The other day, I saw a Christmas meme on the ol’ Insta and just about spit out my morning coffee. Christmas is only four weeks away! Wait. Whaaaaaat? How did that happen? The holidays totally snuck up on us this time around, that’s for sure.
(I literally say this EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.)
In my panic, I scratched our adventure plans and started mapping out potential gifts for family members. I’m pretty straightforward about my gift giving — I wanna know exactly what you want. To me, there ain’t no shame in asking family what they really want, especially for the littles. Cue the text message frenzy to all of my sisters-in-law.
Of course, the typical response back: “Let me know what Levi and Harv want too!”
Oh! I almost forgot about that.
Since becoming a full-time traveling family, we’ve been mindful about what we bring on the road with us, given we’re working with whatever can fit inside a Sprinter van. And because of this, Steven and I have really honest conversations with the kids about stuff vs. experiences, and how to be thoughtful when it comes to making a wish list. (One would think this would be so hard for young kids, but our boys have really surprised us. They totally get it!)
Receiving gifts from family members can also be difficult to navigate during the holidays. Fortunately for us, we have family members who fully support our journey, and understand our situation. At the end of the day, we want the holidays to be a fun time for everyone, and if the kids end up getting something larger than expected, we roll with it! (Honestly, it’s not that serious.)
Whether you’re a traveling family, or just trying to live a bit more minimalist this holiday season, the boys and I put together a list of some of their favorites — and this year’s wishes!
Gift Cards & Experiences are Money!
You honestly can’t go wrong with a gift card. Or cash money! Now I know that for some, this feels impersonal and a bit cold. But trust me, my kids get pumped if they get an iTunes or Target gift card! They know that means that they can buy a new world in Minecraft, or a flick for our next movie night in the van. Some of the best ones we’ve received:
- iTunes
- Target
- Starbucks (the kids live for cake pops!)
- McDonald’s or Wendy’s
- State Park annual pass
- National Park annual pass
- Cash for experiences (or better yet, savings)
And you can go beyond the typical gift card if you’re feeling creative. Tickets to a nearby zoo, trampoline park or aquarium go a long way for a traveling fam!
Card Games & More
One of our favorite ways to chill in the van on camping trips is by playing Uno together. We’ve become experts at this card game these past six months! So much so, that after teaching the kids, they continuously keep us on our toes and beat us pretty frequently now! While the choices are endless in this category — small stuff FTW! — here are some of our family favorites:
- Go Find It Outdoor Nature Scavenger Hunt Card Game
- Jr. RangerLand Guess That Park
- UNO Wilderness Card Game
- Dobble Kids Card Game
Gifts that Double as Roadschooling Education
This might be my favorite category, because it’s like a gift for the roadschooling parent too! Since we started traveling, some of our favorite peeps (shout out to Aunt Michele, Pamie P. and Tia Manda!) have sent the boys goodie boxes. Side note: if you have family on the road, never underestimate the power of a thoughtful care package. Our boys LIVE for getting stuff in the mail! Our dear friend Pamie included some cool workbooks in her package, and these are perfect for school on the road. Some of Levi’s big asks these year are the cool science kits from National Geographic. Perfect for our budding little scientist! Here are some of our other faves:
- The Explorer’s Notebook from our friends at @WeLiveOnaBus!
- Sticker books
- National Geographic – Break-Open 15 Premium Geodes
- Junior Ranger Activity Book
- Coloring books
- National Geographic Kids Why?: Over 1,111 Answers to Everything
- FlashKids Workbooks
- Picture and chapter books that Mom & Dad can read to the kiddos at night
- National Geographic Play Sand Combo Pack
- Art and crafts supplies, like crayons, markers, colored pencils & more
Camping Fun for Everyone
As part of our trip planning for Yellowstone this Summer, Steven ordered a pair of walkie talkies when he discovered that cell service in the park is largely nonexistent. These two-way radios have become an integral part of our travels, especially when we turn the boys loose at campgrounds to explore. I can always check in, or vice versa. Other ideas include:
Hiking Gear is Always a Solid Bet
When you’ve got two boys under 8 wearing the same two weeks worth of clothes on end — and growing like weeds — the need for new gear is a must. Hiking shoes, wool socks, jackets and fleece pullovers are all staples in our wardrobe:
- Merrell Kids’ Trail Chaser Sneaker
- Keen Targhee Low Sneaker
- The North Face Toddler Glacier ¼ Snap
- Marmot Boys’ Ajax Down Puffer Jacket, Fill Power 600, Dark Spruce, Small
Remember the Reason for the Season!
We hope you enjoyed our holiday gift guide for kids! At the end of the day, let us not forget the reason for the season — the birth of Jesus. We hope that each of you have a wonderful Christmas this year. One that is filled with lots of laughter, quality time with loved ones and true peace.
Merry Christmas!
