With the Kids Jingle Belling: Best Kids Gift Ideas 2017

Posted by Canadian Gift Guide on November 22, 2017 · 274 Comments

My gift guides for kids is always a fun one, in large part because I try to go off the standard path a bit to highlight some ideas you might not have thought of. Every kid can pine for the ‘hot toys’ of the season, but these items were specially hand-picked as cool, creative, and just a little bit different. Let’s jump in to see some of the best kids gift ideas for 2017!

Stikbot Movie Sets – $25 each @ Costco
Calling all budding Spielbergs! For the uninitiated, Stikbots are easy-to-pose figures designed with suction cups for hands and feet, allowing them to stick to just about any flat surface. Using the free Stikbot Studio app, any kid can become a movie director / animator of a stop-motion film. By taking photos of their Stikbots in various poses, they can stitch them together with ease to create a movie with sound effects and music. To really make the kids’ films pop, check out the brand’s new movie sets, in fun themes like pirate or farm, these 3D sets are easy to assemble and create a perfect backdrop for your Stikbot adventures. You can even use props and outfit your Stikbots with removable stick-on costumes. It’s a cool way to blend the old school (stop motion graphics!) with the totally new (apps!) for a creative platform the kids will come back to again and again.

Dreamworks Trolls Hair in the Air Poppy Doll – $39.99
My little niece recently saw Trolls for her first movie in a real theatre and was enraptured with the film – in particular breakout star Poppy, known for her wild pink mane. This cute doll lets little ones bend, twist, and style Poppy’s do into any number of styles, with a handy comb to brush out any tangles along the way. For an extra magical twist, sparkling lights are embedded in Poppy’s hair that light up when you twist ’em and special effects can be activated by pressing on her dress. A truly magical choice for any little Trolls fan.

MyFUNvelope Craft Kit Subscription – $18 / month
If you want to do away with the bells and whistles of gizmos and gadgets this holiday season, then let me point you in the direction of MyFUNvelope. This affordable subscription box sends four themed craft projects (including a STEM-related activity!) right to your doorstep, with all the materials and instructions you’ll need to get creating. This new Canadian service is actually just launching now, and at this price, it’s perfect for the grandkids or your niece and nephew to enjoy for a few months – even better still if you book in a playdate together once a month to get crafty!

YULU Operation Escape Game – $35 @ Toys “R” Us and Mastermind Toys
Escape rooms are wildly popular across the globe right now – whether your kids have tried one for themselves or not, they’ll have a blast with this at-home variation that combines the thrill of racing against the clock with a series of luck and skill-based challenges. The aim is simple: Unlock a kidnapped team member (who has a belt with a combination lock strapped to them). First, you have to retrieve a key from a cage using a pair of sticks, second, you have to solve a series of problems to access another key, and finally, you have to try and enter the correct key into a device and spin it – they then have three chances to try and find the key again or else they have to start that task over…all while the timer counts down! Designed for ages 6+, this is a fun game that challenges the kids’ brains while they indulge their inner super sleuth.

Precidio Snack in the Box / Drink in the Box Containers – $14.99 – $17.99 @ Amazon.ca
Not every kids’ gift needs to be a toy; in fact, I often recommend something the parents will love just as much. Case in point? These BPA-free containers that make staying healthy on the go way easier. The idea is to forgo traditional juice boxes in favour of these eco-friendly reusable containers, ideal for concocting your own healthier alternatives to sugar-laden juices. Ditto to the Drink in the Box’s companion product, Snack in the Box, a dual-sided snack container for healthy eats from home instead of last-minute dashes to the vending machine. Eco-friendly, money-saving, and healthy-oriented – what’s not to love?

Playmobil NHL Locker Room Play Box – $29.99
I featured the Playmobil NHL Advent Calendar the other week and I simply had to highlight another pick from this awesome pairing. When your kids are ready to take things off the ice, this take-and-go playset has everything they need to get their Playmobil hockey players geared up for the big game (or given a stern talking to during the breaks between periods). Featuring 65 pieces, this truly Canadian Christmas-worthy gift idea is available pretty much anywhere you can buy toys, including Toys “R” Us, Hudson’s Bay, Well.ca, and more!

Joe Fresh Kids Jewelry & Accessories – $8 to $10 each @ Shoppers Drug Mart
Sometimes the kids just want something to dress up with (or maybe you want to dress them up). If so, you’ll definitely want to keep Joe Fresh’s line of kid-friendly baubles and bangles in mind. Super affordably priced with sparkly designs every little girl will flip for, you can easily pick up an item for each of your nieces or daughters without breaking the bank. They make excellent stocking stuffers too!

Meccano M.A.X. Robot – $189.99 @ Indigo, Hudson’s Bay and more
Calling all budding engineers! Meccano produces cool maker sets that kids can use to create their very own robotic pals, building STEM skills in the process. M.A.X. is their most advanced robot to date, with AI learning and customizable programming that lets you truly create a one-of-a-kind electronic buddy. With infrared navigation and customizable apps, after the kids are done building M.A.X. (which will take awhile, trust me) they can choose how they want to interact with their bot – playing games? trivia? telling jokes? You name it and M.A.X. can pretty much do it. It’s truly incredible that this advanced of a robot is available to wee ones both from a building POV and a great price point – this one will truly be topping plenty of kids’ wish lists.

Timber Child Wooden Plates – From $20
I adore these wooden plates from Penticton-based Timber Child. First of all, they’re non-toxic and all-natural, so for any parents looking for some chemical-free plates for their kids to call their own, look no further. Secondly, they’re completely adorable, coming in a dozen plus styles for both snacking and dinnertime, and made right here in Canada as sustainably and locally-sourced as possible. Finally you can make them extra special for the kiddos by getting them engraved for just an extra $5 – meaning no more fighting at the dinner table – whether it’s a picnic in the park, a dinner by the campfire, or just a meal at home. As a heads up, Timber Child is wildly popular (for good reason!) so you may expect a four-week turnaround to get your plate(s) right now.

DropMix Music Gaming System – $99.97 @ Toys “R” Us and Amazon.ca
This is one of the grooviest gift ideas for kids out there this year. DropMix is a revolutionary new gaming system created by Hasbro and video game developer Harmonix. The game comes equipped with 60 DropMix cards, including some of your favourite pop songs, and a base that splits elements of those songs – bass, beat, loop or vocals – to create your own new mixes of beloved tracks. It’s got three modes of play; from crafty freestyle to a team-based party mode that syncs up with the DropMix app and puts you in the DJ hot seat to clash mode, where you go head-to-head to reign supreme at mixing and matching your beats. It’s seriously fun for all ages, from the boppin’ little ones to the groovin’ old timers (including mom and dad!)

Who wants to treat the kids EXTRA special this holiday season? I’m super delighted to highlight this awesome prize package I have for one lucky reader, valued at over $540. If you win, you and your tots will receive:

Stikbot Movie Set
3-Month MyFUNvelope Subscription
YULU Operation Escape Game
Precidio Snack in the Box / Drink in the Box set (8 oz, 12 oz, and Snack in the Box)
Joe Fresh Jewelry Selection
Meccano M.A.X. Robot
Timber Child $50 gift code
DropMix

Worth playing for? Here’s how to enter for your chance to win it all!

1) MAKE SURE YOU READ THIS! You must be a Canadian Gift Guide subscriber to enter this giveaway. Just find the ‘Gift of Gab’ box on the righthand side of this page and either hit ‘Follow’ or enter your email address. Once you’ve done that, leave me a comment by December 2, 2017 telling me your favourite kids gift ideas from this list.

2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 3, 2017 to select the winner(s), who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.

3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.

4) Bonus Entries – Complete as many of these as you’d like, leave separate comments for each one, and you’ll earn extra entries into the draw!

Follow Stikbot on Twitter, then send out a Tweet that tags them and me (@cdngiftguide) and includes a link back to this post, highlighting this awesome giveaway. Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.

Like MyFUNvelope on Facebook, then leave a wall post that tags a friend you think would be interested in their service. Link back to your wall post in a separate comment below.

Follow Yulu on Twitter, then send out a Tweet that tags them and me (@cdngiftguide) and includes a link back to this post, highlighting this awesome giveaway. Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.

Like Precidio Design on Facebook, then leave a wall post that tags a friend you think would be interested in their products. Link back to your wall post in a separate comment below.

Follow Shoppers Drug Mart on Twitter, then send out a Tweet that tags them and me (@cdngiftguide) and includes a link back to this post, highlighting this awesome giveaway. Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.

Follow Meccano on Instagram, then tag two friends on one of their posts that you think would dig their products. Link back to the Instagram post you commented on in a separate comment below, with your IG username.

Follow Timber Child on Instagram, then tag two friends on one of their posts that you think would adore their products. Link back to the Instagram post you commented on in a separate comment below, with your IG username.

Follow Hasbro on Instagram, then create a post on your own feed (you can regram one of theirs or grab a photo off their site or even from this post) that tags them. Link back to your post in a separate comment below.