I love putting in the time and effort to find the perfect gift for the people I love. My gift guide has a few items on it for kids (you'll find a little something for everyone on it, so check it out if you need help with your holiday shopping) but I wanted to put together some suggestions for cool, DIY gift sets the little ones in your life are sure to love. Most kids love receiving toys vs educational tools but if you can sneakily combine the two, both the recipients and their parents will be thrilled.
For the Budding Engineer
Encourage their interest in STEM with Learning Resources Playground Engineering & Design.
Paired with the sweet and sassy Rosie Revere, Engineer book and Rosie Revere's Big Project Book for Bold Engineers.
Finish your gift for the young engineer in your life with a Top Secret notebook where they can keep track of their projects.
For the Aspiring Artist
Craft supplies are always a huge hit in our house (except glitter, don't even get me started on the glitter).
The GoldieBlox Craft-Struction Box encourages tinkering with STEM-based crafts. It's definitely not for the younger crowd but if you've got an elementary school-aged kiddo on your list, this set is golden.
Or build your own kit with fun, colourful craft items like Smart Paper Edger Scissors in different cutting patterns,
and 500 sheets of colourful construction paper to cut with those fun scissors (why do kids love cutting stuff so much? I don't get it),
and the only acceptable kind of glitter: glitter glue (allll the glitter glue. Seriously, I kind of want this set for myself).
Find a container that has multiple small compartments and fill them with bits and bobs: buttons, sequins, pompoms, googly eyes, whatever you can find that someone could potentially glue onto paper.
For Your Tiny Scientist
Grady loves "doing science" and I am not science-y. At all. I have as much fun with his science stuff as he does is what I'm saying. It's pure magic for both of us.
Get in the mood to experiment with a great book. Ada Twist, Scientist is written by the same author as Rosie Revere, Engineer and is a great story to encourage curiosity. Pair it with Ada's Twist's Big Project Book for Stellar Scientists for maximum fun.
It's never too early to start promoting safety. Every scientist needs to protect their eyes with safety googles. These kid-sized safety goggles look like the type grownup scientists wear.
Liquid droppers in kid-friendly sizes are an essential part of science experiments. Set a kid up with the droppers, some plastic beakers, and water coloured with simple food colouring
Jumbo tweezers are excellent for examining items under a giant magnifying glass, or go high-tech with the Zoomy Handheld Digital Microscope.
For Wee Beauticians
My girl Tairalyn put together a DIY Hair Salon for her daughter's birthday because she's a creative genius.
{image source: littlemissmama.com}
Throw a spray bottle, detangling brush, wide-tooth comb, handheld mirror, and assorted hair flair in a bucket and you're good to go. Just leave the round brushes to the professionals or someone might lose their bangs (shout out to nine-year-old Hillary who had to cut one out of her hair and walked around with a half-inch long fuzz fringe for months).
{image source: miasmoccs.com
For Little Handymen and Handywomen
Safety first! Safety goggles, a kid-sized hard hat, and high visibility gear (that doubles as a warm fleece or raincoat) send the message to your little worker that safety is paramount.
{image source: lilworkersafety.ca
{image source: lilworkersafety.ca}
A few fun items that encourage learning like a toy tape measure, mini traffic cones, and toolbench will set your little one up for hours of imaginative play.
For the Future Doctor
Who's got a little one fascinated with how bodies work? Learning Resources has a great Pretend and Play Doctor Set that is actually beneficial for parents too if you want to explain doctor's procedures before you take your little one to an appointment.
Or build your own Boo Boo Clinic like Jen at Mama Papa Bubba did for her daughter.
The First Human Body Encyclopedia makes anatomy accessible for the elementary school crowd. Pair it with the Human Body Model for a visual learning aid.
And if you've recently found yourself in the "where do babies come from?" conversation, What Makes a Baby is a great book for explaining the birds and the bees to little people. Bonus points for being inclusive and mindful that there are different ways to make a baby.
For Mini Animal Lovers
My friend Andrea had a pet adoption-themed birthday party for her daughter and I love the idea of putting together a similar gift.
This Pretend & Play Animal Hospital is great for little ones to familiarize themselves with the workings of a veterinarian's office.
When they're ready to actually be the animal doctor, this costume and a stuffed animal to love are the perfect gift for future vets.
Do you have a go-to DIY gift for kids? Share it in the comments!
Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links, which means I make a small percentage of the sale if you buy through my link. Affiliate links are a bonus for me but don't influence my opinions. I've not been compensated or paid to include any items in this gift guide.