2021 Holiday Gift Guide
Every year A Parent’s Perspective works to find some great new gift ideas to include in our gift guide for your family. This year we have some interesting new options to include.
Take a look at some of the ideas we have found for you this year.
Gift Suggestions For The Kids
Lionel Trains
Lionel trains are something I have grown up with. I still remember playing with my father’s set in the basement when I was young. This is a great new suggestion for our gift guide and will be a hit with all your train fans.
Lionel has a large selection of premade sets and parts, including a number of licensed Thomas and Friends sets.
My autistic son loves watching Thomas and is really going to enjoy the Diesel train available from Lionel
The train can be purchased from Lionel and Amazon
The O Gauge set comes with a Diesel locomotive, and two pieces of rolling stock. The set also includes Eight pieces of O36 curved FasTrack®, One FasTrack®, and One LionChief® FasTrack® Terminal section. Power is supplied by a Wall-pack power supply and a LionChief® remote is used for the locomotive control.
Lego Advent Calendar
Amongst my favorite holiday items is the Lego advent Calendars. Every year a new design or two will be added to replace some that retire and my children love checking out the pieces every year.
The 298 pieces 24 days Marvel Avengers Calendar is going to be a hit in our house this year.
It can be found on Lego.com or on Amazon
Mechanical Models Butterfly
Mechanical Models UK has been a favorite gift guide contributor over the past few years, they create a number of great products and this year have introduced the Butterfly.
The Butterfly is not a static stand model, but an animated kinetic sculpture. Each of its details is designed to make sure it fits its own place and plays its own part in the workings of this outstanding mechanism. Equipped with a rubber-band motor, the mechanical automaton moves to imitate the flutter of a butterfly with no external power source or batteries.
Available from the Mechanical Models website
Mechanical Models Cat Playground
Another great gift from the team from Mechanical Models UK is a 10 pc Cat Playground.
Great for the cat lover in your house, the kids will have hours of fun putting it together and playing with it.
- Kit includes precisely laser-cut plywood sheet and step-by-step easy to follow pictorial instructions
- No glue, tape, or scissors are required but having tweezers would help handle the smaller piece
Available from the Mechanical Models website
Oddbods
Bring home the love and enjoyment of the adorable Oddbods with your very own stuffed toy at home or on the go. This stuffed toy will excite kids of all ages.
The Oddbods set is made of up huggable plush designs that are perfect for play, collecting, and cuddling. Made from a soft, plush, squishable, and huggable yet durable material; this cute plush toy is also a great pillow. Available in 7 styles: Fuse, Bubbles, Newt, Pogo, Zee, Jeff, and Slick
Sold on amazon.ca
Thames And Kosmos Supersphere
Build an awesome, nine-inch-diameter, rolling robotic sphere and six other robot models. Drive your robots using the remote-control interface in the smartphone or tablet app.
Write programs for your robots using an easy, visual programming language in the app.
The onboard sound sensor lets you program your robots to perform specific sequences of commands in response to the number of claps (or other very loud sounds) that it detects.
Available from Amazon and Thames & Kosmos
Gift Guide Suggestions For Teens
Magneto Pintail Longboard
I remember years ago, going into the bike shop and buying my first skateboard. I was never that great but I loved it and enjoyed myself.
Over the years I have been watching as longboards have shown up on the scene to become a viable form of getting around town.
This year Magneto has included their new Pintail series board in our Gift Guide.
It is an incredible board that looks and feels great and can be found on their website
Magneto has also partnered with Bustin Boards to donate board components to Toys For Tots for every purchase made through either companies website before November 25th with a goal of donating 1000 boards
But Please, Always remember, to wear all of your safety gear when boarding. It is a fun pastime but enjoy safely.
The Crew Series Card Games
The Crew is an innovative, cooperative trick-taking card game series that takes players through an assortment of challenges in order to complete each mission.
Communication is essential and players must work as a team in their search for Planet Nine with many tricks dealt with along the way.
Launched in 2020, The Crew: Quest for Planet Nine takes players on a space adventure across the solar system to discover Planet Nine.
There is also The Crew: Mission Deep Sea, the newest addition to the award-winning series, immerses players deep down into the abyss on a search for the fabled sunken land
Available on Amazon and Thames and Kosmos
Gift Guide Suggestions For Men
Mechanical Model Luxury Roadster
The Luxury Roadster is a new metal mechanical model from Mechanical Models UK.
Luxury with no frills is a sign of aristocratic nobility. The Luxury Roadster was inspired by Bentley Speed Six which was a real racing superstar of its times.
Luxury Roadster has rubber wheels to drive as fast as lightning and do some soft curves. It was designed using artificial leather and high-quality decoration to emphasize its historical value.
Available from the Mechanical Models website
Mechanical Models Veter V2 Speedster
The Veter V2 Speedster is another new model for Mechanical Models UK. This model is an excellent combination of wood and plastic integrated together to create a beautiful model.
The car is even capable of traveling up to 10 meters.
Available from the Mechanical Models website
Every Man Jack
Each year, there we like to come up with the best gifts for our children, but sometimes we need to remember that there are adults in every family as well.
Every Man Jack has men’s care products and bundles with many different scents, for body care as well as for beard care and they make great gifts for the men in your life.
The CedarWood set is definitely something I am going to enjoy trying out this year.
Every Man Jack product can be purchased on their site and on Amazon.
Gifts For Everyone
Allbirds Mizzle
Allbirds has included a number of products on my guide this year and I find them a very interesting and intriguing company.
The Allbirds Mizzle is a very interesting wool shoe that I really find to be very comfortable. Very warm and fits well. It is made of wool which makes it very different from other footwear.
Allbirds focuses on sustainability which has resulted in some very different but very good innovative products.
Allbirds Tree Dashers
The Allbirds Tree Dashers are a low-cut shoe, again a great shoe, closer in design to a standard low cut but still sustainable and innovative.
I did find them to be about a half size small but sizing varies between different makes anyway, so take that into account when ordering but they are a great shoe.
Allbirds Sprinters
Allbirds Sprinters are a low-cut sock designed to fit inside sneakers (specifically designed for the Tree Dasher above). They come in a wide variety of colors. The colors are vibrant as well as stand out well.
Allbirds Wool Hoodie
Allbirds Wool Hoodie fits a niche I have had trouble filling. For years I have looked for a hoodie that is not too light and not too bulky. While this hoodie keeps you nice and warm it is not as bulky and heavy as some other options.
As with all the Allbirds products it’s made with sustainable materials.
Another Mechinal models product i’d love is Grandfather clock – DIY model by Wooden City
There are so many great choices on the Mechanical Models website! I’d love the Eiffel Tower Wooden Puzzle DIY Kit to have at work (I teach French!).
I’d love to gift the Flamingo 3D Paper Puzzle DIY Kit to a friend. She’s obsessed with flamingos!
My oldest daughter is so enamored with these mechanical models. I love the Treasure box – mechanical model by ROKR.
The Magneto SUV Skateboard would be a great one. My kids are just starting to get into skateboarding this year
The Globe – mechanical model by Wooden City is truly incredible!
I would love to have a Grandfather clock – DIY model by Wooden City
Another mechanical model I like is the Fire Truck.
A Magneto Kids Skate Helmet would be great for my grandson.
The Magneto Kids Skate Helmet would be nice to have
Stretching Cat – 3D Wooden Puzzle DIY Kit by JIGZLE would be nice to have
Wooden Express with rails – mechanical model by Wooden City would be amazing to have
Another Magneto product that I would love is a Magneto SUV Skateboard.
I would love the magic clock model! It is so unique!
I would love the Cruiser Glider (Grip Tape) from the Magento webpage
I would love the Grandfather clock – DIY model by Wooden City from Mechanical Models
I would love Sam’s Study room – DIY dollhouse scale model diorama kit by Rolife. So lovely!
I really like Mysterious Timer 2 – metal mechanical model by Time For Machine.
I’d love the Globe mechanical model – so cool!
My kids would find the Magneto kids skate helmet useful.
Really like the
U-Fidgets-Happy New Gear (4 PCS) – build your own moving model by UGears
My grandson would also love the U-Fidgets-Happy New Gear (4 PCS) – build your own moving model by UGears!
My son would really love to have the Orpheus model.
I would love the Bamboo Dancer Longboard
I’d love to have the Thunderstorm express locomotive by Veter Models on my desk.
The Pintail Longboard – Swallow is pretty cool.
The Gothic – Wooden Clock by Mad ClockMaker is very attractive. I have just the place for it.
For the skateboard, I also love the Magneto Kids Skateboard (Video Game style) for my youngest.
Another Mechanical Models product I would love is the Blooming Flower – it’s so beautiful!
Another mechanical toy that I like is the Treasure box – mechanical model by ROKR.
I love the Cruiser V-Twin – mechanical model by Wooden City. Very cool!
All the skateboards (longboards) are wonderful. I also love the Slot Machine Longboard.
I would love to buy the Thunderstorm express locomotive by Veter Models. Fascinating!
I also love the Racer V3 by Veter Models Red. I know my grandson would love to make this (with a little help from Grandpa).
My grandson would also love the Wooden Express with rails – mechanical model by Wooden City.
I would also love the Wooden Express with rails – mechanical model by Wooden City.
The WOODEN CITY Mechanical Model looks super cool, love it!
I would love the Jason’s Kitchen – DIY dollhouse. So much detail!
Diesel train from Lionel
I love the butterfly I collect them and I would love to win this
id love the kathys green house its so cute and colorful
I would love the Thunderstorm express locomotive by Veter Models.
I would love the 44 Inch Kicktail Cruiser (Blue).
Another mechanical models I would love is the Antique box – with 8 compartments: Assemble Me. Fill Me Up by UGears.
I would love the Air Vehicle – mechanical model by ROKR.
I love the Gothic – Wooden Clock for self assembly by Mad ClockMaker , they are so cool !
It would be nice to have the Stretching Cat – 3D Wooden Puzzle DIY Kit by JIGZLE.
i would love the Pendulum clock to build