Our Black Friday sale ends Monday night! Black Friday shoppers: save 40% on everything in our PawZaar gift store with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout (or use this link to have the coupon added…
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THROUGH MONDAY: Save 40% In Our Black Friday Sale!
Gift Guide: Gifts for Kids Ages 4-10
My kids are almost 5 and almost 7, which means I am officially an expert on gift giving for preschool and elementary school aged children! Okay, so I’m not an expert at all. But I do have enough experience gift shopping at this point (both for them and for their friends), that I finally feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what to get kids in this age range.
I’ll be honest – my babes enjoy their fair share of character-themed, sparkly, cheaply made toys. And that’s okay. I want to encourage them to love what they love, even if it isn’t my “style.” That said, they also love well-made toys that encourage learning, creativity, and discovery, and those are the toys I’m recommending in this guide. They will get a mix of both this Christmas, but I will confess that these are the toys I hope they love the most.
1. KiwiCo Crates $ 9.95+
KiwiCo is one of my favorite brands for kids toys. (I’ll actually be sharing a whole post about them soon.) Their toys and kits make for gifts that are equal parts fun and educational, and not just for the age range I’m featuring in this guide. (They have cool crates for every age from toddler to teen!) Some favorites in our house are the Planet Bath Bombs and Window Garden (shown above and both under $ 20). Their site is awesome too because it allows you to shop by age or category, and you can purchase a subscription or just single kits. KiwiCo also has an amazing 20% off everything sale going on between now and December 6th. They also have a Black Friday sale happening now for up to 30% off + free shipping. I highly suggest checking them out right here and taking advantage of this incredible offer. I promise you your kids will love their products!
2. Dig A Dozen Dino Egg Kit $ 22.99
My son received this as a gift, and both kids absolutely love it. They get to play paleontologist and excavate toy dinosaurs from the eggs, then use the learning card to find out more about each dinosaur. The set is well made and comes in a pretty package as well.
3. Woodland Wonder Chess Set $ 99
The Queen’s Gambit admittedly influenced me to want to learn chess and for my kids to learn as well, and this beautiful set just seems like the perfect one to learn on. The green tree pawns and animal silhouette pieces make playing feel like an enchanted forest walk. I feel like this is one of those really special, high quality gifts that would be passed on through generations.
4. GSkyer Telescope for Kids $ 99.99
My dad bought a telescope for the kids last year and it ended up being the most magical gift. This telescope from GSkyer is perfect for little astronomers, and comes with lots of extras too, like a wireless remote, adjustable tripod, and carrying case. It is also portable, and the perfect size for smaller hands.
5. The Idea Box Kids Scavenger Hunt Game $ 24.99
This Kids Scavenger Hunt Game from the Idea Box is all kinds of cool and I can’t wait to give it to my kids this year! Kids choose from wood coins with descriptions of items they can find around the house, in the yard, or anywhere. (A great idea as we stay home to stay safe this winter!) The best part is that the game can be played over and over, and the whole family can get involved. This is the perfect example of a gift that is simultaneously fun and educational.
6. Mudpuppy Map of the World Puzzle $ 16.99
Puzzles help with many aspects of learning, from improving fine motor skills to building short terms memory. This Map of the World Puzzle from Mudpuppy will give your kids ages 5-9 a fun geography lesson too! Features 78 pieces, including 17 that are shaped like icons of the world.
7. Tegu Magbot Magnetic Wooden Block Set $ 21.99
This robot set is a favorite, but Tegu make lots of other more extensive sets too. The magnetic wooden blocks that make up this set are crafted from sustainably harvested wood – and for every one tree Tegu harvests, they plant hundreds more! Tegu is also bringing world-class employment standards to Central America by paying their employees a living wage and prioritizing long-term career growth and development.
8. Imagine Meditation Cards for Kids $ 24.99
We are big on mindfulness in our house, which is why I got this gorgeous mediation card set for my little ones for a holiday gift this year. The set offer 26 huge mindfulness cards for kids, with content-rich scripts and vibrant illustrations to teach them guided meditation. It also comes with breathing exercises and DIY cards so kids can create their own meditations.
9. Mirus Toys Wooden Toy Clock $ 22.95+
Both of my kids are extremely interested in the concept of telling time, but with digital clocks everywhere, they haven’t learned to tell time on an analog clock. This beautiful handmade clock from Mirus Toys would be perfect for that, and also makes for a beautiful piece of decor for their rooms.
This colorful kit fosters pre-coding skills like sequencing, problem-solving, and logical thinking and
comes with a robot board with storage, suction pen, 175 pixel tiles, 20 challenge cards and instructions. My son will find one under the tree this year and I can’t way to learn with him.
This is another seriously awesome gift that my dad gets my kids each year. Every other month for a year, a book hand selected by the New York Book Review is received in the mail. The NYBR groups books by age and interest, so you can choose what your child would most enjoy. All of the book are considered “forever books” – classics with beautiful, sturdy hardcovers that will last a lifetime. Both of my kids are absolutely thrilled when their book arrives in the mail. An added bonus: free shipping.
To those of you in the states, happy Thanksgiving! It’s not a normal Thanksgiving, but we still have a lot for which to be grateful. That is what matters, the end. If you’re reading this after Thanksgiving, happy holidays! And if you have any other suggestions for great gifts for kids, let me know.
This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission from your purchases, at no additional expense to you. I have also received compensation from a few of the brands featured in exchange for promoting their products, all of which I love, use, and am thrilled to recommend.
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Snowman Fruit Kabobs
Happy (almost) holidays! It doesn’t feel quite like Thanksgiving week to me, but 2020 has felt completely strange since March so I’m not surprised that things seem a little off. I think the weirdness will make most of us will appreciate the magic that comes with the holiday season more than ever though. And part of that magic in our home is spending time together making food and crafts.
My daughter came up with the idea for these fruit kabob snow people a few weeks ago, and we’ve been having so much fun making them that I had to share with you guys. (They’re also a freaking great way to get your kids to eat healthy!)
Snowman Fruit Kabobs
INGREDIENTS
(Makes 2)
1 banana, peeled
1 banana, peeled
1 strawberry
1 green apple
1 baby carrot
4 pretzel sticks
10 mini chocolate chips or raisins
2 wooden skewers
1. Cut banana into 6 thicks slices (3 for each snowman).
2. Cut triangle shapes (1 from strawberry and 1 from green apple) for hats, 2 slivers from baby carrot for noses, and peel slices of green apple for scarves.
3. Slide 3 banana slices onto each skewer. Top one with the strawberry triangle and the other with the apple triangle.
4. Insert pretzel sticks for arms, carrot slices for noses, and mini chocolate chips or raisins for eyes and buttons.
This recipe is a craft project and yummy snack in one. Have fun!
Thanksgiving Morning Turkey Pancakes
You may remember these from last year, but they’re just too fun not to share again. We plan to make these again on Thanksgiving morning this year. (And hey, you can always make them with boxes pancake mix too if you’re not feeling the whole from scratch thing.)
INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk or buttermilk
2 eggs
strawberries, sliced
bananas, sliced
mandarin oranges or clementine slices
pineapple chunks
raisins
Preheat a pan or griddle over medium heat. Add a pat of butter or coconut oil to prevent sticking. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in milk or buttermilk and eggs. Whisk until combined into a batter. Pour batter onto pan or griddle, creating one set of larger circles (turkey body) and one set of smaller circles (turkey head). Cook until underside is golden brown, then flip and repeat. Let all pancakes cool slightly.
For each turkey, place one small pancake on a large one and decorate using the fruit. Eat!
Happy almost Thanksgiving!
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Saturday Survey: “Dangerous” Breeds
I posted earlier in the week that Denver had voted out its 30-year old Pit Bull ban. I’m wondering how many jurisdictions still have bans on so-called “dangerous” breeds. Until next time, Good day, and good dog!
Win a Set of Camo YUCKY PUPPY Poop Bag Carriers!
Yesterday we had a fun, very socially-distanced day at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in the Texas Hill Country. We’re (finally!) enjoying some beautiful fall weather, perfect for hiking and…
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Veterans Day
Thanking all of our Veterans, both human and canine. Until next time, Good day, and good dog!
Win a Blue Zoca Waterproof Blanket!
This post and giveaway are sponsored by Blue Zoca. The weather outside may not be frightful just yet–but there’s no doubt that snuggling with your dog on a cozy Blue Zoca premium…
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Pumpkin Coffee Cake
If you’re a regular reader here, you may remember me sharing this delicious pumpkin coffee cake recipe before. We’ve decided to make it a pre-Thankgiving brunch tradition every November, and made it again this past weekend. It was so good that I felt compelled to share it again. The recipe is adapted from coffee cake my husband’s grandmother often made that he and his family call “Nana’s Sunday A.M. Favorite.”
Really, it’s great for any time of the year. But the pumpkin addition makes it especially fun to serve during the fall and holiday season.
PUMPKIN COFFEE CAKE
Prep time: 15 min | Cook time: 45-50 min
Serves 12
CAKE INGREDIENTS
4 cups flour
2 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups pumpkin puree
1-1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
TOPPING INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tsp flour
3 tsp melted butter
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds/pepitas
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, spices, and salt (for the coffee cake). In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar, then mix in pumpkin puree and egg. Gradually add milk. Pour batter into 9 x 13 greased baking pan.
Mix topping ingredients (except for pumpkin seeds) and sprinkle over batter. Evenly top with pumpkin seeds.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly and serve.
Tip: You can easily this recipe in half if you’re just making for yourself or your family.
I hope you love this seasonal brunch staple as much as we do. Happy (almost) Thanksgiving!
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