🧸 2025 Holiday Gift Guide: Unique and Thoughtful Gifts for Kids
Reimagine Holiday Gifting with Purpose
This holiday season, thoughtful gift-givers are rewriting the rules of play. They’re choosing gifts that empower, include, and educate — presents that bring joy and meaning.
At Carabie, our mission is to inspire courage, empathy, and self-worth through inclusive toys and books that normalize health journeys and celebrate every child’s story. This season, we wanted to share some other brands that share those same values.
Here’s our curated list of unique and thoughtful gifts for kids in 2025 — from purpose-driven toys to books and activities that make this season one to remember.
1. All The Ways To Be Smart
What It Is: This beautiful children's book is a joyful ode to all the unique and wonderful qualities that make children who they are.
Why We Love It: This book covers a topic, that in our opinion isn't spoken about enough - that there are endless ways to be smart. Intelligence isn't just about scoring high on math tests and can be demonstrated in a lot of different ways.
Where to Buy: Carried by many different retailers, including Amazon
2. Carabie Gift Sets
What It Is: Carabie makes organic plush toy animals with matching story books, each set representing a different health condition, such as asthma and eczema.
Why We Love It: These are great gifts for any kids, with or without health problems as they get children comfortable with their health early on and normalize various health conditions they are bound to encounter whether in the classroom, among family, or elsewhere. Representation in play helps kids see themselves — and others — with empathy and pride.
💡 Parent Tip: Inclusive toys make great conversation starters. Ask, “How is this toy like someone you know?” to encourage empathy and awareness.
Where to Buy: Carabie
3. Lakeshore Toy Figures
What It Is: Lakeshore offers a variety of toy figures with differing abilities.
Why We Love It: These sets are great for normalizing differences and inspiring discussions around inclusion. They are great for toddlers with their squishy grabbable size.
Where to Buy: Lakeshore Learning
4. KiWiCo Crate Subscription
What It Is: This monthly subscription box company focuses on introducing children to different interests such Science & Engineering, Art & Design, Geography & Culture through hands-on projects that celebrate curiosity and learning through play.
Why We Love It: The Explore the World crate is packed with culturally significant crafts and activities that provide a fun and educational look into the world’s diversity. Perfect for kids ages 6+ who are curious about other cultures and enjoy learning through creativity.
Where to Buy: KiWiCo
5. My Hair, My Crown Magnetic Play Set
What It Is: This is a compact travel-ready activity that consists of 2 sheets of background scenes and a variety of mix and match magnets great for ages 4+.
Why We Love It: A fun portable activity that incorporates creativity, individuality, and diversity.
Where to Buy: MudPuppy
🌟 Gift with Heart, Not Hype
This holiday season, it’s not about more toys — it’s about meaningful ones.
Whether it’s an empowering book that reminds a child they can face challenges with strength and optimism or an inclusive stuffed toy that helps kids see themselves represented, these are the gifts that make memories and a difference.