Handmade holiday gifts don’t have to be a thing of your childhood past (miss u, macaroni picture frame) or the purview of people with serious crafting skills — nope, thanks to the best toys on Etsy this year, handmade kid gifting just got easy. Whether you’re looking for baby toys (hi, adorable crocheted veggie stuffies), toddler toys (perfect pastel building blocks, anyone?), bath toys, diverse dolls, craft kits, or educational toys for all ages and more, there’s something for your holiday kid-gifting needs on our favorite indie-shop-roundup retailer, Etsy.
Sure, you could get your holiday toy shopping done at Target, or buy your kid gifts for cheap from Walmart. But if you want to be a bit more mindful with where you lend your wallet — and if you don’t want to end up down to the wire and ordering last-minute holiday gifts on Amazon Prime — you’ll want to get your act together in advance and let your toy buys make an impact. How? By purchasing toys from an independent small business courtesy of Etsy, of course! And don’t think you have to stop with toys; Etsy also boasts plenty of DIY kits for kids, as well as kids clothing and accessories (including the 2020 accessory of the year, the face mask, natch) alike from Black-owned businesses we love.
Click through our list ahead and shop some of the best toys on Etsy right now. Honestly, most of these indie gifts are so gorgeous, we won’t judge at all if you buy a toy for your grown-up self. Those rainbow geode stacking blocks for your home office desk?! Come on. You know you want to.
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All-in-One Watercolors
This wonderful watercolor kit comes with everything kids (or, let’s be real, their parents) need to create one-of-a-kind paintings, holiday cards, you name it. With a beautiful palette plus multiple brushes, a waterproof line pen, and more, your winter break just got colorful.
A Game That’s Secretly Math
Okay, so maybe the numbers are a bit unstealthy, but kids can’t resist this megaboard of rainbow pieces, including different shapes, hoops, fish, and yes numbers. It’s Go Fish meets Montessori education for a counting game that’s so much fun, they might not even notice the math.
Dolls You Can DIY
Okay, so this is a toy you have to make yourself. But if you’re even remotely into sewing, it’s so worth it — and the Gingermelon shop on Etsy will send you the pattern you need to customize your own doll. Better yet, if you’ve got a crafty kid, enlist their help to create a doll they’ll love together.
Or Get One Ready-Made
Of course, if DIY isn’t your jam, no judgment here. Order a beautiful ready-made rag doll in any skin tone from The Buslbarn on Etsy. You can even add personalization by having your child’s name hand-embroidered on the back of the doll. They’ll cherish this one forever, for sure.
Sweet Stuffies That Look Good Enough to Eat
Your child probably already has a few stuffed animals. But stuffed veggies? Now there’s a unique gift. These cute crocheted rattles are perfect for pretend play “cooking” — and totally safe for babies to actually chew on a bit, too.
Foam Friends for Bathtime Fun
These critters make bathtime lots of fun, and they’re super safe to boot — BPA-free, non-toxic and even mold-resistant. Which is definitely unlike, say, certain rubber duckies we grew up with (sorry, mom).
Paper Doll Meets Puppet
Why choose when you can have both? This super affordable ballerina doll printout lets kids cut and assemble the tiny dancer themselves for hours of playtime. Bring on The Nutcracker puppet shows, please!
Gorgeous Geode Stackers
See? I told you you’d want these on your desk. But until they’re ready to retire there, these rainbow gems will make for some of the prettiest playtime your tots have seen. They can use them to build tunnels, hoops, and of course as classic stackers.
A Montessori Menagerie
This absurdly adorable farm party comes with its own animal house, which holds 8-10 of the 12 included animals while the rest are out for a stroll. Simple sets like these Montessori-minded baby toys are all the rage these days and ripe for kids’ imaginations. The plain linden wood animals let kids dress them up themselves with paint, ribbons, you name it.
Way Cooler Than a Play Kitchen
We’ve long been giving kids pretend home equipment like mini-mowers and vaccuums; why not give them pretend items that will inspire them to pursue creative careers? This eye-catching wooden “camera” does just that. Sew Wildflowers creator writes on her Etsy page that the simple design of these beauties is inspired by her Scandinavian heritage.
Cuddles Times Eight
This epic handmade stuffed animal is fuzzy, fluffy, absolutely delightful — and definitely bigger than your baby. What’s not to love about a mega-present they’ll snuggle for years?
A Pastel Playground
Fans of Lovevery’s gorgeous Montessori-oriented toys will love this indie version that comes with blocks of all shapes and sizes, all nestled into a nifty truckbed for storage (and rolling play). Plus, they’re in pretty pastels to boot.
Magnetic Magic
The “toy” that suits all ages (including you), Magnedotz is made out of over two hundred magnets in rainbow colors. And it’s mesmerizing.
Educational Eye Candy
This gorgeous wooden/metal abacus in neutral tones is the gift that keeps on giving. Babies and toddlers will love simply sliding the smooth beads, bigger kids can play counting games, and tweens and teens can transition this beauty straight to bedroom decor. It’s a win-win-win.
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