Gift finder

Pick who you are shopping for. Every guide ends with a shopping list you can check off or print.

Kids

Gift guides by age, from preschool to the tween years, plus stocking and treat ideas.

Non-candy Halloween treats for trick-or-treaters
Small non-food treats for the trick-or-treat bowl, and how to offer them next to the candy without making it complicated.
Advent calendar fillers that aren’t chocolate
Small things and small plans for a fill-it-yourself advent calendar, with a way to spread the cost and the effort across December.
Stocking stuffers for kids that aren’t candy
Small things that get used after Christmas morning, sorted by age, with a simple rule for filling a stocking without overthinking it.
Gifts for 3- to 5-year-olds that aren’t more plastic
Open-ended gifts for preschoolers that get used for years, with clear notes on small parts, magnets and button batteries.
Gifts for 6- to 8-year-olds that get played with past January
Building, making and playing together. Ideas for early school-age children, with safety notes on magnets and small parts.
Gifts for 9- to 12-year-olds who think they’re too old for toys
Ideas for the in-between years, grouped by what they like to do, with a few that build a real skill.

Ideas for 13- to 17-year-olds who are hard to surprise.

Gifts for teens that aren’t a gift card
Ideas for ages 13 to 17, grouped by what they spend their time on, with a note on when a gift card is still the right choice.

Gifts for moms, dads and people with a new baby at home.

Gifts for new parents that help in the first weeks
The first weeks with a newborn are about sleep, food and laundry. The most useful gifts take care of one of those.
Gifts for people who have everything
When someone already owns what they need, give them something that gets used up, something to replace what’s worn out, or an afternoon of your time.

Gifts for grandparents and older relatives.

Gifts for grandparents: photos, visits and things they’ll use
Many grandparents value time with the family and a record of it. These ideas give them both, plus a few practical things.
Gifts for people who have everything
When someone already owns what they need, give them something that gets used up, something to replace what’s worn out, or an afternoon of your time.

Ideas for the grown-ups on your list, including the ones who have everything.

Stocking stuffers for adults that get used
Small, useful things for grown-up stockings, grouped by the kind of person you are filling it for.
Gifts for people who have everything
When someone already owns what they need, give them something that gets used up, something to replace what’s worn out, or an afternoon of your time.

Small, useful gifts for school, the office and the people who help all year.

Practical teacher gifts, and what to skip
What to give a teacher at the winter holidays or the end of the school year, what to leave on the shelf, and why a note belongs with every present.
Secret Santa gifts for coworkers you barely know
You drew a name and you know two things about the person. Here is how to pick something they’ll be glad to carry home.

Things to bring to a party and small thank-yous for the people next door.

Hostess gifts for holiday parties, and what to skip
What to bring when you are invited to someone’s home in December, so the host doesn’t have to find a vase or a place for it in the middle of the party.

The party plans have timed checklists for class parties, family gatherings and traditions.