2020 Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Gift Ideas for Kids, Parents, and the Home

Learn more about CAGIS membership and enter here to win a membership that gets you access to weekly online science events all year!

Canadian Association for Girls in Science Membership

The Canadian Association for Girls In Science (CAGIS) is an award-winning club for girls aged 7 to 16 that supports interest in Science, Technology, Trades, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). CAGIS Virtual is a new program that brings STEM into your home with live online sessions exploring a new topic each week with fun virtual and hands-on activities led by real experts and a certified teacher.

Past topics include food engineering and making ice cream at home, plant biology and germinating seeds, engineering and building a catapult, coding a script to calculate how old you would be on Mars, and more!

Visit Facebook for a $100 gift card giveaway!

PK Beans Replay Collection

PK Beans stands for high quality and sustainable children’s clothing, and as part of their commitment to reducing consumption and keeping their fabrics out of landfills, they recently launched a new Replay Collection. They take worn, damaged PK Beans clothing and repurpose the fabric into a wide variety of brand new items like scrunchies, doll clothes, party banners, beanie hats, toys, and more!

UV Skinz UPF 50+ Sunwear

Whether you live somewhere with warm temperatures year round or you’re dreaming of sunnier days to come, UV Skinz sunwear protects your child with UPF 50+ coverage without the struggle of sunscreen. Cute prints, generous sizing, and play and swim-friendly styles make these our favourite choice anytime we spend time outside. UV Skinz carries sun protective clothing for the whole family!

Mastermind Toys – LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Mario Starter Course

Mastermind Toys is LEGO headquarters this year! The new LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Mario Starter Course is one of this year’s most sought after sets with a LEGO Mario figure, LCD screens, and speaker. Build your own game level with spinning and cloud platforms, the ? Block, and Goomba and Bowser Jr. toy figures, then earn virtual coins by playing through to the Goal Pole.

Not sure what gift to get? Use the Mastermind Toys Gift Finder to search for the perfect gift by age, category, budget, and more.

Little Tikes Tobi Robot Smartwatch

The new Tobi Robot Smartwatch combines the interactive features of a smartwatch with a playful robot packed full of personality. The watch comes to life with moving robot arms and legs, fun sound effects, and 100+ expressions that will keep kids giggling, dancing, playing, learning, and more. It’s got two cameras for taking selfies and videos, and kids can customize their photos with silly stickers too. Includes interactive dancing, learning, and augmented reality games, a built-in pedometer, and 50+ analog and digital watch faces.

Mail Order Mystery

Mail Order Mysteries are immersive, interactive stories for kids told through a series of installments that come in the mail. Each envelope contains personalized letters, secret missions, mysterious objects, ciphers to crack, and clues to solve. This is the kind of gift that engages children’s creativity, imagination, and problem-solving! Choose from four different mysteries: Treasure Hunt!; The Enchanted Slumber; The Case of the Missing Bigfoot; and Spies, Lies, and Serious Bad Guys!

Check out our full reviews of Spies, Lies, and Serious Bad Guys, The Case of the Missing Bigfoot, The Enchanted Slumber and Treasure Hunt!

Find out why we love our Magic Bags and enter to win a care package with both these Warmies and a Magic Bag for Mom too!

Creatto Light Up Crafting Kits

Creatto is a simple yet versatile building system that consists of just two primary components that can be woven together into countless 3D creations. The flexible yet durable plastic tiles interlock quickly and easily for all skill levels with no additional materials or hardware required. Each kit includes assembly instructions for four different configurations, but the possibilities are limited only by your child’s imagination. Use the included string of coloured LED lights to illuminate each work of art from the inside out.

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Magic Bag Compresses for Kids

Warmy hot/cold packs for kids are cute and cuddly little creatures that make for great friends. Registered with Health Canada, Warmy compresses are a safe way to heal pain or keep your child soothed. Simply heat a Warmy for 45 seconds in the microwave to help ward off chills, tummy aches or inflammation, or cool for 3 hours in the freezer to relieve swelling, bumps or bruises.

Check out our review of the hottest Hasbro toys this holiday and enter to win a hard-to-find The Child Animatronic Edition!

Hasbro’s Holiday Hits

We’ve picked our favourite Hasbro gifts for the holidays. This year’s toys are all about moving! From the Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition that blinks and talks, Frozen 2 Elsa and Nokk who swims and walks, and furReal Moodwings Baby Dragon with real flapping wings, these are the toys that kids will be overjoyed to open this Christmas!

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Playmobil – Back to the Future Delorean

Head Back to the Future in the iconic, time-traveling DeLorean! Complete with working lights, doors that open, and the must-have flux capacitor, the DeLorean is ready to go once Dr. Emmett Brown arrives with the plutonium cores. Marty McFly and Doc Brown are sporting their 1985 outfits. Set includes the DeLorean, Marty McFly, Dr. Emmett Brown, Einstein the dog, skateboard, flux capacitor, plutonium cores and case, and lots of other accessories.

Yes, we are big Star Wars fans around here, and yes we’ve been avidly watching The Mandalorian and The Child every Friday night. Affectionately known as Baby Yoda, The Child is now the cutest Chia Pet ever! He sits in his pottery hover-pram plater and comes with a plastic drip tray and enough chia seeds for 3 plantings. Even if you’re not the Star Wars fans we are, with so many new and classic Chia Pets available, you’re sure to find the perfect “pet” for everyone on your list.

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Mad Mattr Activity Sets

Mad Mattr is a non-toxic, wheat, gluten, and casein-free building compound that molds and shapes into endless creations for hours of creative and open-ended play. Its satisfyingly smooth and super-soft texture never dries out, and clean up is a breeze because Mad Mattr doesn’t stick or stain. This year’s all-new Mad Mattr Ice Cream Store, Bakery and Burger Shop Activity Sets are perfect for last minute holiday gifting or a fun and creative indoor family activity!

Check out our favourite products and enter to win a pampering care package of Pickle and Bee’s most popular products!

Gift Ideas for Mom

Pickle and Bee Natural Body Products

Saskatchewan-based Pickle and Bee specializes in handmade, natural body products and eco-friendly options like natural deodorants, shampoo bars, and conditioner bars. Mom deserves to be pampered with a selection of high-quality, natural products that really work, all while leaving out any toxic or questionable ingredients.

Check out our review to learn more about Biosense!

Biosense Breath Ketone Monitor

Biosense is a new, clinical grade, handheld device that will help you gain greater insight into how your body reacts to different foods, exercise, stress, and sleep. Now anyone can see their metabolism in real time with a simple, non-invasive, highly accurate breath test. Biosense is the only clinically-backed breath ketone monitor to provide unlimited testing to better understand your health journey.

Get $30 off with code WestCo30!

Learn more about at-home DNA testing and enter to win a nutrition or fitness test from Dynamic DNA Labs!

Dynamic DNA Labs Home Health Tests

Have you ever wondered how your unique genetic make-up influences your nutrition needs and fitness? At-home DNA testing from Dynamic DNA Labs can help you learn more about your own unique genetics and provide you with personalized health and wellness recommendations for the optimal diet or most effective exercises for you.

Enter to win this gift set from Omaïki on Facebook!

Omaiki Mom & Baby Lotion with Reusable Makeup Remover Pads

Made in Canada with 98.9% natural ingredients, Omaïki lotion by Pure is a miracle lotion with 101 uses: moisturizer, make-up remover (even waterproof mascara!), face cleanser, baby massage, clean and protect baby bums, aftershave lotion, after sun lotion, and more! Pair this with a set of 6 reusable super soft, bamboo sherpa makeup removal pads for the ultimate in facial care.

Get 15% off everything in store with code WESTCOASTMOMMY!

FUJIFILM Instax Mini 11 Camera

Meet the new Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera! With its new Automatic Exposure function, there’s no need to adjust a dial anymore to take photos based on your lighting. Take the perfect selfie with the Mini 11’s Selfie Mode that allows you to get up close with its built-in macro mode and selfie mirror. The camera also includes 2 fun shutter button accessories to customize your camera’s look. Available in 5 colors: Sky Blue, Lilac Purple, Ice White, Charcoal Gray and Blush Pink.

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Eternity Rose Earrings

These unique drop earrings are crafted from real rose petals and pure 24k gold. Each exquisitely detailed, miniature rose is just over half an inch across and perfectly packaged for gift-giving in a navy-blue velvet pouch with gold trimming and silk draw-strings. Includes a certificate of authenticity and lifetime warranty.

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Cold and Hot Milk Frother

Make hot, warm, or cold milk, with or without froth, all at the touch of a button. Perfect for making cafe quality drinks at home (and for a lot less!) – delicious lattes, cappuccinos, coffee, hot chocolates, macchiatos, flat whites and more.

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Mermaid Make Up Brush Set

These unique mermaid tail make-up brushes use high density, soft synthetic bristles for a firm yet silky soft feel. The 10-piece set includes 3 eyeshadow brushes, 2 blush brushes，1 contour brush, 1 powder brush, 1 eyebrow brush, 1 fan brush, and 1 lip brush packed in a colorful cute mermaid brush bag.

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Gift Ideas for Dad

Capt’N Cook OvenPlus Salamander Oven

The perfect combination of a pizza oven and a smokeless grill. This multifunctional unit works as an oven, grill, and gas cooker at the same time. The energy-efficient, convection Butterfly Burner heats evenly and offers two main benefits: virtually smokeless and smart grilling that minimizes fire contact with the food to increase cooking performance and quality.

Visit Facebook to enter our flash giveaway for a Manscaped The Shears 2.0 grooming kit!

Manscaped – Perfect Package 3.0

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your guy this holiday season? Manscaped’s The Perfect Package 3.0 contains the Lawn Mower 3.0 below the belt grooming trimmer plus Crop Preserver ball deodorant, Crop Reviver ball toner, and reduced-chafing boxer briefs. The 7,000 RPM Lawn Mower trimmer is designed to reduce cuts for a smooth trim, and all Manscaped’s formulations are vegan, cruelty-free, dye-free, sulfate-free and paraben-free so you know your man’s manhood is in good hands.

Get a 20% discount when you shop through our link below!

Razer Ornata V2 Keyboard

Now that many people are working and learning remotely, Razer tech transitions seamlessly from work to play. With Razer Hybrid Mech-Membrane Technology that allows for clicky keystrokes with a soft, cushioned touch, multi-function digital wheel and media keys, fully controllable keys, customizable lighting, and ergonomic wrist rest, a Razer Ornata V2 keyboard is a great choice for both the tech and gaming fanatics on your list! #THISISWHYIGAME

Parliament Smart Wallet

Ekster’s Parliament wallet is a deceptively simple leather smart wallet, perfect for slim storage and quick card access. It doesn’t just look good, there’s a built-in aluminum cardholder that fans out up to six cards at the click of a button and protects them against skimming at the same time. The man in your life will love the look, feel, and convenience of this wallet, and the slim profile fits any pocket without giving him fat wallet syndrome. (Yes, that’s a real thing!)

Britbox Streaming Subscription

A BritBox subscription is perfect for the Anglophile in your life. From mysteries to histories, comedy to cookery, BritBox brings you the best of British telly, direct from the UK. Binge on beloved classics, exclusive new series, and special live events, with many premieres, current affairs and soaps streaming same day as the UK. Try Britbox free for 7 days, then stream for $8.99 CAD per month or $89.99 per year.

Check out more gift experiences and enter to win a $100 gift certificate towards any experience at Breakaway!

Geek Parenting – Stephen H. Segal & Valya Dudycz Lupescu

It takes a starship to raise a child. Or a time machine. Or a tribe of elves. Fortunately, Geek Parenting offers all that and more, with thoughtful mini-essays that reveal profound child-rearing advice (and mistakes) from the most beloved tales of geek culture. Whether you’re raising an Amazon princess, a Jedi Padawan, a brooding vampire, or a standard-issue human child, nerds and norms alike can take counsel from some of the most iconic parent–child pairings found in pop culture.

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Millennium Falcon Waffle Maker

From the side cockpit to the movable radar dish, this detailed Millennium Falcon waffle iron looks incredible on the kitchen counter! Cast-aluminum, non-stick waffle plates are made for easy removal and clean-up. This is a fantastic present for any Star Wars fan!

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Gift Ideas for the Home & Family

Breakaway Experiences

We all have those hard-to-shop-for people on our list! If you’re on the hunt for a unique and unforgettable gift this Christmas, check out the gift experiences at Breakaway Experiences where you can find once-in-a-lifetime and bucket list experiences, from unique driving experiences and private tours, to outdoor adventures like rock climbing and kayaking.

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SucSeed Hydroponic Grow Gardens

SucSeed hydroponic grow gardens are simple to assemble, easy to maintain, and teach kids of all ages about the importance of health, food, and the environment. With a grow garden, you can introduce STEM concepts, healthy eating, and conversations about food security with an interactive and hands-on approach. Work together to produce over four growing cycles and celebrate the reward in every harvest with your whole family!

Puffy – Luxurious Faux Fur Blanket

Temperatures are falling, and a warm, soft blanket is a must this winter. Faux fur on one side and plush micro mink on the other make the Puffy Blanket the ultimate in velvety softness. Everyone will love curling up in the warmth and luxury of this premium quality faux fur blanket this Christmas.

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Wacom One Creative Pen Display

Feels like pen and paper, works like magic! See your imagination come to life in full color on the full-sized 13.3” display. This digital drawing tablet allows you to sketch or paint directly on the screen, draw diagrams, annotate documents, enhance photos and videos, plus you can delete, edit and share your creations with ease.

Nature Bee Wax Wraps

Reusable, washable, compostable beeswax wraps are an amazing alternative to plastic wrap, bags, and even containers. We’ve been using Nature Bee Wraps for the last year and love them! Each wrap is handcrafted in Victoria, BC from only natural, non-toxic ingredients: 100% cotton, beeswax, pine tree resin, and jojoba oil. With tons of different prints and sizes, they’re the perfect gift for families going green!

Enter to win a SAFEGRATE finger guard over on Facebook!

Nintendo – Ringfit Adventure

This is our favourite video game of the year – an adventure game that’s also a workout! In-game movements are controlled with the Ring-Con and Leg Strap accessories allowing players to jog, sprint, and high knee through dozens of levels and defeat enemies using real-life exercises. Adventure mode allows one player at a time, but the mini games are perfect to get the whole family moving.

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Stocking Stuffers

SAFEGRATE Finger Guard

How often have you skinned your knuckles on a grater or cut your fingers while making dinner? This smart little SAFEGRATE gadget is a simple and kid-friendly way to protect yourself and the whole family from those painful grater-related injuries. Metal tines on the inside hold food securely while the stainless steel finger guard keeps fingers safe from your grater, knife blade, or mandolin slicer.

Enter here to win a hard-to-find The Child Animatronic Edition with a pair of these cute Bounty Collection figures!

Hasbro – Star Wars The Bounty Collection

Kids and collectors can now add The Child (lovingly referred to as “Baby Yoda” by fans) to their Star Wars collection with The Bounty Collection 2.2-inch posed figures. These lovable figures come in a 2-pack perfect for stuffing stockings.

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Micro Arcade

Measuring only 3.25″ x 2″ x 0.375″ – the size of a credit card – Micro Arcade is the ultimate travel game! Each game comes with a full color screen, cool sound effects, and directional control buttons, with a micro USB charger included. Micro Arcade games play just like the iconic full-size versions with digitally modified sound effects to fit into the mini flat speaker. Play Tetris, Space Invaders, Dig Dug, Galaga, PacMan, Qbert, and other classic arcade games without the need for a Wi-Fi connection or data plan.

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Ravel Tales

Ravel Tales takes the unboxing experience and surprise reveal to the next level! Start your journey by unwinding your yarn ball and uncovering 12 fun surprises along the way. An ultra cute collectible plush pet plus exciting DIY activities bring tons of fun and hours of activity in one toy! Children can create 3 braided charm bracelets, a braided pet collar, 2 pom poms, and a pillow bed.

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CommUNITY Mask Holders and Organizers

Toronto-based and family-owned commUNITY makes Canadian-made, high quality, 100% cotton, comfortable, reusable masks with nose wires, mask holders, customizable organizers, and reusable filters. If you’re like me you probably have a bunch of masks lying around, and these mask organizers and holders help busy families stay organized for the week ahead while maintaining safety with clean masks. $1.00 from every mask sold is donated to Food Banks Canada!

Scen-Ties Stretch and Sniff Hair Accessories

Scen-Ties are a fun, new twist on hair ties, headbands, scrunchies, and now masks. Inspired by the scratch n sniff stickers we all collected back in the day, Scen-Ties come in 7 delicious scents: Cotton Candy, Bubblegum, Vanilla Cupcake, Strawberry, Sour Apple, Watermelon, and Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Just stretch (to activate the encapsulated fragrance) and sniff these unique hair accessories for the same scented fun! What’s more, Scen-Ties donates 5% of proceeds to the Child Mind Institute which helps raise awareness for children’s mental health. Kids will love finding these in their stockings!