50 gifts our ten kids loved: The 2024 list!

The time has come! It’s the 2024 Christmas present idea list. These are items we actually bought and enjoyed. I think this is the tenth year I’ve written this list up. I deeply wish I had also kept track of the things the kids give each other, because some of them are absolutely brilliant. But this is a start. 
 
Here is the master list compiling the first eight years of recommended gifts, organized by kind. and here is last year’s list with another 50 or so. I’m sorry, I’m lazy and haven’t consolidated everything yet. Still, hundreds of ideas. Most from Amazon, some from Etsy, some from misc. The monster list has present ideas for babies on up; the other lists are for kids age 8 or 9 or so on up. 
 

 


This year, we became fascinated by paper marbling videos, and I bought this kit on a whim so we could try it at home. Caveat: You have to prepare the ink mixture and then wait six hours before using it, so plan accordingly.  But once it was ready to go, it was fun and easy and satisfying
 
 
Just a cheapsky little fidget toy, but it has a million little articulation points and is fun to handle. Comes in several colors, and people are selling lots of different 3D printed animals and creatures. 
 

Mastermind/Codebreaker game

I myself hunted down the version with the bearded evil genius seated in a swivel chair and tenting his fingers while his glamorous companion in a futuristic white dress gazes inscrutably at the camera, but YOU can just get the normal version, which is the same in a more boring box.  This game takes about ten minutes to play. One person sets up four colored pegs behind a little shield, and the other person has to guess what they are by setting up four pegs of their own on their own side. The first person responds with up to four coded pegs: Black for “right color, right position,” and white for “right color, wrong position.” That’s it. It’s mostly logic, but a little bit of psychology, too. 

Perler beads! Still!
 

and peg boards to make your designs on. I bought these to take with us on vacation, and the teenagers used them all week long, making up all kinds of goofy designs. I think this is the only thing I’ve actually ironed in the last decade. 
 
 
Just a young feller. Decent detail for the price. Maybe you know someone who would appreciate getting a netsuke. 
 
 
 

There are, in this world, Hawaiian shirts with every possible thing printed on them. Perhaps your household has a tomato lover in it, who would enjoy this shirt. 

Fishing magnet

I actually got this for myself, because I like magnets. It comes on a lonnnnnnng cord, and gloves to help you keep your grip. I haven’t found anything in the water yet (I got a little spooked out, to be honest, dragging that thing in the dark water; but I’ll be braver next time), but there are plenty of things to be found on land. Magnets! How do they work! 

 
In all these years, I have still never sat down and watched a full episode of Teen Titans, but all my kids will gather together and watch it and laugh, so how bad could it be? 
 
 

I’m not defending this. I’m just saying, if you have a kid who would like a Sonic the Hedgehog Official Cookbook, here it is!

monster paw slippers

I like these because those silly novelty slippers always leave you with chilly bare ankles. But these make your ankles monstrous! Delightful. 

 
This is a dog toy, not a kid toy, but I’m mentioning it because our super gnawer has been super gnawing on this for a solid year, and it’s still in one piece. 
 
 
You definitely know someone who would needs this on their desk. And if you want to roll up a $20 bill and stuff it in the secret compartment, you can do that, too!
 

astronaut nebula projector

Cute little projector. Stands up and has a number of different colors and settings, and the projection covers a large area. 

and bird food

An attractive little bird feeder for a decent price. 

 

Important book for the comic artist! 
 
 
There are many, many wax stamp sealing sets in lots of styles and vibes. Kids are sending letters again, aren’t they? I don’t know. 
 
 
 
As described. Meow!
 
 

More wax sealing supplies! Somebody needs to put this stuff in order, my goodness. 

 

A classic for anyone interested in animation. 
 
 
Batman! Batmen! Batmani!
And to save your puzzle so you can store it away and work on it later: 
 
 
 
As advertised. Soft and reasonably well-made. 
 
 
Wrap yourself in the many faces of the original loverboy of Tokyo: Godzilla. 
 
 
This is fun and works well. It makes little fish-shaped waffles with a space inside, so you can fill them with whatever, Nutella or bean paste or ice cream or whatever you like. 
 
 
Enormous, comfy, soft, and durable. And yes, the cover is removable and washable if someone gets never mind what all over it. Comes in many colors. 
 
 

Another animation must-have. 

 
Floating monster eyeballs! These come in many colors and varieties. 
 

robot hand game control holder 

 
The store we got this from doesn’t seem to be open anymore, but it’s a neat idea, and there are several other styles made by various other people. It holds your game controller or remote (or whatever you want), and you can mount it on the wall or set it on your desk. 
 
A solid Miyzaki collection you can find for under $50 in many places. Nothing like a boxed set!
 
This is kinda dumb, but you can have any photo printed on a pillowcase that’s covered with those sequins that you can flip. You know what I mean. Those flippy sequins with the secret picture underneath, but it’s some silly picture that you chose! Comes in several colors. Make sure you order a pillow insert, not just the pillowcase. 
 

A nicely-designed game for kids more oriented to storytelling than strategy. 

Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza

I actually love this game. It’s so stupid but lots of fun, and it’s quick and portable. It’s also a game where younger kids actually have an advantage over adults, because their reflexes are faster. 

 
 
Pretty little Greek-looking earrings. 
 

The Odd Giraffe Earrings

Laser cut wooden or acrylic earrings in bright, cute designs. I can’t share the specific earrings we bought, although we’ve bought several over the years, because she’s always turning out new designs. All our Odd Giraffe earrings always fetch lots of compliments, and the customer service goes above and beyond.  

 

Cherry skull earrings

The perfect earrings for that one kid. I definitely didn’t secretly want them for myself. 

And that’s it! If I think of more, I’ll add them to the list. Don’t forget to check out the monster list. Happy shopping! 

 
 
 
 
 
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2 thoughts on “50 gifts our ten kids loved: The 2024 list!”

  1. These are great ideas! You should go into the gift idea business – some day, when you’re not doing anything else…I am ordering the Maltese Falcon for my husband and really appreciate finding out about it from you – would not have known it existed or thought to try to see if it existed, but it’s just the thing – thanks!!!

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