13 Montessori-Aligned Gifts Kids Ages 6-12 Will Love This Holiday
Are you searching for the best holiday gift ideas for kids that mix fun, creativity, and learning? Our That’s So Montessori holiday gift guide is here to help!
We’ve put together a list of good holiday gifts for kids that are not only Montessori-inspired but also designed to spark curiosity and engage young minds through original, hands-on activities.
From brain-boosting books to creative activities, these holiday gift ideas offer something for every budding young artist, thinker, and explorer. Plus, all the items are unique, entertaining, and made by us!
Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids 6 to 12 Years Old
Your holiday shopping just got easier! Explore our one-of-a-kind, Montessori-aligned products that make learning fun and meaningful. These gift ideas are sure to bring joy and will grab hold of kids’ curiosity!
1. Carl the Cantankerous Cat
The purr-fect book to read over and over again, Carl the Cantankerous Cat is one of the best picture book to teach vocabulary to elementary-aged children. This beautifully illustrated book not only entertains but also expands kids’ vocabulary in a fun and engaging way.
As readers follow Carl’s story, they’ll notice several highlighted words on each spread. These highlighted words are defined at the back of the book, making this picture book double as a mini dictionary. Some of these words are above the elementary grade level and as a result this book will stretch the readers vocabulary.
The mix of humour and relatable cat antics makes this picture book with rich words an entertaining read and an educational tool for children. It’s a meow-some holiday gift idea for boys and girls. Add this book to your shopping list to give the gift of laughter and learning this holiday season.
2. The Best Ever Cat Facts Coloring Book
This is more than just a colouring book – it combines creativity and learning! This fun holiday gift offers tons of interesting facts about cats alongside adorable images for colouring.
This cat facts coloring book is a hit with cat lovers of all ages, making learning fun. As kids colour the illustrations, they enhance their artistic skills while developing a deeper appreciation for felines.
The Best Ever Cat Facts Coloring Book is the purrr-fect holiday gift idea for kids who love cats. It offers hours of fun and educational value to keep them engaged well beyond the holiday season!
3. Draw, Doodle, Scribble, Think, Create Activity Book For Kids
A great gift for young creatives, Draw Doodle Scribble Think Create is filled with inspiration! This activity book includes ten open-ended prompts that invite children to unleash their imaginations on every page.
From drawing and doodling to brainstorming and creating, each activity encourages kids to express themselves freely and think outside the box. It’s a fantastic holiday gift idea for kids eager to explore their artistic side and build confidence in their creative abilities.
Your kids need this activity book with unique drawing prompts because it entertains as well as nurtures creativity and critical thinking skills. Great for quiet afternoons, family gatherings, or classroom activities, this book offers a way for kids to engage their minds while having fun.
Whether they’re jotting down their wildest ideas or sketching big dreams, this book is a must-have when it comes to holiday gift ideas for kids.
4. Animal Memory & Matching Game
This Animal Memory & Matching Game is a fantastic way for kids to build essential skills like memory retention and understanding parts of speech. Featuring five engaging activities in one, this game allows children to explore collective nouns (like a “herd” of elephants or a “gaggle” of geese), identify baby animal names (such as a calf for a baby walrus), and even recognize the sounds of various animals.
What sets this game apart is the multiple ways it can be played. Kids can match animal faces to their respective names, connect animals to their collective nouns, or even pair animal names to their baby names and sounds. This game keeps kids engaged and learning that’s fore sure!
Plus, with the included self-correcting control chart, children can independently check their answers and reinforce their learning. This not only builds their knowledge but also fosters a sense of accomplishment and confidence.
5. Printable Cat Emoji Tic Tac Toe
If you’re looking for a fun, simple, and portable activity that will keep kids entertained during the holiday season, this is it!
Our Printable Tic Tac Toe Cat Emoji Set makes a great stocking stuffer and it’s perfect for on-the-go fun. Featuring adorable cat emoji faces as X’s and O’s, this game adds a playful twist to the classic Tic Tac Toe while helping children develop important cognitive skills. It’s ideal for those who love both cats and games, making it a unique and thoughtful holiday gift idea for kids!
This printable set is not only fun but also educational. With 20 charming cat emojis, 20 motivational phrases, a game board, and even paw and star accents, it’s designed to engage kids while boosting their concentration and strategic thinking. The reusable nature of the set makes it a fantastic classroom activity or a quick entertainment option for family trips. This is a gift that will keep on giving, whether for home, school, or travel.
6. Just Roll with It Dice Game
Holiday gift ideas for kids don’t get better than this! The Just Roll with It Movement Dice Game is packed with active fun, blending math, movement, and joy in every roll.
Designed for elementary-aged kids, it includes three customizable dice, each with unique movement-based prompts that make it easy to jump right into play. This game challenges athletic abilities and provides endless entertainment for kids and families. The printable dice are easy to colour and assemble, making setup a fun craft activity that builds anticipation for the game.
Beyond all of its fun, Just Roll with It is a stealthy math lesson. As players roll, they follow prompts that encourage counting, timing, and even spatial awareness as they figure out angles for trick shots. Building and using the 3D dice also gives kids a hands-on introduction to geometry, adding an extra layer of learning. This is one of the best holiday gift ideas for kids to keep them moving, thinking, and learning.
7. Reading BINGO
Looking for the perfect holiday gift that combines fun and learning? Our Reading BINGO Cards are a fantastic choice!
These printable cards make reading exciting for kids. Each of the six unique cards features 25 fun and engaging reading tasks, from exploring different book genres to decoding song lyrics and game instructions. It’s a wonderful way to keep kids entertained while building literacy skills!
This printable BINGO game not only adds a playful twist to daily reading but also helps children sharpen their language skills, boost critical thinking, and cultivate a love for books. It’s an ideal gift for any young reader, offering hours of learning and fun. Plus, it’s perfect for all ages – whether as a nightly activity, a vacation challenge, or a reading goal tracker.
This holiday season, inspire a love for reading with our fun-filled Reading BINGO Cards!
8. Rebus Puzzles with Answers
Our printable Rebus Puzzles make a memorable holiday gift that combines learning with play! Perfect for elementary-aged children, these unique puzzles are designed to engage kids in a fun and interactive challenge, where pictures, words, and symbols come together to represent words and phrases.
This set includes 40 printable puzzles, split into two difficulty levels, making it ideal for a wide range of ages and abilities. These puzzles will have kids excited to learn while boosting their critical thinking and language skills. With clever hints on the back and an answer sheet for self-correction, this printable is a great tool for independent learning.
All you have to do is purchase, print, cut, and package the cards to create a holiday gift idea for kids that’s both fun and brain-boosting!
💡Not sure what rebus puzzles are?
Rebus puzzles are a playful way to enhance problem-solving skills, language comprehension, and creative thinking – plus, they’re perfect for keeping kids entertained during those winter breaks! Read more about them here!
9. Gratitude BINGO
Gratitude BINGO is a fun twist on the classic BINGO game, designed to help kids cultivate an attitude of gratitude. This engaging board game encourages children to reflect on the things they are thankful for. With 24 unique acts of gratitude prompts across 12 game boards, kids will explore different aspects of gratitude.
This is a great game to play with family, friends, or in a classroom setting, and it’s perfect for holiday gatherings or as a mindful activity during the season of giving. Gratitude BINGO not only helps children develop emotional awareness but also promotes positive thinking and self-reflection.
10. Roll a Story Dice
Bring storytelling to life with Roll a Story Dice! This interactive writing game gives students an exciting way to create their own stories. With 8 printable dice featuring fun and inspiring images, they simply roll to reveal characters, settings, and plot ideas, and just like that have endless story writing possibilities.
Great for getting ideas flowing and breaking through writer’s block, Roll a Story Dice helps reluctant writers get started and lets creative minds run wild. Students can use all the dice or just a few to shape their story however they like. This activity makes writing fun, builds confidence, and encourages kids to let their imaginations soar!
A wonderful holiday gift idea for kids that blends creativity with learning, this game with three dice is the perfect addition to any young storyteller’s stocking!
11. Carl the Cantankerous Cat Digital Book & Activity Pack
Give the gift of learning with our Carl the Cantankerous Cat ebook and activity pack. Kids love this digital picture book that introduces more than 70 vocabulary terms through a story about one grumpy cat. Packed with over 30 pages of colourful illustrations, this digital learning experience will keep kids entertained while they absorb new words.
But what makes this product stand out is the accompanying 16-page printable activity pack which includes word searches, crossword puzzles, word matching, and word scrambles, offering hours of educational entertainment.
This is a perfect holiday gift for kids, as it combines reading, learning, and play in one easy-to-access package. With Carl’s hilarious and cantankerous personality leading the way, children will expand their vocabulary while having a pawsome time!
12. Funny Math Cryptogram Riddles
Sprinkly some fun math practice this holiday season with our Funny Math Cryptogram Riddles! Inside this Google Slides document, you’ll find six visually engaging slides packed with math riddles covering a wide range of topics – addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Roman numerals, and even exponents. These riddles are not only funny but also designed to make math learning more enjoyable and accessible for elementary and middle school students.
Aligned with Montessori principles, these riddles provide a creative twist on math fact practice. Each slide invites students to solve a riddle by mastering essential math skills, turning learning into a laughter-filled challenge. Perfect for making learning fun at home, these math cryptogram riddles will add excitement to your child’s holiday break and reignite their interest in math!
Since this is a digital product, consider presenting it in a fun and creative way with a math-themed card to let the recipient know that this gift will get them solving riddles on their computer or electronic device. It’s a thoughtful and unique way to gift learning this holiday season!
13. Believe in Yourself Wall Decor
If you’re looking for meaningful holiday gift ideas for kids, you’re going to want to check out our Believe in Yourself wall decor poster. It’s the perfect addition to any learning space and looks great in a kids room. With its vibrant colors and inspiring message, this poster not only brightens a room but also encourages children to embrace confidence and self-belief.
Montessori-aligned and easy to use, this digital download lets you print and hang it in minutes, making it a thoughtful and empowering gift. Whether it’s for a bedroom, study nook, bathroom, or playroom, this wall art is a reminder to kids that they can achieve anything they set their minds to!
Choose Educational Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids
It should be pretty clearn now that educational gifts can be anything but boring!
When holiday shopping, finding gifts that are both fun and educational is a win-win. Not only do they keep kids entertained, but they also support cognitive growth, spark creativity, and encourage independent learning.
The benefits of educational gifts for kids are extensive: they help build skills in problem-solving, memory, and language while fostering a love for learning. From brain-building rebus puzzles to activity books that promote creativity, these thoughtful choices make learning a joyful part of holiday fun.
Gifts That Grow with Your Child
One of the best things about Montessori-aligned gifts is their longevity. They’re designed to grow with kids and adapt to different stages of development.
Gifts like the Animal Memory & Matching Game or the Draw, Doodle, Scribble, Think, Create Activity Book offer open-ended activities that evolve as children get older and their skills advance. These types of gifts don’t just entertain for a season; they provide lasting engagement that kids can revisit as they develop new interests and abilities.
With these adaptable and educational holiday gifts, you’re giving more than a toy, game, or book – you’re giving a tool for lifelong learning and exploration.
The Wrap-Up: Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids
At That’s So Montessori, we take great pride in crafting original, educational creations that inspire kids to engage, explore, and learn. These holiday gift ideas for kids are more than just presents, they make kids present!
If you’re searching for the perfect gift for your child or classroom this holiday season, our Montessori-inspired products are an ideal choice. These thoughtful gifts make learning a fun part of the season, encouraging creativity and growth.
Give the gift of knowledge with something meaningful this holiday!
📌 Pin this blog for when you’re ready to start shopping!
Keep the kids busy learning with the activities in these blogs:
11 Ways to Use Our Roll A Story Dice Game
13 Engaging Vocabulary Development Activities for Elementary Kids
Rebus Puzzles for Kids: A Comprehensive Riddle-Solving Guide
31 Fun Summer Reading Activities Elementary Students Will Love
The Best Neighborhood Walk Scavenger Hunt and Different Ways to Use It
8 Easy Rebus Puzzles with Answers
27 Educational YouTube Channels to Prevent Summer Learning Loss
