2021 Holiday Gift Guide

Look, there are a ton of gift guides out there with lists of hundreds of toys, games, and gadgets kids will love, so I figured, instead of creating another one and adding to your (theoretical) decision paralysis, I’m just going to bring all the good guides to you in one place.

I’ve gone through each of these and I sincerely think they’ll help you find the perfect gift for every kid in your life. But, before you jump into those, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you start going through these lists and making your purchases.

• Remember online orders take a lot longer to get to a post than it would if you were back home in the States. That means you’ve got to start placing your orders now if you want them to get to you in time for the holidays.
  
• Set a budget and stick to it as best as you can. You might end up finding an amazing gift that puts you a bit over, but the more you can stay within budget, the better your wallet will feel after the holidays.
  
  
• When and if possible, use credit cards to your advantage when doing online shopping. If you’re using them responsibly, it’s a great way to rack up points that you can then use on trips!
  
• Ask your kids what they want or have them write a letter to ‘Santa’ (if you celebrate Christmas). It’s a fool-proof way of getting them exactly what they want.
  
• Make sure you have a couple extra little gifts lying around in case a surprise guest comes to visit. (This tip doesn’t just apply to kids, by the way.) A child in your kid’s class may give them a little gift before school lets out, and it’s nice to have something to give to them in return.
  
  

Amazon
Let’s face it, we all do most of our shopping on Amazon these days (especially if you’re overseas at post)! Amazon has compiled its own list of all the toys kids are wanting this year, so you can get them straight from the source.

Buzzfeed
Buzzfeed is well-known for two things: its quizzes and its gift guides. They have very niche and very specific round-ups, a few notables are: 24 Screen-Free Gifts For Kids That Are Actually Fun *And* Educational and 29 Gift Ideas For Kids If You Have No Clue What To Get Them. They also have gift-guides for different ages and for different budgets.

Good Housekeeping
They’ve compiled a list of 40+ gifts for kids in a slideshow gallery. From budding scientists to the more artistic kids, and little ones too—this gift guide has you covered.

Today
Today has multiple gift guides for kids of all ages. Each guide is broken down by age, so you can be assured that the gift you end up getting will be stimulating and age-appropriate.

Goop
Gwyneth Paltrow’s gift guide has a few notable picks for the super-cool kids in your life.

Also, don't forget to download our fun activity for kids to complete while you are shopping!

(Click the image below for a printable PDF file)