It can be hard to decide on the perfect present or gift for our kids. Here’s a list of my kids favourite tried and true winners. Bonus, we are full-time travelers and most, if not all of these gifts can be packed in a suitcase. (Yes, even the last gift listed!)

Magformers

This is one of my kids’ favorite toys. They are basically cool shaped magnets but are super high quality. There are other knockoff versions, but i can’t speak to them as I wasn’t willing to find out whether they were good quality. Magnets are hazardous if ingested to both kids and pets, so it wasn’t worth the risk. 

Legos

Everyone knows legos are classic fun, creative staple toys. It’s one of the few toys that always makes the cut. It truly fosters my kid’s creativity in a way many toys (beyond magformers and learning resources cubes) have. The classic sets are your best bet for a first kit or even as an addition to your collection. They have the most bricks, especially the bigger cubes, and allow the most freedom to create whatever your kid wants. 

Barbie dolls

Alright, i struggled writing this one down. I have this thing, this love-hate relationship with barbie. Considering that barbie now offers their fashionista collections, I’m a tiny bit more comfortable sharing this one. Barbie dolls give kids, yes boys too, the ability to play pretend in their own way. And now, barbie offers a bigger INCLUSIVE collection, which is extremely important. 

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Playdoh

Full disclosure, I write this with complete hesitation because I’m not too fond of the mess it makes and leaves behind. However, my kid, and I’m pretty sure every kid I’ve ever met, loves it. Now, you don’t need to get crazy buying all the machine tools that playdough offers. The love for them is short-lived and stunts creativity. Trust me, I know. 

Experiments

I’m such a massive fan of all-inclusive experiment kits because 

1. I’m not a crafty pinning type of mom. No, I don’t have time to gather all the supplies and create this cutesy experiment. Give me the damn tools and instructions, and let’s get this party started!
2. I like easy. Period. There isn’t a price for peace of mind, yall. 
3. They foster learning in a fun way.

Tent

My kids love tents, and I think all kiddos do because it helps create a safe space to play, wonder, or even think/cry. The kind of tent you buy and how you set it up gets to be unique to your littles. You can purchase a pop-up tent to give your kids a space to pretend. You can get extra fancy and create a more comfortable reading nook or an area to process emotions and feelings privately. Think: “a feelings corner kind of thing.” 

Board games 

We are huge fans of family-style board games etc. some of our favorites are :

1. Monopoly
2. Anything made by Brainbox
3. Bananagrams
4. Trouble
5. Snakes and ladders
6. Rhino Hero
7. Dominos
8. Candyland
9. Life
10. UNO

Diary

Every child should have THAT special notebook. Whether or not you refer to it as a diary is up to you. Honestly, it doesn’t matter at all. The idea here is that you create an opportunity for your child to WRITE. Kids need ways to express themselves. Exercising a writing habit, especially while young, will be one of the best, more impactful things you do for your child. 

Chromebook

This is great, depending on your child’s age—a cost-effective way to introduce your child to technology and computers specifically. 

Tablet or iPad

this one will depend on your budget, preferences, and reasons for use. i like the iPad for obvious reasons. The UI is practically flawless. Everything syncs seamlessly, and it’s basically virus-proof. LOL. On the other hand, i like tablets for their affordable price points, UI freedom. I’m an android girl at heart. 

Marble run

I purchased this one from Amazon; however, you can DIY this in a fun and cheap way if thats your thing. All you’d need would be a cheap bag of marbles, a large box/cardboard, and some strong tape. 

Puzzles

Puzzles are fun. They keep kids occupied for a long time and provide the opportunity for some peace and quiet. 

Art easel

An art easel provides a more fun environment to paint, draw, or color. It also doubles as a tool for homeschooling.

Instrument: (Guitar or Ukelele is best)

Instruments are going by 2 to help kids grow their IQ and have fun at the same time. This isn’t the quietest option, but everyone can enjoy it as your child gets better and better. 

Perfect Gifts For New Homeschool Moms

I created this gift guide with new homeschool moms in mind. I’ve been homeschooling for nearly ten years now and I’ve learned a thing or two on what keeps the engine running without blowing up. These items listed are the things I use on nearly a daily basis and have multiple uses so you get as much of your money’s worth as possible!

1. Planner

Whether your friend is a new or veteran homeschooler, it really helps to have something to plan your days and write it all down with intention. There’s no right or wrong way to do this; however, I always encourage a physical paper planner over digital any day. Science supports the notion that our brains prefer paper over a digital screen. Physically writing your to-do list down will enhance your memory, create better focus, and more.  

2. Desk

I’m all about minimalism and frugality; however, its space and finances allow, having a dedicated desk for work is excellent for focused and training the mind to prepare for work.

3. Whiteboard

Having a whiteboard is handy as it allows you to save money on paper. When not in school, use it’s fun for the kids to draw and as well. 

4. Whiteboard Markers

And with whiteboard comes a need for-you guessed it, markers! I recommend grabbing a sizeable multi-colored pack. It’s helpful when you need to explain different concepts or have a visual learner where the different colors will better grasp the material. 

5. Laminator

However, this is not a must; it is definitely nice to have much cheaper than laminating in a store. Laminating your homeschool materials will help it last longer and allow you to treat the materials as a whiteboard since you’ll draw and erase on the papers. 

6. Chair

Having a chair for both you and your child helps to create that score at the sphere and train our brains to prepare for work. 

7. Chair massager

This one is for the parent, obviously. LOL. Depending on what subjects teaching, you may find that you’re sitting in a chair for hours on end. It’s helpful to have something to make that makes that more comfortable. 

8. Laptop

I recommend having a separate laptop for school work. This isn’t necessary, so if your finances don’t allow this, don’t feel like this is another nothing. However, especially if you have sensitive items on your laptop and intermingle the two together. Having a dedicated laptop for your child helps them learn how to use them and allows you to control what happens on that laptop.

If you have a younger child, this probably won’t be an issue. However, if your kid is older, you may want to start thinking about this even if you completely trust your child. You’ll want to keep an eye on what they’re doing on the laptop, and an easy way to do this is to install apps that can watch and restrict activity and websites.

9. Phone

If you don’t already have a smartphone, then I highly recommended it. You can do a ton from your smartphone as it’s pretty much a small computer in your hands. You could find material prep directly from your phone and even teach on the go if you needed to. 

10. Printer

If you didn’t already know, you’ll be printing on a ton of papers for school, especially if you favor the traditional way. Printing adds up, and it’s best to buy your own printer. I recommend any HP printer because of their cheap ink service that will allow you to get less expensive ink than any other printer will. I made a mistake and purchased a canon printer, and although it’s great, the printing cost adds up because the ink cost so much money. 

11. HSLDA membership

Now that most of us work and school from home, I highly recommend getting this membership. Most of us are unaware of the laws in our States or countries regarding homeschooling. And sadly, many schools shy away from homeschooling and discourage it because they do spending every time a student doesn’t enroll. Some states and countries make it a living hell while it illegal in others. Having this membership is nearly the closest equivalent you can get to have a service and lawyer in your pocket fighting for you and your rights. 

12. Green Craft Membership

If you aren’t crafty or tired of pinning craft pins on Pinterest that you’ll never complete, consider investing in a membership like green craft kids. I’ve used this membership for many months because we love the simplicity of the service. Each month your kids will receive a prepared box of crafts with instructions, and all the materials don’t need to complete the said craft. And if you’re like us, receiving packages in the mail is always a tonne of fun. 

13. Youtube Premium

Investing in YouTube premium will provide your family with so many benefits. Besides watching videos with no ads, which was great for children, you get YouTube music too. You’ll have the ability to download videos to accompany any subjects of your teaching. Kids will especially appreciate this as it won’t feel like schoolwork, but like watching a movie. 

14. Easel

Any and isn’t necessary at all, and I personally do not use one. However, many of my homeschooling friends use them and find that their caves have a lot of fun with them. Having fun is one of the essential components for enjoying homecoming.

Annnnddd, they can use it for painting or coloring. You can also use it as a teaching prop. Another fun way to assess whether your kids are retaining the information is to have them play the teacher and explain our parrot the material back to you.