top of page

PASSIONISTAS GIFT GUIDE: Unwrap the Fun: A Kid's Wonderland of Toys and Games for the Perfect Gift


Let’s just admit it. Holidays are for kids. When we were kids it was all about the Sears catalog. If you know what we’re talking about, you get it. And if you don’t, we feel very sorry that you missed out. We had great Christmas mornings as kids. Sure, we got some clothes and books, but the best part was the toys and games. And so, we’ve dug deep within our inner children and compiled a list of our top 10 games and toys for kids made by women owned businesses.


Note: The following are affiliate links. The Passionistas Project will receive affiliate income if you purchase through this link, at no cost to you. We only recommend products that we believe in from women we know or trusted brands we’ve discovered.












1. WORD-A-MELON from RENA NATHANSON at BANANAGRAMS

We love a good word game and Bananagrams makes them best. Word-a-Melon is the family-fun word search game where players take turns rolling the die, flipping the cardboard letter chips and creating words with the overturned letters. Unused letters are flipped back over so players must be sure to remember where they are. It’s a fruit twist on that old game Concentration.


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.



















2. WOODEN DELUXE BARBECUE GRILL, SMOKER AND PIZZA OVEN by MELISSA AND DOUG BERNSTEIN from MELISSA & DOUG

If this isn’t the coolest kids gift ever, we don’t know what is. Fire up imaginative pretend play with a wooden BBQ grill, smoker and pizza oven play set, complete with play food and condiments, durable utensils, frying pan and wooden pizza paddle. It includes wooden sliceable play food pieces that look “uncooked” on one side and have grill marks on the other (including steak, chicken, hot dog, burger, veggie burger, corn on the cob), wooden pizza with felt toppings, sauce and seasoning bottles and felt squiggly condiment squirts, hot dog and burger buns. Grill includes built-in timer, dials to raise and lower “flames,” a smoker box with chimney for play wood chips, movable utensil rack, side burner, storage shelf, lid with safety-close hinge; removable thermometer can press into holes in wooden play food to test if they are “done.”


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.
















3. SAFARI BUDDIES HAND PUPPETS by MELISSA AND DOUG BERNSTEIN from MELISSA & DOUG

If you know us at all, you know we are puppet people, so we had to put these on our list. The Melissa & Doug Safari Buddies Hand Puppets set includes six soft and cuddly hand puppets with a safari animal theme (elephant, a tiger, a parrot, a giraffe, a monkey and a zebra). They feature brightly patterned, high-quality fabrics that are washable for easy clean-up. They are sized to fit children and most adults. The set is great for storytelling, motor skill development, practicing vocabulary, expressing emotions and confidence-building. It’s an excellent option for encouraging hands-on, screen-free play.


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.




























4. STURDY WOODEN PUPPET THEATER by MELISSA AND DOUG BERNSTEIN from MELISSA & DOUG

What good are puppets without a puppet theatre. Melissa & Doug have one of those, too. This sturdy wooden puppet theater features a non-tip base, plush curtains, a clock and a chalkboard. It allows kids to tap into their imaginations to put on an entertaining show for family and friends. Puppet play encourages creative expression and storytelling skills.


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.















5. BUILD A ROBOT PUZZLE SPINNER GAME by MIA GALISON from eeBOO

Who doesn’t love a good robot game? Build a Robot Spin to Play combines puzzle making, counting, tools, machines, space and game play. Players spin to place interchangeable parts in their puzzle frame. This cleverly designed game encourages imaginative play combined with patience and turn-taking.


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.















6. CHILDREN OF THE WORLD PUZZLE from MIA GALISON at eeBOO

We would spend hours making puzzles when we were kids, we would even create our own with carboard and markers — but we’re overachievers. The kids on your gift list can put together this Children of the World 100 Piece Puzzle that features children in traditional clothing from nations around the world. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a country that begins with the same letter. Illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.


















7. SPANISH VOCABULARY BINGO by MIA GALISON from eeBOO

We wish they had this game when we were kids. We would have done better in Spanish class. This Spanish Vocabulary Bingo Game utilizes auditory and visual learning styles. Players see the image, the name of the item in Spanish, and hear it pronounced by the caller. Colorful illustrations by Monika Forsberg.


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.


















8. OPEN-SIDED DOLLHOUSE by MELISSA AND DOUG BERNSTEIN from MELISSA & DOUG

We think playing with our dollhouse as young girls partly inspired our love for interior design as adults. The Melissa and Doug Hi-Rise Wooden Dollhouse and Furniture Set is sure to inspire young kids today. It features three play figures and 15 pieces of furniture. It’s an open-sided, 1:12 scale dollhouse that’s ideal for home or school. It is decorated in vibrant colors and includes six rooms, an elevator and a garage.


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.













9. FANCY PACHISI by MIA GALISON from eeBOO

We got a new board game every holiday and we would sit and play for hours. Fancy Pachisi has reimagined the ancient and classic game Pachisi with shiny foil embellishments to the beautiful artwork by Lizzy Rockwell. Players roll dice to move four pieces around the board to get back to Home. Land on an opponent’s piece and send it back to Start.


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.












10. LEARN-TO-PLAY PIANO by MELISSA AND DOUG BERNSTEIN from MELISSA & DOUG

Is the kiddo on your gift list musically inclined? This brightly-painted wooden piano features 25 keys and 2 full octaves. It is built with solid wood construction and high-quality materials with superior construction ensuring safety and durability. The Melissa & Doug Learn-to-Play Piano is easy to play and comes with an illustrated songbook (English lyrics).


Get the latest price and buy now HERE.


Sign up for our mailing list so you don’t miss any of our upcoming gift lists including books, home decor, arts & crafts and more all from women-owned businesses.

Comments


Featured Posts
Recent Posts
Archive
Search By Tags
Follow Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
bottom of page