamon Rolls” and “Hello Fall”!
My all-time favorite organic healthy dark hot chocolate from the Lake Champlain Company. (It’s also a bit sentimental for me since I grew up camping on Lake Champlain with my family!) They have other delicious flavors as well like Mocha, Peppermint, Spicy Aztec and more! Dairy-free!
Lifeboost Coffee – I bought this healthy coffee for my coffee-loving husband last Christmas to give it a try and he’s never looked back! This certified organic, low-acid, single-origin coffee tastes so clean and doesn’t have all the chemicals that other brands do. It’s awesome and we love it.
Rechargeable Hand Warmer – This is a nice lightweight hand warmer perfect for outdoor winter activities! I’m always cold so this is really great to keep on hand.
It may be a bit pricey, but a Vitamix just can’t be beat! Use to blend smoothies, make nut butters, flours, soups, and SO much more! They come with a 10-year full warranty. We use ours all day, every day! Definitely worth the investment 100 times over.
iRobot – This was one of the best Christmas gifts EVER given to me by my husband. They have become much more affordable now. Could be a great gift for a new homemaker, new mom, or mom friend that’s feeling overwhelmed. Another idea could be to buy a gift certificate for a house cleaning!
Essential Oils from Young Living – Pair this with a beginner’s guide to aromatherapy and essential oils!
Help create meaningful conversation at your dinner table with these award-winning Family Conversation Cards. Our kids LOVE doing these. There are specific ones for couples, kids, etc.
Gift Certificate to a Manicure & Pedicure, Salon, Facial or Massage
GIFTS FOR YOUNG ARTISTS AND CREATIVES
#1 Cute Needle Felted Animal Friends Book and Needle Felting Kit for beginners. My oldest daughter started learning this handicraft around age 8. I thought it did seem a tad risky letting her use needles, but she learned quickly how to be careful. You need to know your child’s personality and whether or not they will be able to handle it. It’s so good developmentally for kids to make things with their hands.
#2 Pair a Kids Cookbook or Baking Book with a Cute Apron and maybe some cooking/baking supplies!
#3 Watercolor Palette with 48 Washable Colors with 3 Brushes -perfect for beginners. This set is an excellent price and our teachers recommended this set to all of the kids who came to our art classes we hosted in our barn. You really can’t beat the price!
#4 Air-Dry Clay with a How-To Book for Inspiration – My kids can’t seem to get enough of making things out of clay! They get so creative and I love to see all of the things they come up with!
#5 Charcoal Pencils – These are wonderful for children who are into drawing and sketching. This would be nice to gift along with these Linen-Bound Hardcover Watercolor & Mixed Media Books – I bought these for my girls and loved that they came in a 2-pack so they could each have one. They come in different sizes. Pair this with some more art supplies, or better yet, a local art class!
#6 Portable Wooden Sketchbox Art Easel – A dear friend gave this to my 7-year old for her birthday, and she uses it all the time, bringing it outside for sketching and painting.
#7 Polaroid Fuji Film Camera This camera is so fun for kids and prints out miniature photos right away! The film can be a bit pricey, so I only allow my daughter to use it for special occasions and playdates. She receives film in her Christmas stocking or for a birthday. We have used this camera for birthday parties to take snapshots of our guests with the birthday girl for crafts! Check out in this party here.
#8 Illustory– This create-your-own storybook kit is so awesome! Both of my girls have used this kit to come up with a story, illustrate and then publish it – and they have given books as gifts at Christmas. Everything you need is included!
#9 Kids microscope – My girls just love their microscope that their Grandpa gifted them. We use it to get a closer look at things all the time – (especially ticks, unfortunately!) Pair with this little kids educational book on how to use a microscope!
#10 Follow my instructions here and learn how to make a personalized snow globe! Buy the materials necessary which are linked in my post, and create your own DIY kit for your kids! So simple and so fun!
#11 Get those little ones out helping in the garden! One of our favorite educational gardening books for little ones is Up in the Garden Down in the Dirt! Go for the full gardening theme and buy this Kinderific Garden Tool Set -so sweet and high quality. It comes in a few colors and patterns! Make it complete with some seed packets!
#12 An artist friend bought my girls this beautiful little handmade metallic watercolor set.
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This adorable sewing kit with easy-to-follow instructions is a great start for beginners! Ages 7+
This cute Montessori-style bear cutting board and wooden knife set are great for little ones 3+ that you want to bring into the kitchen with you to learn how to safely chop fruits and veggies.
This beeswax candle-making kit was gifted to us by a lovely friend. To be honest, I thought it would be complicated for some reason so we kept putting off doing it. Surprisingly, when we finally did open this kit and make them we could not believe how easy it was! We made them around Christmas-time and they came out so beautiful we ended up using them on our table at Christmas dinner! You could tie them in beautiful festive ribbons and give them as gifts! They sell these candle-making kits in different colors but personally we loved this more natural beeswax color!
Trace Pad – This light-up tracing pad is great for the young artist that loves to draw and create! My girls love it and use it all the time. Pair it with some markers, colored pencils and Tracing Paper for a complete gift!
Kid Made Modern Arts & Crafts Kit – This large box of craft supplies was something I ordered at the beginning of the pandemic and provided countless hours of creativity for my girls who were between the ages of 3-6 at that point. It’s full of pipe cleaners, pom poms, popsicle sticks, sequins, colorful beads, google eyes, and so much more. Perfect to help your little ones use their imaginations and promote creativity!
Learn to Draw…Animals! Book – This is a great book for beginner artists ages 5-7 to learn how to draw simple animals with step-by-step illustrations.
Wooden Weaving Loom – This Melissa & Doug loom comes with everything a kid needs with a oversized wooden needle, rainbow yarn and illustrated design booklet.
SunPrint Paper – This is a fun activity for kids to do outside.
Wooden Flower Press Kit – This is great for drying flowers and making them into beautiful artwork, cards, bookmarks, you name it!
GIFTS FOR LITTLES
#1 Tiny Land Wooden Train Set – (For kids ages 3-7)
#2 Woodland Animal Search & Find Puzzle – These puzzles are so wonderful! They come in a variety of different environments with animals, such as an Arctic one, an Ocean Life one, a Rainforest one, and so many more! We collect them, and my 8-year old is obsessed!
#3 Wonderbly – Customizable Books for Kids – because what kid doesn’t love seeing their name/family’s names printed in a book?! My girls had me reading these over and over.
#4 Glow-in-the-Dark Search & Find Puzzle – This 100-piece puzzle featuring predators and prey was a big hit! Complete the puzzle then turn the lights off to see it glow!
#5 Dancing Alligator Push & Pull Toy (Sustainably Made) – We’ve had this cute click-clack alligator since my oldest was a baby and each kid has enjoyed it tremendously!
#6 Little Kids version of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia – I was so happy to find this book since we love the story so much – it’s never too early to introduce a classic!
#7 I found this science experiment kit for my youngest daughter at Christmas one year and she spent so many hours playing with it. This great kit even comes complete with a lab coat too so kids can be in full scientist mode! I gave my daughter some natural food coloring and she had so much fun mixing them with water in the vials.
#8 Cuddle & Kind Dolls – These have been well-loved in our house! Fair-trade, hand-knit dolls. Each doll purchased provides 10 meals to children in the USA and around the world! What a cool company that gives back!
#9 The Story Orchestra Books – These books have beautiful classical music at the push of a button on beautiful scenes throughout each story’s re-telling. We personally have “Swan Lake” featuring Tchaikovsky but there are a few different books with different composers! Each book shares information about the composer towards the back of the book.
#10 Melissa & Doug Pull-Back Cars – These things are awesome! We bought them for our baby boy, and they are actually quite impressive with how quick and far they go! They come in a set of 4. The best part? They’re machine-washable!
#11 Barnyard Finger Puppet Set – These are so cute, great quality made of cotton-yarn, and really fun with babies.
#12 Animal Matching Game Book– These books are so much fun for little ones! My one-year-old loves sliding and revealing the smiley animals. They come in other themes such as colors and transportation too!
#13 What little dinosaur-lover wouldn’t love this sturdy, T-Rex Plush?!
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Magnatiles – A wonderful developmental certified STEAM toy (ages 3+) that helps with fine-motor skills, creativity and more! My 7-year old still plays with these on a regular basis, continually creating new structures and “homes” for her little figurines!
Crab Toy for Babies – our little one LOVES this thing. Look it up, it’s very affordable – entertainment for both baby AND adults! Hilarious!
Lullabies for the Beloved by Christy Nockels – This is a beautiful collection of lullabies redone so sweetly! This would be the perfect gift for a baby shower. Perfect album.
Color-Changing Umbrella – These umbrellas are so fun! We discovered them at a local shop and have since gifted them many times! These will keep little ones dry on rainy days and entertain them with their cute assortment of designs and the magic that happens when they get wet!
Kinetic Sand – It’s like real sand but without the mess! My girls LOVED playing with this when they were toddlers. They come in all sorts of fun play-sets.
Mega Fossil Dig Kit – Keep little ones busy and learning with this awesome excavation kit from National Geographic! A great STEM gift for kids with an interest in science and paleontology!
Stepping Stone This is a sweet gift for little ones to customize with paint and then choose a special spot outside for it!
This Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Stamp Set is a great open-ended creative activity just perfect for little ones! I have always gravitated towards the Melissa & Doug brand for their wooden toys and high-quality products.
Ultra-Bright Shimmer Do-A-Dot-Art Rainbow Dot Markers – These are lots of fun for little kids!
This take-along Melissa & Doug horse stable set is a favorite in our house for years.
My middle (7 years old) is still obsessed with Calico Critters and wants to have a calico-themed birthday party! These adorable little woodland creatures are perfect for imaginative play. Check out this complete Country Home set including figurines and furniture. Great start to a Calico collection. If you are looking to spend less, go for a cute family set like these Christmas Reindeer!
My girls have always really enjoyed the Maileg Mouse toys. These are tiny little cotton mice, dressed up that come “sleeping” in tiny Matchbox beds. They sell them at a local gift store in our town so that’s where we first discovered them. A comparable and less expensive brand would be these sweet Levlovs. They have similar sweet little details that kids will love!
Have your kids sharpen their soccer skills with these soccer goals!
Basketball hoop and basketball.
Glorilight – I think this is the coolest! Instead of just a regular old nightlight, this helps kids memorize and meditate on scripture as they fall asleep! Such a great way to calm bedtime fears!
Hiskidscompany.com apparel for kids! They have the best quality, adorable t-shirts, sweatshirts and more with scriptures and sayings like “Jesus Loves Me!” I have bought their t-shirts for holiday photos, and my girls’ heavyweight tie-dye “Jesus Loves Me” sweatshirts are a favorite!
FOR THE 10-YEAR OLD (HORSE-OBSESSED) GIRL GOING ON 20
#2 This beautiful cosmetic bag with horses and scripture is a fun gift and can be stocked with nail polish, cosmetics or art/school supplies!
#3 My oldest always looks forward to her Young Rider Magazine in the mail. A year-long subscription makes the perfect gift for any young horse-lover! We have gifted this for a few friends’ birthdays this past year.
#4 Klee Naturals Organic makeup – I discovered this makeup brand when my daughters were asking for some play makeup and I didn’t feel comfortable giving them ones with all the chemicals and yuckies. They also have a non-toxic flavored lip gloss bundle. Highly recommend!
#5 These silk scrunchies are perfect and gentle on little girls delicate hair.
#6 Animal tracking bracelets – Each bracelet tracks a REAL animal on your phone or tablet. My girls love checking in on their manatee and polar bear. Perfect for the little animal lover in your life!
#7 This stainless-steel misting water bottle is wonderful for any kid who is involved with sports. I love that it is stainless steel as many of these misting bottles are made of plastic. My soccer-loving daughter uses hers for all her games!
#8 When my oldest daughter started taking notice of my nighttime routine of washing my face before bed, she mentioned that she would like her own “big girl” face wash. This Bare Young cleanser and moisturizer I found for her is great in that it is plant-based and fragrance-free.
#9 When a well-meaning friend gave my daughter a bottle of (un-knowingly) toxic perfume, I couldn’t wait to exchange it for something healthier. The truth is, most fragrances are full of things that should NOT be going into your skin, which it turn goes directly into your bloodstream! I found this vegan perfume that she uses instead. It smells AMAZING and comes in so many different scents.
#10 A cute and fashionable fanny pack in a favorite color! Load it up with some favorite snacks, etc!
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These 100% natural bath bombs are a nice addition to any beauty-themed gift.
How about some Natural non-toxic nail polish paired with a portable nail dryer? This little nail dryer is perfect and my girls use it all the time. For really little kids, this set oof water-based safe, natural non-toxic nail polish is great.
MEANINGFUL CHRISTIAN BOOKS FOR KIDS
#1 Lightkeepers Girls & Lightkeepers Boys – This set of books geared for ages 6-11 tell the stories of fifty girls who were used by God and will inspire young readers. Stories like Helen Roseveare, Corrie Ten Book, Joni Eareckson and so many, many more. Each chapter has a fact file, keynote, a think spot and prayer to help kids think through what they just learned and how they can apply it to their own lives.
#2 Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer
#3 “A Collection of Bible Promises” by Generation Claimed is the perfect gift for babies and toddlers- containing life-giving Scriptural promises reminding all God’s children of who they are in Him. The 3-book set of board books includes “You Are”, reminding readers of who God says they are; “Tonight”, for a peaceful night’s rest; and “Chosen” revealing that God has a plan for each person’s life. I can’t recommend these books enough!
#4 A Party to Remember by Tim Tebow
#5 The Berenstain Bears & The Truth
#6 The Adventures of Rooney Cruz: Esther, The Belle of Patience. This series is awesome and goes through different Bible stories, teaching kids about Biblical role models they can look up to!
#7 Only You Can Be You – teaches kids that what makes them different makes them great!
#8 Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey – This beautiful hardcover book is John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress fully illustrated and adapted for kids. My girls wouldn’t let me put this down when I read it to them!
#9 His Grace is Enough – “How God Makes It Right When We’ve Got it wrong”; All kids need to hear this message!
#10 Flashlight Night by Elisabeth Hasselback – An adventure in trusting God!
#11 Lizzy the Lioness by Lisa Bevere – Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is ask for help!
#12 What Every Child Should Know About Prayer – Nancy Guthrie explains in child-friendly language what prayer is, how and why we pray, and things that we can pray about.
#13 Give God Your Worries – Bible verses to remember
#14 Indescribable Book by Louie Giglio – Learn about God and all the wonders of His creation in this devotional book – interesting and amazing scientific facts – a MUST for kids!
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NIV Adventure Bible – The #1 Bible for kids! I love this cute imitation leather leopard print one that I bought for my daughter last year.
Bible Verse Coloring Book for Girls – This is a beautiful collection of 35 scriptures and is a great gift for young Christian girls between the ages of 9 and 13.
OTHER FUN BOOKS
Safari Photicular Book – Using unique Photicular technology, this book is unlike any others you’ve seen. Animals appear in living motion, as real as if you were there! The book is also chock full of interesting animal facts. So cool!
Paint by Sticker Books – These books are so neat! They help with hand-eye coordination, counting, and you end up with these really colorful pictures that kids love! A great activity!
…FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS
Indestructibles Baby Books – These book are chew-proof, rip-proof, non-toxic, 100% washable, safe to chew, not to mention, ADORABLE! Whoever came up with this is a genius. Our little one loves his.
Cupkin Sticker Activity Book (500+ stickers) – What little kid doesn’t absolutely LOVE stickers?!! These cute books come in cute themes like “Farmer’s Market”, “All Around Town”, “Beach Day”, “Camping”, “Circus”, “Food Truck”, “Outer Space” and more!
…FOR MOMS
The Life You Long For – Learning to Live from a Heart of Rest
Unseen – The gift of being hidden in a world that loves to be noticed
Risen Motherhood Book – Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments – I’ve been listening to this podcast for years and their book is a favorite of mine! Definitely a good one to give new moms! I always gift these to friends at their baby showers.
If you know a homeschool mom, Teaching From Rest is ESSENTIAL. One of the most helpful, applicable books on homeschooling that I have read. HIGHLY recommend.
Rhythms of Renewal Book by Rebekah Lyons
…FOR FATHERS
The Habits of the Household Book – Practicing the story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms
Our 25 Family Ways – A Family Devotional Guide
The History of Fly-Fishing in Fifty Flies
…FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
Legacy Books – “Your Life Story in Your Own Words” These hardcover journals make a great gift for loved ones to jot down special moments, answering journaling prompts together, and logging history that will be cherished forever! They come in “Father’s Legacy”, “Mother’s Legacy” and “Grandparents”.
GIFT MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES
Tickets for a show, musical, play, concert, favorite sports game
Day passes or season passes for a local zoo, museum, aquarium, amusement park or indoor waterpark
Art, dance, gymnastics, horse riding, tennis, swim, sewing classes or lessons for an instrument
MEANINGFUL GIFTS THAT CAN CHANGE LIVES
I also want to mention two of our favorite programs that help to bring hope to people in need around the world at Christmas-time. Samaritan’s Purse Gifts of Hope Christmas Gift Catalog and Operation Christmas Child. If you are unfamiliar with either I sincerely hope that you will take a moment to check them out. Samaritan’s Purse is a trustworthy organization that seeks to bring hope and healing through practical ways such as feeding babies, rescuing children in crisis, caring for orphans, providing hot meals for children and families, bringing clean water to villages, and so much more. I’m sure there could be a few people on your list this Christmas that don’t just want more “stuff” — they would much rather your money go to something like this gifted in their name.
Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child is a fun thing for kids to participate in –it’s an annual tradition that we do with our kids and it teaches them the importance of giving by packing up shoeboxes for children who would otherwise not receive even one Christmas present. Your family can help bring joy to kids in need this Christmas. Seriously, what could be better than that?!
And what’s even cooler is that now you can track your shoebox to see where they end up in the world. Also, if you watch any of the videos by Operation Christmas Child the countless miraculous stories of specific shoeboxes given to children and how they made a life-changing impact. Get your tissue box ready!
I hope this has been helpful to you as you plan out your gift-giving this upcoming holiday season! Merry, Merry Christmas from all of us here on Fern, and happy shopping!
Love these gift ideas! My girls always wanted a mouse in the matchbox – but never thought to look online for them. ❤️
I’m so glad you love them! Doesn’t everyone need a mouse in a matchbox?!! LOL – They are pretty adorable – I would’ve loved them as a kid!