Delightfully Feasting: Living Gift Guide

Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life.
~Charlotte Mason

One of the things that I find begins to dawn upon moms as they embrace Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education is that not only can the education of their children be more living, but their play can be living as well. Of course, as we pursue a living education, our homes fill up with living books, handicraft supplies, and all things art. But, even our toys can both be living and encourage open-ended, imaginative play. Over the years, I have slowly ditched the more twaddle-like toys, games, and activities and replaced them with items that encourage my children to play like education is truly a life and like the atmosphere of our home aids them in learning outside of the "classroom".

Each year for Christmas, I attempt to balance out the inevitable "buzz" items that are requested (Read: Nerf Guns and Pokemon Cards) with living games, puzzles, handicraft supplies, art supplies, nature items and open-ended toys. What follows is a list of items that I love in the categories of: Play, Handicrafts, Nature/Scouting Supplies, Art Supplies, Games, Books, Science/STEM and Skill Building. This isn't an attempt at a "mega" living gift list, but is instead a compilation of things I have purchased, used, personally seen, loved, or plan to purchase for my children.

Play

Magnetic Tiles

Melissa and Doug Fold and Fill Taco Set (I purchased this a few years ago, and it is still played with at least a few times a week. It is durable, and adorable!)
Melissa and Doug Salad Set (this is the set I purchased last year)

Melissa and Doug 4-in-1 Puzzles (we also love ALL Melissa and Doug puzzles)

Melissa and Doug Solar System Puzzle

5 Costume Set

Play Doh Popcorn Party

Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Cookie Baking Set

Lite Brite

Wooden Town Set

Marble Run
Farm Toys
Playmobil School House

Quality Wooden Blocks

Set of 4 Playground Balls w/Pump
Parachute
Ring Toss and Cones Set
Lawn Games Set
Limbo
Hopscotch Set
Weighted Foam Bowling Pins
Tangle Free Jump Ropes
Melissa and Doug Vet Care Play Set (this is another daily play item- it's a favorite for my animal lover!)
Let's Pretend Farmer's Market
Dover Paper Dolls Series

Handicrafts

Weaving Loom and Thread

Wood Burning Kit

Beeswax Candle Kit

Needle Felting Starter Kit

12 Wood Carving Knives

50 Piece Leathercraft Kit

Beetle and Me Bird Bungalo Kit

Easier Birdhouse Kit for Youngers

First Sewing Kit
Beginning Sewing Kit

Embroidery Kit

Polymer Clay Kit
Magic Clay Kit

Mold Your Own Fishing Lures Kit

Paint Your Own Wooden Car for Youngers

Just for Boys Bracelet Making Kit

Paracord Kit

Rainbow Loom

Books
This is How We Do It

This is How I Do It Journal

Soap Carving Guide for Beginners

Leather Crafting for Beginners

Easy Carpentry Projects for Children

Draw 500 Things From Nature

Draw 500 Every Day Things

Ordinary People Change The World Bio Set

The Animal Book

Everything and Everywhere

Lots

100 Things to Spot

A World Full of Animal Stories: US

A Year Full of Stories

Atlas of Animal Adventures

Ologies Books

Funscholing Workbooks

2000 Stickers:Boys and 2000 Stickers: Girls
Totally Awesome Mazes and Puzzles

You Choose Coloring Book

Scribblers Fun Sticker Books
Strange Science (and Strange History and Strange Crime- Note: You may want to preview some entries and/or read aloud and edit a few entries. Truth is stranger, and sometimes more inappropriate ;), than fiction, as they say.)
Smart Kids Alphabet Books
Basher Science Series
Bear Grylls Survival Skills Handbook Series

Activity Books

Bear Grylls Activity Books
Dover Hidden Picture Challenges
Game Nest Challenging Spot the Difference Puzzles
Scribble Books
Highlights Jumbo Book of Amazing Mazes
A Year in my Life Journals (plus A Year of Art and a Year of Nature)
Slot Together Theatre

Skill Building

Curious Chef Cupcake Kit
Child Sized Baking Set

Curious Chef Apron Kit

Cute Animal Print Mini Oven Mitts

Secret Decoder Set

First Real Tool Set

Diatonic Bells

Wooden Instrument Set

Lap Harp

Garden Tool Set

Kids Garden Gloves
Juggling Book and Set
Easy to Do Card Tricks for Children
Melissa and Doug Magic in a Snap Set
Melissa and Doug Solid Wood Magic Set
Ideal Magic Spectacular Suitcase

Nature/Scouting
Outdoor Adventure Kit

Sakura Watercolor Field Set

Owl Pellets w/ Bone Chart

Flower Press Kit

Gemstone Dig Kit

Terrarium Kit

Peterson First Field Guides

Knot Tying Kit

Emergency Survival Kit
Rock Tumbler Kit

Games

Oregon Trail Card Game

Carmen SanDiego Card Game

Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego Board Game

Catan Settlers Game

Ticket to Ride and Ticket to Ride First Journey

Jacks and Pick Up Sticks Set

Marbles

Gravity Maze Logic Games

Tic Tac Two

Herd Your Horses Board Game

Pictureka

The Scrambled States Game

Pay Day (Original)
National Parks Opoly Jr (This is made for younger children, but we all enjoy playing it for simplified game play and shorter games. The cards give information about the parks, which we enjoy!)
Trekking the National Parks
Mudpuppy Games to Go (Mudpuppy makes beautiful games and other items- search the brand and browse their offerings. They also have many great gifts for toddler and younger children)

Nature Fluxx Game

Wildcraft
Mastermind Strategy Game

ThinkFun Cat Crimes (all ThinkFun Games are great!)
The Madlibs Game
Quick Pucks
My Big Art Show Game
Swish
Think Fun Clue Master
Itrax Critical Thinking Game

Art Supplies

Spirograph Kit

Origami Birds

Zentangle for Kids

Watercolor Markers
Drawing Markers
Larger Drawing Marker Set
Copic Markers (These are costly markers, but my artist insists that they are the best, based upon the experts that he follows. I wanted to share them in case you needed a very quality option for an invested artist.)

Hand Lettering Pens