7 spectacular holiday gifts that will win you an ‘aunt of the year’ award

One of my favorite things to do is spoil my niece and nephews and this especially rings true during the holidays. Parents can give practical gifts, grandparents can give sweet presents, but aunts and uncles have the pleasure of just focusing on gifting items that are pure fun. After all, we don’t have to go home with that loud drum set and hear banging for hours. 😉

My littles’ age ranges from 1 to 10-years old so I have to be strategic when it comes to gift giving. The toddler obsesses over surprise toys, but I really have to nail the cool factor for the oldest. (I’ve learned it really does get harder to find the perfect present as they get older). So I’ve been doing my research to ensure they’ll actually use these presents year-round.

Here are some of the items on my short list this year:

Kids sports jersey

My oldest nephew is really starting to enjoy sports and while I can’t fly him to a Yankees game just yet (I’m working on getting permission, don’t worry) this is the next best thing. He can wear it at home to watch games or sport it to school because it’s machine-washable.

$39.99

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Makeup kit

If there’s anything I know my niece loves, it’s unicorns and makeup. This set has bright colors, actual brushes and even nail polish. And I know mama will feel good that it’s non-toxic and water-based so it’ll wash off with no problem.

$15.99

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Blanquil weighted blanket

I didn’t believe in the weighted blanket craze until I tried it myself. Spoiler alert: It really does help with sleep. So when I saw that they made mini versions for kids, I was sold. It’s only 7 pounds and oh-so-soft, making it the perfect blanket to cuddle up with for nap time.

$109

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Movie gift card

I love taking the older two kids out on adventures and one of their favorite things is going to grab food and see a movie. I’d pair this gift card with a note letting them know they can choose to redeem it whenever they want. Plus, they get to pick where we eat. (Almost always McDonalds, but I’ll take it).

$25

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Hape pound + tap bench

The baby (okay, he’s technically a year-and-half old now) loves to explore and figure things out. This bench will let him toss balls, hit the keyboard and make music—keeping him entertained for more than just a few minutes and helping him develop fine motor skills. Win-win-win!

$25.90

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X-box bundle

The 10-year-old can be hard to impress, but lucky for him his birthday falls in December too so I always splurge a little more on him. This bundle includes the Xbox One console, wireless controller, 1-month trial of Game Pass and Live Gold and Lego Speed Champions add-on. Mama will love the family settings it features and I’ll officially be the coolest aunt of the year.

$299

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Season pass to a theme park

Every summer, the kids love going to Carowinds , a theme and water park in their area. So, gifting them a whole season is something I know they’ll use (and it’s a gift for mama, too).

$90

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