Gifts for Homeschoolers – 20+ Ideas!
Gifts for homeschoolers can be a lot of fun to buy. Typically, homeschoolers travel outside of the mainstream in wants. Since they are not around a ton of like-aged kids the peer-pressure element tends to lessen. The desire for name brand clothes and shoes seems to be a bit less (my kids wouldn’t know the difference between generic sports shorts and Under Armor and my pocketbook is happy). Often they are unaware of the “it” toys. Also, they are heavily self-funded so gift giving can be a blessing to the entire family.
Homeschooling is very tailored to the child(ren). Often you are buying things year-round. Often the children have very specific wants that may not be obvious because they may be learning about a certain topic and be all-in. It is really best to chat with the parents to find out instead of just grabbing the hard-to-get item of the year. There are really good odds the kiddo has no idea what it is. So, if you don’t already have a list a mile long of “things to buy” (I have an Amazon list just for homeschool books!) then here are some sure-fire options for the little homeschooler in your life.
Subscriptions
There seems to be a subscription or magazine for everything these days. Some of the best-reviewed ones are (almost all have a discount code available for the first box, definitely check for current ones before ordering):
1. Amazon STEM Toy Club
($15.99/ month): STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) toys are sent each month, you can choose the age range that would be appropriate and they will handpick STEM toys and send them each month.
2. BitsBox (from $16.95/ month): For ages 6+, teaches kids to code by delivering insanely fun app-building projects in the mail every month. Kids code their projects on the Bitsbox website and their apps work on any device with a web browser.
3. Creation Crate (from $29.99/ month): Teaches you electronics, coding and high-level problem-solving. For ages 12-75. They say, “Once you receive all 12 badges you will have more hands-on programming experience than 99% of current college-level computer science students.”
4. Groovy Lab in a Box (from $24.95/ month): For ages 8+, blends Scientific Inquiry and the Engineering Design Process, which allows children to create ingenious inventions, enhance critical problem-solving skills and have FUN!
5. History Unboxed ($19.99/ month): For ages 5-young adult. You will receive a welcome box including an interactive timeline poster; A welcome letter and coloring sheet; A time capsule kit to create your own historic memento; A worksheet to help students understand how to read a timeline; A Family Tree kit for exploring your student’s personal history. Subsequently, then each month you will receive a new box exploring a different place in time, according to the era you selected. Each box contains an age-specific coloring sheet; 1-2 (very!) high-quality crafts; A sticker for your timeline; 2-3 items of additional enrichment material.
6. Ivy Kids ($39/ month): For children ages 3-8, the kits are developed by early childhood teachers with children of their own. The goal is to provide monthly resources and tools to parents and caregivers looking to have more meaningful learning experiences with their children. Each month you will receive a kit containing more than ten activities based on a classic children’s book.
7. The Magic School Bus Science Club ($19.99/ month): For ages 5-12. This one is perfect for fans of the show. Each month children will explore science through exciting and thrilling experiments that will spark an interest and curiosity in science.
8. Kiwi Co. Crates (from $24.90/ month): Kiwi Co. has monthly “crates” curated to specific age groups. The entire line is well-reviewed and comprehensive.
- Panda for 0-24 months
- Koala is for ages 2-4 with hands-on play and learning and is designed for the youngest kids to explore and discover.
- Kiwi combines science and art for ages 5-8 and will include a maker project, a creative project, and more.
- Atlas is for 6-11 so they can explore the world at home.
- For ages 9-16+ there are two options Doodle Crate, which focuses on art & design, or Tinker Crate, which focuses on science and engineering.
- And, for teens through adults they have the Maker Crate, focusing on art and design, and the Eureka Crate for engineering.
Memberships
9. Museums: Nearly every city has a museum for a kid. Fortunately, here in Houston, we have a ton of museums so you can pick and choose to suit your child’s interests. Check out our extensive list of museums for ideas. Can’t choose then become a tourist in your own city with a CityPass.
10. Zoos: Not many kiddos wouldn’t love a zoo membership (and someone to take them!). This basically sells itself.
11. Sports & Athletics: Many sports-themed businesses offer memberships. Here in Houston, there are several Rock Climbing Gyms, Ninja Warrior Gyms, Parkour, Crossfit Kids, and more that offer memberships for kids.
Handwork & Modeling
12. Knitting: Knitting is a great skill for kids to hone their hand-head connection. There are a lot of kits and books to get you started. And, using something like a loom or a knitting nancy is a great way to ease them in. It is an excellent skill for boys, too! Don’t forget extra yarn!
13. Clay: Again, something kids can work with their hands is a great option. There is always play-doh, but for something more permanent modeling clay is a great next step. You can start with a tub of air dry and some simple tools and move on from there if it is something your child enjoys.
14. Models: The sky is the limit here. Models, as a hobby, can be as simple as a 3d puzzle to the more complex models like cars, buildings, and recreations.
Building Toys
Some of our favorite building toys are:
15. Lego: If your kid is into it they probably already have a very specific list…
16. Bloco: High-density foam and connectors are used to build fun creatures!
17. Trio: Trio blocks are the most fun discontinued toy around. If you see someone selling these at a yard sale or online pick them up, they are great! They’re similar to mathlink cubes but have the fun spin of lego with branding and connectors, wheels, etc.
18. Straw and Connectors: The Children’s Museum of Houston has a table full of this downstairs, they’re great!
19. Rockets: I’m not sure if this is a model or a build, but either way shooting things into the sky is always a popular past time!
20. Books
So many books so little time! Here are some favorites:
Toddler: Board books by Byron Barton. Personal faves are Planes, Trucks, Trains, and Boats.
Pre-K & Kindergarten: Here are 493 Options!? But, if you don’t want the whole list Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola is great. As is, Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, and The Story of Ferdinand by Munroe Leaf.
Elementary: Little House on the Prairie Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit.
Pre-Teens: By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman, Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink, Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.
Teens: Beauty by Robin McKinley, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, Men of Iron by Howard Pyle, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Just David by Eleanor H. Porter, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.
For the Teacher
21. Laser Printer – If she doesn’t lust for a laser printer is she really a homeschooler Seriously, the amount of printing and ink consumed in this chosen endeavor is astronomical. With the cost of ink, I sometimes think it would just be cheaper to buy a new printer every time I run out of ink!? I do like having the scan and copy function too so let’s swing for fences and go all in on this. If I were buying for myself I would choose the Canon.
22. Laminator – Another gadget I love is my laminator. Particularly if you are teaching your way through multiple children and you want to be able to reuse things – laminating is the way to go. I don’t think they make the one I personally have but this 3-in-1 by Blusmart has awesome reviews and actually includes the two add-ons I would have suggested – a paper trimmer and corner rounding punch. Mind. Blown. It also seems compatible with the Scotch laminating pouches that are sold everywhere.
23. Something not “School Related”
As homeschoolers, it is sometimes hard not to find the opportunity to learn in everything we do. Sometimes the kiddos just want some dinky hard plastic migraine-inducing noisy toy. Get it for them. Just one.
24. Stocking Stuffers
Stockings are a prime place to load up on pencils, pens, crayons, colored pencils, dry erase markers, markers, glue, Play-Doh, and for more ideas check out our suggestions for the Best Stocking Suffers!
Did your favorites make our list? Do you have other ideas?
Share below and Happy Holidays!
