Young parents — your perfect kids' gift is just off the beaten path.
Sure, it’s simple to hop online and Google “best gifts for 5-year-olds” — a brief internet stroll that always ends on Amazon. But, there’s a magic to getting hidden gems you might not have found through a typical search. Even if you aren’t braving the in person crowds this year, selecting stores with intention can lead to some more personal and unique finds for your family and friends.
“The holiday season is a magical time of year, filled with joy, laughter, and the excitement of giving and receiving gifts,” says Bethany Braun-Silva, parenting and shopping expert at Mom.com and CafeMom. “If you have little ones in your life, whether they are your own children, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren, shopping for the perfect holiday gifts can be a delightful but sometimes daunting task.”
For those of you headed into “Panic Week” shopping for toys at the last minute, these stores can offer a reprieve from the madness and mainstream options.
Think Aldi is just for groceries? Think again.
As a mom of five kids myself (many of whom are under age five), I’ve grown a bit sick of the typical toys, from stuffies to teethers. This year, I really loved Kate Murnane’s Christmas Guide for Kids, which included some typically overlooked stores. She recommends Aldi for affordable wooden toys you might not have considered. “It’s worth thinking about what they will be doing across the next year versus just what they do now,” she says, with an eye towards little toddlers’ evolving toy preferences, role-playing with mini shopping carts and dessert stands.
Courtesy ALDI.
It’s hard to beat LEGOS as a fan-favorite, and the store itself might have more options than generic internet results or big box store supply.
“For creative minds and aspiring builders, the LEGO Store is a dream come true,” says Braun-Silva. “From classic LEGO sets to themed collections like Star Wars and Harry Potter, this store offers endless possibilities for imaginative play. You can inspire kids to think outside the box and create their own adventures with these iconic building blocks.”
Shopping at personalized stores such as Uncommon Goods means you can dive into niches, such as STEM toys or outdoor toys. Even perusing the categories themselves gives you new shopping ideas to springboard off of.
“Uncommon Goods, Etsy and museum memberships are where I find some of the most special and personalized gifts for my own kids,” says Braun-Silva. “If your child has a specific interest these are great, unique places to look.”
For my own kids, who are sort of obsessed with bath time, I’ll be refreshing their toys with out-of-the-box ideas like a bathtime volcano from Uncommon Goods, complete with dinosaurs (and sweetened by a discount code).
A bookstore may not initially seem like the ultimate shopping destination in the age of PlayStations, but for both wide-eyed toddlers and tweens looking for a bit of escapism, a solid book collection can be a wonderful and lasting treasure. Plus, bookstores often have gift sections full of toys, puzzles, stationery, and knick-knacks for stocking stuffers.
Here’s an insider tip — head to your favorite local bookstore and chat up the most knowledgeable book nerd there to see which age appropriate titles are the rage this year, and which are secret finds that stand the test of time.
“Books make for timeless and thoughtful gifts,” says Braun-Silva. “Barnes & Noble is a fantastic place to shop for kids' books, ranging from picture books for toddlers to young adult novels for teens.” Their wide selection may not be as personal as your local store, but offers pretty much any book they will love to open this year.
As parents, we will always have a special place of thanks in our hearts for PBS and the manners Daniel Tiger reinforced for our children. But did you know that you can also shop the PBS Kids Series Store? It’s loaded with a variety of merchandise options from all of your child’s favorite PBS shows. Not to mention, they make it super easy to find that perfect character gift by allowing you to shop by specific show.
Parent hack — show your kids a few episodes of whichever toy you bought leading up to the holidays, and they will instantly remember their love for that character. Haven’t seen Dinosaur Train in a while, but loved the toy selection for that show? Time for an old episode marathon ahead of gift opening.
If your child enjoys exploring the world around them, check out the Exploratorium Store based in San Francisco, California. It’s loaded with unique gifts that are sure to help pique kids’ interest and feed their curiosity. Ranging from robots to artwork to gadgets, the Exploratorium Store’s collection of products is suitable for a variety of ages. Best of all, every purchase helps support their educational mission as a public learning laboratory.
From the Exploratorium Store website.
This store allows you to organize by price, so you can shop for just presents under $15, or just under $25 for example, so you don’t sacrifice creativity and innovation when you have a smaller budget.
The essence of what kids want today is found in gifts that ignite curiosity and joy. In 2023, there could be a mounting pressure to get the newest technology or latest TikTok trend, but it’s always a great idea to consider what would be valuable to someone who’s in the process of forming their identity.
Whether it's Aldi's creative toy collection or the Exploratorium's educational treasures, these unique stores offer more than just items—they spark imagination and individuality. In choosing such thoughtful gifts, parents are not just satisfying a list, but fostering their child's passions and creating lasting memories.
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Alexandra Frost is a freelance journalist and content marketing writer in Cincinnati, Ohio. She writes about shopping, products, e-commerce, finances, home improvement, and related topics. She has worked with other publications such as Forbes, USA Today, Insider, Consumer Reports, Apartment Therapy, Angi, Ownerly, and more. Raised by a single mom who taught her how to find a great deal, she now uses the same advice in raising her five kids under age 8. To connect or read more of her work please visit alexandra-frost.com.
