I’m not sure who’s more into Christmas, me or the kids. I mean sure, they get all excited about those toys and gifts, but Christmastime leaves me starry-eyed too. This time of year reminds me of my own childhood and how I would dream about finally getting that longed for Cabbage Patch Doll with long, brown hair, or that pair of bright red lace up roller skates just like the super cool sixth-grader down the block. Nowadays I get to watch my own kids dream about finding a real live pony under the tree (uh, no) or a trip to Disneyland (soon I hope). They like to dream big!
We can’t make it to Disneyland yet, but the kids are just as happy with a visit to our local Mastermind Toys store. They can spend an entire afternoon here, where dreaming and touching and exploring are not only allowed, they’re encouraged. Actually, it’s something we all look forward to – not just the kids!
This year, we’ve partnered with Mastermind Toys to bring you some tips for how to pick the perfect gift for your big dreamer!
1. Browse the Mastermind Toys Holiday Gift Guide to find the very best toys, games, and books to make your kids’ big dreams come true. The guide is available in store and online and organized by kids’ ages and interests to make it easy to find just the right gift for everyone on your list.
2. When your Mastermind Toys Gift Guide catalogue arrives in the mail, give the kids a marker and set them loose to circle everything they find interesting. Not only will you get lots of gift ideas to work with, but you’ll also get an hour of quiet time while they go through it. It’s a win-win!
3. If you prefer online shopping, then Mastermind Toys’ new Gift Finder tool is perfect for you. You can filter your search by age, category, budget, and more. Online shopping is so convenient for busy parents, and for even more time savings, you can have your gift professionally wrapped and sent with a personalized tag (for an extra fee). Nothing could be easier!4. Look for quality toys that will stand the test of time. I love that Mastermind Toys buyers do the footwork for me by scouring the globe to select only the best toys that kids will want to play with over and over again. No worries about disposable toys here!
5. If you’re lucky enough to live near one of the 59 Mastermind Toys stores located across Canada, drop in and consult with one of their friendly Toy Experts. Mastermind Toys’ knowledgeable staff have a “gift” for suggesting just the right gift ideas for everyone on my list! They have suggestions for kids of any age, stage, and interest. Plus, you’ll get free festive gift-wrapping with a signature curly bow when you shop in store. Find your nearest store here.
So what are my kids dreaming about? We looked through Mastermind Toys’ Holiday Gift Guide to find their most wished-for toys.
Tee is dreaming of this LEGO Star Wars BB-8. Her favourite droid is now made with over 1100 LEGO pieces and stands over 9″ tall! The wheel-activated head rotates, and the hatch opens up to show a non-functioning welding torch. This set includes a display stand, decorative fact plaque, and a second miniature BB-8 figure.
Kay is dreaming of taking home one of these beautiful Our Generation 18″ dolls along with its own Thoroughbred Horse. Mastermind Toys carries such a huge selection of dolls and accessories, Kay had a hard time leaving the aisle!
Win a $150 Mastermind Gift Card
I’ve got a $150 gift card for one lucky reader to get some holiday shopping done at Mastermind Toys! Enter in the giveaway widget below. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada only, excluding Quebec. Giveaway ends November 23, 2017, at 11:59pm EST. No purchase necessary. One entry per family/household. All the winner’s entries will be verified.
Click here to check out my other open giveaways and be sure to follow me on Facebook!
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Mastermind Toys. Nevertheless, all opinions expressed are honest and my own. Your experience may differ.
My little ones would love this rocking horse https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17854-Brown-and-White-Rocking-Horse.aspx
My son is Pokemon obsessed so I would buy him this really nice looking Pokemon box set: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/18194-Pokemon-TCG-Sun-And-Moon-Crimson-Invasion-Elite-Trainer-Box.aspx
I would pick up a few magformer sets as well as the Hape My First Xylophone and Piano.
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17869-Hape-My-First-Xylophone-and-Piano.aspx
I found this toy by looking up the age and type of toy (“learning”). I think this will be a good toy to get the children thinking. https://www.mastermindtoys.com/8572-MightyMind-Regular-Edition.aspx
I would pick up Let’s Decorate a Large Cardboard https://www.mastermindtoys.com/1526-Lets-Decorate-a-Large-Cardboard-House.aspx , the House Spirograph Junior https://www.mastermindtoys.com/11795-Spirograph-Junior.aspx and Osmo Coding – Make Music and Jam Game https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17345-Osmo-Coding-Make-Music-and-Jam-Game.aspx for my daughter
I never thought about consulting with one of their friendly Toy Experts. There is a Mastermind Toys is about 45 minutes from my place so we go a few times a year.
I used the gift finder to look for a gift for my nephew who just turned 12 and think the Fidget Cube – The Original by Antsy Labs (https://www.mastermindtoys.ca/15347-Fidget-Cube-Series-1.aspx) might be a good gift for him.
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17683-LEGO-Star-Wars-BB-8TM.aspx LEGO® Star Wars BB-8™ bECAUSE who doesn’t love stepping on lego’s in the middle of the night
I like being able to shop online but also am lucky to have a brand new store nearby. I checked out the gift finder option and love it! I would love to get my son this:
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/13084-Green-ToysTM-Farm-Pack-Up-And-Go-Play-Set.aspx
We have several Green Toys and love the quality. Also, I worked on a farm and my son loves farm animals 🙂
I’d get some board games including https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17750-Pictopia-Star-Wars-Edition.aspx.
Moonlite Storytime Projector-https://www.mastermindtoys.com/boutiques/GiftGuide17 L.O.L. Surprise Tot Dolls Series 2-https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16401-LOL-Surprise-Series-2-Tots-Ball.aspx
Battery Operated Sewing Machine-https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16613-Battery-Operated-Sewing-Machine.aspx
Omg how cool is this diner?! It’s a need!
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16226-Melissa-And-Doug-Star-Diner-Restaurant.aspx
I discovered the “Moonlite Gift Pack” on the Mastermind website. What a fun way to read with your kids! I know all 3 of mine would love this gift.
I would buy my little busy girl more Melissa and Doug Play food! She LOVES to make us sandwiches, and breakfasts. Having another to add to this little collection would be awesome!!
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/13575-Melissa-and-Doug-Prepare-And-Serve-Pasta-Set.aspx
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17682-LEGO-Star-WarsTM-Advent-Calendar-2017.aspx
I would buy this for my son, he would go insane every morning.
I used the gift finder on Masterminds site to help me find ideas for my super picky 12 year old nephew!! He is at that age where traditional Lego and boardgames just don’t work for him anymore but I found a really cool Robotics Crossbow set!! And the price is amazing too, I can just picture his face Christmas morning if I got him this!
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/6204-Hexbug-VEX-Robotics-Crossbow-Construction-Set.aspx
My daughter has the drawing Iano and loves it.
I would buy the Osmo Genius Kit.
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17775-Osmo-Genius-Kit-with-Storage-Containers.aspx
I would purchase the Elemenosqueeze-Blocks for my baby boy if I won. His birthday is coming soon and I think this would make a great present for him for Christmas and I’d still have money left over for his birthday in January! https://www.mastermindtoys.com/1142-B-Elemenosqueeze-Blocks.aspx
I would like to pick up the Bruder MACK Oil Truck if I won the gift card
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17244-Bruder-MAN-Oil-Truck.aspx
What a great guide! My son would love this: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/6691-Ks-Kids-Take-Along-Shape-Sorter-Baby-and-Toddler-Toy.aspx
Thanks!
I would get my grandson the Meccano set.
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/18067-Meccano-Super-Construction-Set.aspx
Oh boy, it would have to be something like this telescope – something I wanted as a child but Santa didn’t seem to get the message. https://www.mastermindtoys.com/3845-Celestron-AstroMaster-LT-60AZ-Telescope.aspx
If we won the gift card, I think my daughter would love to get this marble run with elevator: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/12664-Quercetti-Marble-Run-w-Elevator.aspx
I would be all of some Magformers!
oops over..
One of the things I would buy is the Sporter XL 145mm Scooter – Green
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/14710-Sporter-XL-145mm-Scooter-Green.aspx
My daughter is asking Santa for a Fingerling
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17010-Fingerlings-Monkey-Jungle-Gym-Playset.aspx
My son would love this RC Motorcycle https://www.mastermindtoys.com/5542-Kid-Galaxy-Kawasaki-Ninja-RC-Motorcycle-with-Rider-27-MHz.aspx
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17018-LeapFrog-LeapPad-Ultimate.aspx I would love to buy this for my son
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17788-Meccano-MeccaSpider.aspx
Meccano MeccaSpider
Meccano MeccaSpider
looks neat!!
My family loves Mastermind for the quality and selection of their products! This year my nephews are obsessed with chess, but don’t have a board of their own, they use their Mom’s which she used as a child. I plan on getting them their own boards and I really like this set: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/10569-The-Kids-Book-of-Chess-and-Chess-Set.aspx for my youngest nephew, and this more serious set for his older brother: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/1290-Wooden-Chess-Set-11-.aspx
I would purchase the LEGO Technic RC and give it to my cousin. He is young and is a nig fan of lego products
My teenager (and me) would love a drone. https://www.mastermindtoys.ca/16159-LiteHawk-Burst-Auto-Drone.aspx
I would get a Hatchimal!
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17084-Hatchimals-Surprise-Peacat-Purple-And-Teal.aspx
My kids would love this: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16156-LiteHawk-Hot-Pursuit-Slot-Car-Track.aspx
My daughter is asking for this for Christmas https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17085-Hatchimals-Surprise-Giraven-Pink-And-Yellow.aspx
I would put it towards the Lego Technic Porsche or the Lego Ninjago Destiny’s Bounty.
I would get this Xylophone for my nephew. It would be perfect for him because his family is musical. So better to get him into music while he is young.
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17869-Hape-My-First-Xylophone-and-Piano.aspx
I would love to pick up the Lego Star Wars First Order Star Destroyer Ship.
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/boutiques/GiftGuide2017/LEGO
My niece would love the Our Generation Hope 18” Doll https://www.mastermindtoys.com/5798-Our-Generation-Hope-18-Doll.aspx
I would love to get the BB-8 Star Wars Hero Droid.
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/18149-Star-Wars-Hero-Droid-BB-8.aspx
I think I would get my baby who will by 1 by the time Christmas rolls around this https://www.mastermindtoys.com/9221-Globber-My-Free-Seat-5-in-1.aspx it seems pretty intriguing because there isn’t much of a description but it looks cool
If I was to win I would buy this : https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17052-ThinkFun-Roller-Coaster-Challenge.aspx It is so cool – my nephew would love it 🙂
One product I would get from the website is the mobile crane. https://www.mastermindtoys.com/875-Siku-Liebherr-Mobile-Crane-1-87-Scale-Model.aspx
I think my son would love the Pyraminx puzzle and some board games!!
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16733-LEGO-Batman-Movie-The-Ultimate-Batmobile.aspx
my kids are lego obsessed and they’d love this batman set for sure
I would buy my two grandsons a joint gift and this would absolutely thrill (and keep them busy for ages) LEGO & STARWARS TOGETHER??? What could beat that!!! https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17683-LEGO-Star-Wars-BB-8TM.aspx
My son has a thing for penguins, and would LOVE this penguin stuffy: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/12606-Hansa-Black-Footed-Penguin.aspx.
I would use it towards this set.https://www.mastermindtoys.com/1035-Hape-Hamburgers-and-Hot-Dogs.aspx My kids absolutely adore hape toys and were always looking to add to their ever growing collection of wooden toys for their play kitchen. My daughter right now is in love with eating hot dogs so this set would be perfect for her for Christmas. This is just one of a bazillion things that I would buy using that card for my kids for Christmas.
We really enjoy brain puzzles so I would like to get the True Genius Curated Collections Brain Puzzle.
I buy this, my kids would love it! https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17683-LEGO-Star-Wars-BB-8TM.aspx
I would love to get the Moonlite Storytime Projector for my grandson. https://www.mastermindtoys.com/boutiques/MoonliteReader
The Moonlite Story Projector would be so much fun