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Nasiba Adilova’s Tot 10 Holiday Gift Picks

When it comes to gift-giving, The Tot Founder and mama of three, Nasiba Adilova, takes the job very seriously. As a lover of things that are sustainable, non-toxic, educational and versatile, her top 10 gift picks for kids stand the test of time and tick all the right boxes.

My family teases me, but it’s true: I pride myself on being an exceptional gift-giver.

Nothing brings me more joy than to see a child’s face light up when they receive a science kit that makes them wonder about the world or a toy that encourages them to dash outside for a session of some serious active play.

As the mother of three very busy kids under the age of six as well as an advocate for play-based learning, I’m all about gifting toys with an educational element. In this article, I’ll go over my holiday gift ideas for kids, as well as what types of chemicals I avoid in toys (and in general).

Chemicals to avoid in kids’ toys

Since I’m all too aware of what may be lurking in a lot of mainstream toys, The Tot team and I search really hard to find products that pass The Tot Test. This means that we’ve looked deep into third-party testing, examined ingredients lists and asked in-depth questions to ensure that a product we use doesn’t contain any of the chemicals we avoid.

When it comes to products for kids, I am adamant about steering clear of the following chemicals:

BPA + BPS
PVC
Harmful phthalates
Formaldehyde
Lead and other heavy metals

Click here to see the full list of chemicals we avoid and why.

Holiday gift ideas for kids

When looking for toys, I like to make sure that they offer a variety of play options or can grow with my children.

I also like toys that promote open-ended play — essentially any type of play without set rules or desired outcomes. With open-ended play, children get to think, imagine, problem solve and learn while having loads of fun and building confidence.

Below is a list of gift ideas for this upcoming holiday:

Climbing triangle
Indoor ball pit
Wooden small world story scene
Ride-on toy
Wooden small world animal sets
Gardening kit
Play kitchen & food toys
Eco bricks
Train set
Personalized organic cotton sweatshirts for the whole family

Keep reading to see my product picks for each!

My Tot 10 holiday gift picks

Lily & River Birch Wood Climber

Lily & River Birch Climber White Rockwall

Climbing triangles are so important for both cognitive and physical development. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, the Lily & River Climber offers loads of different configurations as well as an engaging board book!

Available in Birch Hardwood and Bamboo, it’s finished with non-toxic VOC-free finishes.

Lily & River Birch Wood Climber

Ranging from $369.95 to $578.95

Available in another color

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Lily & River Bamboo Climber

Ranging from $419.95 to $628.95

Available in another color

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Balu Organics Medium Ball Pit

A little girl wearing HART + LAND clothing and playing in a Balu Organics Ball Pit

What I love most about the Balu Organics Ball Pit is that it can be used with or without balls! First, babies will love doing tummy time and learning to sit up in it. As they get older, they’ll adore getting to use it as a classic ball pit or in an epic game of make-believe!

Balu Organics Medium Ball Pit – Grey

$229

EXCLUSIVE

Available in more colors

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Wobbel Balance Board

My kids are OBSESSED with their Wobbels! They seriously lounge in them, use them as step stools, rock on them and even use them as ramps for their cars! Available in both a raw and felt backing, they’re suitable for use on both hard and soft flooring.

Wobbel – The Original

$149

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Wobbel – The Original w/ Felt

$199

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Let Them Play Story Scene Bundle

Let Them Play Story Scene Rainbow

Small world toys like the Let Them Play Story Scene bundle allow kids to engage in open-ended play, use their imaginations and develop their own narratives. Made of sustainably-sourced New Zealand pine plywood and hand-dyed using food-grade dyes, this gift will set the scene for numerous adventures!

Let The Play Story Scene Bundle

$150

EXCLUSIVE

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Baghera Peugeot Darl’Mat Rider

Baghera’s metal ride ons are the types of toys you have forever. Truly heirloom quality, they’re the perfect introduction to gross motor play.

Baghera Peugeot Darl’Mat Rider

$260

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Holztiger Animal Sets

When it comes to facilitating imaginative play, you simply can’t go wrong with the Holztiger wooden animal sets. Great for expanding vocabulary and small world play, they offer a hands-on opportunity to explore the animal kingdom.

Holztiger Farm Animals Set

$36.99

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Guidecraft Hollow Blocks

Block play is a fun way for kids to gain spacial awareness, design and build structures and experience the concept of cause and effect. Guidecraft’s hollow blocks are particularly great for kids who want to use them to build a house for imaginative play, as a display for small toys and nature objects or even as shelves for when playing shopkeepers!