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.
I would get a Sew Cool sewing machine for my daughter.
I’d give this to my niece who has 3 children 8 and under. All three children could use it.
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/2517-Art-Easel-with-Chalkboard-and-Magnetic-Whiteboard.aspx
I would get my monkey some friends lego & Battery operated sewing machine too!
I would love to get Frost the Acrtic Fox for my nephew for christmas!
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16271-Ty-Beanie-Boos-Frost-the-Arctic-Fox.aspx
This playmobile plane set is super cool. My little guy would love it!! https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17072-Playmobil-Passenger-Plane.aspx
Thanks so much for the chance 🙂
My son would love to find this under the Christmas tree. https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17562-LEGO-Ninjago-Destinys-Bounty.aspx
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16737-LEGO-Star-Wars-RathtarTM-Escape.aspx
My four year old loved Lego and Star Wars as well as things with big scary teeth. This would make him so happy!
Wow! I just found the iDance Party Ball Karaoke Machine ! This might be a great gift!
I would love this for gift for my nephew:
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17036-VTech-Toss-and-Pop-Ball-Pit.aspx
I would love the Wooden 7-in-1 Classic Game Set https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17845-Wooden-7-in-1-Classic-Game-Set.aspx if I won this gift card.
My son loves Lego so I will let him go crazy and choose whatever he wants!
I would use the card towards purchasing the diner restaurant 🙂
I would love to get this: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17684-LEGO-Star-Wars-Resistance-Bomber.aspx
The Moonlite Storytime Projector would be a great gift for one of my Great Niece or Nephews 🙂
WELL SINCE MY NIECE HAS BEEN ASKING FOR ONE SINCE LAST CHRISTMAS I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A https://www.mastermindtoys.com/13691-Hatchimals-Pengualas-Pink-Teal-Egg-Assortment.aspx
I’d love to get the Ty Beanies Chloe the Cat – The Secret Life of Pets for my daughter!
I would get my 2 year old an OurGeneration doll! I think she would LOVE this Lorelei doll 🙂
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/12518-Our-Generation-Lorelei-Deluxe-18-Doll.aspx
I’d love to get a Star Wars Hero Droid BB-8 for my cats & hubby!
Everyone would love this!! https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16156-LiteHawk-Hot-Pursuit-Slot-Car-Track.aspx
I think my girls would love the Our Generation Suyin ‘ Doll
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/12525-Our-Generation-Suyin-18-Doll.aspx
I would buy the VTech Drop and Pop ball pit for my new little one. It looks like so much fun! https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17036-VTech-Toss-and-Pop-Ball-Pit.aspx
I would LOVE to win this gift card!! A brand new Mastermind Toys just opened up in my city and we love it! My son (he’s 4) has been asking for a blue dragon for Christmas… so random. I’ve been searching online everywhere for one… where did I find one?! Mastermind Toys, of course!! Check it out:
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16093-Playmobil-Astrid-And-Stormfly.aspx
OMG i would use it towards the https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16226-Melissa-And-Doug-Star-Diner-Restaurant.aspx
I would buy my grandson a globe.
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/11086-Globe-Childrens-LED-Lightup-Globe.aspx
Settler of Catan!
Oops. Couldn’t figure out how to edit… Settlers of Catan! (https://www.mastermindtoys.com/5297-Catan-Game.aspx)
I love this doll house. Doll Houses are Amazing. https://www.mastermindtoys.com/8514-Plan-Toys-Wooden-Doll-House.aspx
I would love to get this marble maze (https://www.mastermindtoys.com/1305-Mindware-Q-BA-MAZE-20-Marble-Run-Building-Set.aspx) for my daughter. She loves building and vehicles so I feel this would be right up her alley
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17845-Wooden-7-in-1-Classic-Game-Set.aspx
This is a cool game set ! My kids would love this
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/340-2-in-1-Build-and-Play-Vehicles.aspx
My little nephew would keep busy with this toy!
I would choose the Melissa & Doug Star Diner Restaurant
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/16226-Melissa-And-Doug-Star-Diner-Restaurant.aspx
My son would definitely be thrilled with this: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17789-Meccano-MAX-Robot.aspx.
I took your advice and tried the Gift Finder Tool. Super cool. There are SO many different options that it becomes overwhelming to find a gift for people. This would make it so easy. I found some great board games. We have a family game night a couple times and month and this would be a great way to find some good games for the whole family. I love the Speak Out: Kids versus Adult game. It looks like it would be hilarious. It can be found at https://www.mastermindtoys.com/15065-Speak-Out-Kids-vs-Adults.aspx
I’d like to win the https://www.mastermindtoys.com/1838-14-in-1-Educational-Solar-Robot-Kit.aspx it would make a great gift!
There’s so many toys my kids would love! But my 2 year old is so set on having a guitar from Santa, so that’d probably be number 1 on the list
Beanie Boo’s and Our Generation dolls!
I would donate all these toys to charity if I won.
After looking at the Holiday Gift Guide, I decided I’d like to get the Art Easel with Chalkboard and Magnetic Whiteboard – https://www.mastermindtoys.com/2517-Art-Easel-with-Chalkboard-and-Magnetic-Whiteboard.aspx
Definitely the Lego Star Wars BB8. My kids would love that!
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17543-LEGO-Boost-Lego-Boost-Creative-Toolbox.aspx
I think my daughter and nephews would love the LEGO boost creative tool box! It’s looks so fun!
I would consider getting this https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17683-LEGO-Star-Wars-BB-8TM.aspx
Our Generation Dolls I cant wait until my granddaughter is old enough for them.
I would definitely pick out some Lego and maybe a new board game. Hopefully this year I’ll be organized enough to get one of the Lego Star Wars Advent Calendars! https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17682-LEGO-Star-WarsTM-Advent-Calendar-2017.aspx
This RC looks cool! My son would love it!
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/8008-Shark-Mega-Morphibian.aspx
The Thomas the tank engine play table! We love trains here and anytime he sees one, our son plays on it until we drag (latterly) him out. Add some trains and we would have a happy 2.5 year old 🙂
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/1774-Thomas-And-Friends-Train-Table-with-Playboard.aspx
If I won the gift card, I would purchase the Stiga NHL Stanley Cup Table Hockey Game
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/1468-Stiga-NHL-Stanley-Cup-Table-Hockey-Game.aspx
I saw this on “The View” last week and love it! Exclusive to Mastermind Toys! https://www.mastermindtoys.com/boutiques/MoonliteReader
These would be great for the bathtub:
https://www.mastermindtoys.com/2626-B-Kids-Stack-N-Squirt-Pals-Bath-Toy.aspx
Oh my! That was fun! I have a great-niece and great-nephew and another brand-new great-nephew …. it wasn’t hard to find things I think they would love! Here’s what I picked out for them:
Lamaze® Garden Bug Foot Finder and Wrist Rattle Set: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/8782-Lamaze-Garden-Bug-Foot-Finder-and-Wrist-Rattle-Set.aspx
K’s Kids Colourful Bowling Friends: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/8948-Ks-Kids-Colourful-Bowling-Friends.aspx
Moonlite Starter Pack: https://www.mastermindtoys.com/17993-Moonlite-Starter-Pack.aspx
This is what my son would love to get with the $150 gift card from Mastermind Toys- B.B.-8!!
He loves Star Wars LEGO!!
I would get the Disney Pictopia game to play with my family https://www.mastermindtoys.com/12317-Disney-Pictopia.aspx
I would also love to get the Disney Animals Art Therapy book for myself! https://www.mastermindtoys.com/6408-Disney-Animals-Art-Therapy.aspx