Modern Kids Design Holiday Gift Guide 2016 – Part II

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? If not, we’ve got you covered with our guide to modern gifts for the entire family! If you haven’t seen it, catch up by reading part I, which covers gifts for the littlest members of your family—new babies and toddlers. Today, we’ll talk about a whole bunch of useful, eco-friendly gifts that older kids, teens, and even adults will enjoy receiving.

For the Kid

Forty-Eight Piece Wooden Block Set by MyFamily Builders – We absolutely adore this clever, modern block set and think it would make a fantastic choice for any kid on your gifting list this year. MyFamily Builders are “toymakers for a better tomorrow” and hope to expand kids’ horizons, help them learn about diversity, and encourage them to appreciate all the different ways a modern family can be made. These blocks are not only fun and well designed, with magnetic components to help build different children and adult figures, but they can be a great opener to start a conversation with your kids about love and family.

Sticky Monsters by Tegu – Blocks have come a long way since we were kids. Tegu’s blocks are all different shapes, sizes, and colors, plus they are made from sustainable materials by employees paid a living wage. Their latest offering, still in pre-order for the holidays, the Sticky Monsters embody the quality and creativity they’re known for. These blocks are also learning tools, helping to develop your kid’s fine motor skills, pattern recognition, imaginative play, problem-solving, and storytelling facilities. The Sticky Monsters have real personality and are great for reinforcing positive messages about the importance of friendship and cooperation! This is a fun new set by Tegu so stay tuned it’s coming soon!

Pebble Pouf by Nook – We’re really loving everything Nook has to offer for different age groups this year, and the Pebble Pouf Ottoman is no exception. Kids love fun and colorful seating options (bean bag chairs, anyone?), and these ottomans are a very versatile piece of furniture that’s also extremely comfortable. Built around Nook’s special non-toxic and eco-friendly foam interior, the Pouf is stable, soft, and the perfect height for kids to sit on. The exterior cover is breathable, washable, and stain/spill resistant for worry-free snack times and easy clean up.

Going Green Glass Straw To-Go Set by Strawesome – One of our favorite eco-friendly utensils, these reusable glass straws make school lunches fun when packed in their colorful carrying cases. Strawesome is committed to making a difference in the amount of disposable plastic we consume by offering one of the few alternatives to plastic drinking straws on the market. Both eco- and health-conscious, Strawesome products are handcrafted in their Michigan workshop and come in a variety of attractive designs. These clever travel kits include a straw, carrying case, and cleaning brush sized specifically for their glass straws.

For You!

French Cooking Kit by Saffron + Kumquats – Have you ever wanted to master the art of French cooking? This clever kit is a great way to learn and comes with ingredients and recipe cards. Saffron and Kumquat are dedicated to expanding culinary horizons by offering home cooking options from across the globe. Their kits can help you discover new spices and specialty ingredients while making it easy and fun to try new recipes. Have you ever seasoned anything with Bouquet Garni? Would you like to learn to make the perfect Béarnaise sauce? Now you can! If French cooking isn’t of interest, try one of the other kits available, including Thai Cooking, Greek Cooking, or making Mulled Wine!

Juniper Berry & Lime Glycerin Soap by Yuzu Soap – For you, your partner, or any other older gift recipient who could use some pampering, these natural soaps are a great choice. Yuzu Soap is a brand new small business focused on creating handcrafted bath items in small batches from premium ingredients. Their creations are gentle on the skin, moisturizing, and free of synthetic detergents and other harsh chemicals found in more commercial bath products. These glycerin soap bars not only smell great but offer real benefits to your body and a relaxing experience for your mind. They’re gentle enough to be used on the face and come in a variety of scents including Lavender and Pink Grapefruit.

Geranium & Rose Tumbler Candle by Slow North – Forget those ubiquitous, cheap, overpowering scented candles you may have bought in the past. Slow North is dedicated to providing healthy, natural, non-toxic candles that won’t contribute to poor indoor air quality. Their premium aromatherapy oils are extracted via steam distillation or cold pressing; both clean methods that leave the oils in their natural state. This classic tumbler candle will burn for a long time, lightly scenting the air with all-botanical geranium and rose hip essential oils, and are made entirely with soy wax and coconut oil. Want a travel sized option? Try the travel tin candle to take these relaxing scents with you and make hotel rooms feel more like home!

Charlie Bag by SoYoung – One of our favorite lifestyle bag producers, SoYoung is based in Canada and really focuses on the needs of modern families. Their Charlie Diaper Bags are unlike any other diaper bag on the market and make a great gift for stylish moms or dads. Their clean design, unisex color schemes, and modern materials make them a real workhorse of a bag, and they don’t stand out as a “diaper bag” when lined up next to other shoulder and messenger bags. Designed by a mom for the needs of new parents, this is the bag that can’t be beat. It makes a great gift this holiday season.

The Cyclist/Skiers Alphabet Posters by My Outdoor Alphabet – Looking for colorful wall art that speaks to your love of the outdoors and can be appreciated by family members of all ages? These alphabet posters might even teach you a thing or two about whichever sport you enjoy most, with clever illustrations matching each word beginning with the letters A through Z. My Outdoor Alphabet makes beautiful, sustainable products that allow parents to share their love for the outdoors with their children, one letter at a time. Screen printed and signed, these posters are suitable for framing—or just tacking up on the wall to enjoy for years to come.

What do you think of our gift ideas for the older generations in your family? Are there any products you’d like to see added to the list? Let us know by sending us a comment at healthyliving@modernkidsdesign.com and help make holiday shopping easier for everyone here in the Modern Kids Design community! Happy Holidays, and thanks for reading!

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