As a child, Christmas seemed so very far away in October; now, as a mom, it feels like it’s right around the corner! While I remind myself not to rush at the world’s pace as they start putting up Christmas displays in September, I find that thinking ahead helps me avoid last-minute stress and maintain a peaceful Advent.

Here at All Saints Play, our team has been casually brainstorming Christmas gift ideas together — we love sharing and receiving recommendations from each other! To all our supporters, we’d love to share our favorites with you too.

A Quick Note Before We Begin...

It’s no secret that budget concerns can run high around Christmas time, and they can sometimes take the joy out of gifting. I want to be clear that, even though I’ll share links to make items easier to find, our family prioritizes secondhand gifts whenever possible! While we may purchase a few higher-value items new (especially when they’re hard to find used), those are usually our one big “family” present. Otherwise, I’m keeping an eye out at thrift stores, yard sales, Facebook Marketplace, and our local toy swap to fill in the gaps.

We also love putting together boxes of homemade Christmas cookies or fudge for extended family and friends. It’s a classic gift for a reason — delicious, thoughtful, and personal. And if you’re crafty, handmade gifts can be such a heartfelt way to share love at Christmas without breaking the bank.

Without Further Ado:

👧 For Kids

Here are some of our tried-and-true favorites:

Faith & Learning

• Yoto Player + Yoto Cards – screen-free listening for stories, music, and learning (you can learn more about how we use the Yoto player in our Catholic homeschool here, and some of our Yoto favorite cards here)

• Book Series – The Wingfeather Saga, The Chronicles of Sir Roland Paterlot, Brambly Hedge, Peter Rabbit, DK Children's Anthologies

• Lego Bible or Catechism Set

• Logic Games & Brain Builders – Rush Hour, Giiker Games, Gravity Maze, Carcassonne

Creative & Imaginative Play

• Magna-Tiles (or my favorite off brand: Picasso Tiles!) or Duplos – endless building fun!

• Magnetic Tile Toppers (Castle & Train Sets) – from Learn & Grow Toys

• Snap circuits - electronic circuits for beginners

• Create Your Own Board Game Craft Kit

• Jungle Bucket of Crafts

• Air Toobz – interactive, hands-on play

• Hippo Block Ride-On Toy

• Dress-Up Clothing – from Little Adventures

• Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush– this off-brand magic paper is great to go with it

Infants or Toddlers

• Baby Einstein Learning Lens Camera

• B Toys Gumball machine

• Hedgehog Soother – great for car rides/stroller!

Experiences, Subscriptions, & Memberships

• Local Zoo Membership

• Local Children’s Museum Membership

• Yoto Club – if you’re new to Yoto, this is a great way to get access to a lot of wonderful content while you build your own library

🧔 For Him

From practical tools to thoughtful indulgences, here are some great finds for dads, husbands, and brothers:

• Grilling Gear – tactical grill apron, basket set (spices, rubs, grill pan, etc.)

• Tools – what’s that tool that would make their life easier but they’ve been holding off on buying for themselves…

• Wallet – a simple, timeless staple

• Record Player – classic and nostalgic

• Pipe from Catholic Pipe Company – beautifully made and meaningful

• St. Joseph Statue or Artwork – a powerful reminder of fatherly virtue (I love this one!)

• Spoon Carving Kit – for the hands-on craftsman

• Divine Intimacy – a treasured spiritual read

• Audible Subscription – perfect for commutes or quiet time

• Bluetooth Earbuds – to go with that Audible subscription

• Beer-Making Kit – for the home brewer at heart

👩 For Her

Pamper mom, sister, or friend with thoughtful, faith-inspired, and cozy gifts she’ll love (Also, husbands, take note! 🤣):

• NextMug Heated Coffee Mug – No more cold half-cups of coffee around the house!

• Salt & Light by Sami – non-toxic perfume and candles

• The Little Surprise Box – surprise subscription of Catholic goods

• Ember Magazine Subscription – beautiful and inspiring faith and wellness content

• Benedictus Subscription – for daily spiritual reading, reflection, and companion to the Extraordinary form of the Mass

• Regina’s Natural Skincare – natural soaps and salves with a purpose

• Bluetooth Earbuds – as busy moms, it can be nice to have a hands-free way to call a friend or listen to a podcast! (here’s an affordable option I’ve liked)

• Gracious and Wise – handmade stone rosaries from a small Catholic family business

• Petite Miraculous Medal & Crucifix Necklace – gold plated and a great staple piece

• Daily Sourdough – for the baker in your life, I have yet to have any of these recipes disappoint!

👼 For Godchildren

Faith-filled and joyful ideas for the little souls you love:

Books & Faith Resources

• The Forgotten King – by Kenneth Padgett & Shay Gregorie

• Our Lady’s Wardrobe

• I Go to Jesus

• Word on Fire Children’s Bible

(You can find even more book ideas in our Preschool booklist or Christmas Booklist!)

Faith-Based Play & Crafts

• Magnetic Mass Scene Set – from Shining Light Dolls

• Catholic Water Reveal Bundle – from Gather & Pray

• Rosary Making Kit – from Be A Heart

• Jesus & Mary Bandages – small and sweet stocking stuffers

• Jesus Water Bottle – everyday faith reminder

Unique & Meaningful

• Culina Sancta Subscription – faith and food combined

• The Gift of a Lifetime Book– a beautiful exploration into the wonders of conception and life in the womb for children

• Chews Life Rosary – safe, prayerful baby gift

🎁Closing

While its certainly true that consumerism is driving the Christmas gift market in the external world, its important to remember that we give gifts at Christmas for a reason. Generosity is at the heart of the Christian life, because God has first loved and freely given to us everything that we have, so we give to others. Its a way that we can image God in the world, and especially so at Christmas, when He gave us the gift of His own Son and our Redeemer.

So while we don’t want to get caught up in trends or consumerism, we also want to encourage a spirit of generosity and gift giving in ourselves and our families. Practically, this will look very different for ever family. And of course, this isn’t quantitative: Less is usually more! But thoughtfully making, curating, or buying gifts for your family is a beautiful and edifying tradition.

✨Want some more ideas? Check out our gift guide from 2024 here!

What are some of your families favorite Christmas gift giving ideas and traditions? Please share below - we would love to learn from you!