The weather is frightful, egg nog is delightful, and gift-giving is beginning to look a lot like a litmus.
Let’s be real for a second. Santa definitely and most decidedly has favorites. And I’m not one for sanctimonious back-patting, but sheesh, those elves get more competitive every year. So what is there to do when between Santa, grandma and grandpa, Stacey from school got a haul last year that she talked about for weeks? We could write a strongly worded letter to the North Pole or, we could just grit our teeth and hit the mall. Or perhaps just a couple of shopping apps.
In preparation for the end of holiday break, and the inevitable moment that annoying redhead from your little one’s class innocently asks what Santa got them, make sure to keep this gift guide for children ready. So if Santa plays favorites again, you at least have a few gifts to chip in for yourself. Without further ado, here are XOXO and Fashion 360 Magazine’s Holiday Gift Ideas for Children.
The Oldies and the Goodies: Tomigotchi’s and Furby’s
Some truly bizarre stuff happened this year. A world-expert scientist claimed that our existence isn’t real, an article went viral alleging that Nikola Tesla had said he saw the past and the future, then Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, and Britney Spears were all over the news, and the Beatles had just dropped a song. A madman would claim we went back in time, and a sane man might insist the same at this point. Which is why it’s very fitting that Tamagotchis and Furbies became all the rage again this year, too.
Tomigotchi’s and Furby’s are not just a way for us to bond with the new generation of toy enthusiasts. They are a nostalgic nod to simpler times, and, in their own small way, tangible portals back to those times, to help kids worried about dropping iPhones taste a milder flavor of digital evolution – and, in the process, understand just how fun it can be when it’s ten at night, the Furby won’t stop talking, and there is no magic button to make it pipe down. Because there is something to be said about growing up learning that not everything can be solved with a couple of taps on a screen – and to have fun with it the whole time anyway.
And Then the Fairly New: ToyBox 3D Printer
The “Number One 3D Printer for Kids” very much lives up to the hype. While it is important to give our kids ways to mentally escape the technological bubble we all exist in it now, it is equally important to equip them for a future where those who know STEM will be our future leaders. However introducing kids to computer programming and engineering can be daunting, and it requires the patience to surpass a large learning curve that most kids simply do not have yet.
It is for this reason that a kid-friendly 3D printer is a fantastic investment to make in your child’s emerging STEM education. Just like it is easier for a baby to communicate in sign language before it learns verbal language, a hands-on, engaging, interactive, tactile way for them to absorb the rules of technology will not only peak their interest in learning harder concepts, it will prime their spongey brains for inherently understanding them later on. With the ToyBox currently on sale for 25% off, now is the time to splurge on an educational toy that will be paying back dividends for life.
And Then the Plain Bizarre: Fly Orb Hover Ball
I am not going to pretend I know how this ball that is straight out of Star Trek and Harry Potter works. What I know is that it does. The Fly Orb Hover Ball indeed does what its name says, and will hover in the air above your hand. I suppose if planes, drones, and Santa’s reindeer can do that, then logically so should this toy ball. To add to the sheer fun of this device, it flashes vivid lights of color too, that would not be out of place in a disco. To stoke your kid’s interest in STEM until it almost starts a fire, get them a Fly Orb Hover Ball – with the prices on sale, it’s an ideal time to do it.
And Lastly, a Robot but Keep it Cuddly: Moxie Robot Buddy
Artificial Intelligence will probably never not be a little unnerving – but if robots are going to learn how to compare algorithms until they can “communicate” to humans, let them at least be a friendly, warm robot that fosters emotive communication and positive problem-solving in children as the Moxie Robot Buddy does.
Moxie is an interactive robot that helps kids regulate their emotions, providing them with a safe space to communicate how they’re feeling and slowly develop their language skills. Nifty features like large vivid eyes condition kids to have strong non-verbal communication, such as maintaining eye contact, as well as setting them up for successful social interactions at a very early age.
Even while it’s currently 50% off, the $800 price tag of this fella is undoubtedly off-putting, but there is an option to set up a payment plan with Affirm so that you can instead pay it in a monthly $73 installment. I personally believe that nothing on the market comes close to this toy when it comes to priming kids to have excellent communication skills and that it is a powerful enough propeller for future success that it’s worth the investment.
Holidays are coming, and sleigh bells are ringing, but remember – the true spirit of the holidays has nothing to do with putting Santa’s favoritism of that darn redhead in school to shame. Ticking off all the checkmarks on a gift guide full of jest is not what children look forward to all year long. If exorbitantly pricey tech gifts are off the list, this guide to making popcorn garland for the tree with your little ones will bring joy every morning when they run down the stairs. When in doubt, give kids your time, because isn’t that what all of us wanted as kids?
This Christmas, let’s all do what we humans do best and show the ones we love how much we love them with our time, our hugs, and gifts that show we put in effort – budget or no budget – because Hallmark does seem to be onto something. On that note, Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good night!
