• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • family
    • kids
    • motherhood
    • recipes
  • homeschool
  • DIY
  • lifestyle
    • Style
    • Travel
    • Gift Guides
    • Parties
  • Subscribe
  • About Me
    • Collaborate
    • Disclaimer & Privacy Policy
  • Nav Widget Area (Left)

My Simple Wild

a motherhood & simple living blog

November 17, 2020 / Gift Guides, kids

2020 Holiday Gift Guide For the Little Explorer

2020 Holiday Gift Guide For The LIttle Explorer

Here is our round-up of some of our favorite brands and products that promote play, imagination, and getting outside to go on an adventure. Most of these gift ideas are on my son’s own Christmas wish list or products we have and love. I have gathered a good variety of items at different price points. Taking back childhood and getting children to love and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors is important now more than ever! Whether your child is interested in insects or birds or wants to pretend they are Indiana Jones, I hope this list gives you some gift inspiration for your own little nature-loving adventurer! Here is my 2020 holiday gift guide for the little explorer in your life…

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase these items through my links, at no extra cost to you. To read my full disclaimer, click here.

Small Shops:

1. Wool Thermal underlayers from Simply Merino Wool are our favorite base layers! The thermal tops and bottoms work great as a layer under all of your kid’s activity gear (hockey, skiing, skating, sledding, hiking, camping, etc). The natural fabric breathes, helping control body temperature, and wicks moisture away from the skin keeping bodies dry and warm. They SUPER soft and my son lives in his. A perfect gift for the little adventurers that never want to come inside! Price: $35 * use code mymountainwild for 10% off your order!

image from simplymerino Instagram – photo taken by @kristalii

2. Foragers Mini Basket from Lilbellies for your little forager to gather up nature treasures and tote toys or a picnic! Lilbellies ENTIRE online shop is packed full with everything a nature-loving child could want. You definitely need to check this small shop out. I could list every single thing in her shop on this guide! price: $22.99

image from lilbellies.com

3. Forest School Activity Cards– from Lilbellies comes with 48 activity cards in 4 different themes to keep your children inspired to play, build, create and connect with nature! price: $18.95

image from lilbellies.com

4. Wilderness Multi-Tool from Lilbellies includes 9 tools designed to aid you on your adventures: a knife blade, saw, flint scrapper, tin/bottle opener, corkscrew, removable flint rod, flathead screwdriver, and Philips screw-drive. price: $31

image from lilbellies.com

5. The Den Kit Co. Original Den Kit from Bunny Hop comes with a haversack bag, camouflage tarpaulin, green groundsheet, hand-made ash mallet, a Den Kit Co. enamel mug, tent peg bag, face paint, rope, tent pegs, and an ideas sheet. price: $52.65

image from bunnyhop.com

6. Survival Camp and Wildlife Exploration Small World from Montessori Choice is such a unique and creative toy! This Open-ended imaginative play set comes with Sir Val (the wood figure) equipped with his knife, backpack, and hat, a fireplace, cooking tripod and pots, his observation tree with a rope ladder, compass, a stone map, first aid kit, rope, hay mat and haystack, a burlap sleeping bag, a river stone, wooden blocks, wooden ax, woodpile storage device, a diary, a wooden ring base with a storage hatch and bird traces pyrography. price: $153 ** USE CODE: MYMOUNTAINWILD for 15% off your purchase!

image from montessorichoice.com

7. Wood Birds Set from Montessori Choice – We love our wooden animal toys! My son collects them and has made a large list of all the animals he wants to collect still. These little birds would be darling on a nature shelf, to play with, and to identify using a bird guide. price: on sale for $48 **USE CODE MYMOUNTAINWILD for 15% off your purchase!

image from montessorichoice.com

8. Wooden Trees Leaves Puzzle from Montessori Choice is a great resource for a tree/leaf nature study! The child can see not only the different shapes of the leaves but also the texture and color of the tree. Under each leaf, there are engraved interesting facts about the tree. This would also be adorable as a decoration in a child’s room. Price: $31 *USE CODE MYMOUNTAINWILD for 15% off your purchase!

image from montessorichoice.com

9. Curiosity Collector Set by Wee Bee Box– We have the wooden specimen box and use it often to keep special nature treasures in a safe place. This set includes the wood box, a coordinating flower press, a set of specimen cards, a mini handbook guide, a small plastic magnifying glass, plastic craft tweezers, glassine envelopes for collecting smaller items, glue dot stickers to adhere items to specimen card, a set of mini colored pencils and a waterproof spiral notepad. price: $105

image from weebeebox.com

10. Point & Shoot Wood Digital Camera by Father’s Factory- this one is at the top of my son’s wish-list! He wants a real digital camera because he says he wants to be a photographer/journalist when he grows up (just like I did!) There are other cheaper kid camera options out there, but if your child is responsible enough, this gorgeous heirloom style camera is a fantastic choice. It’s pretty enough to sit out on a shelf and durable enough for a child to use. (They recommend 6 years old and up) They also make pretend toy wooden cameras if your kiddo isn’t quite ready yet for a real digital camera. price: $119

image from fathersfactory.com

11. The SLASKEMAN RAIN SUIT by MK Nordika is also on my son’s wish list! We spend a lot of time outside, and I lead a local Wild + Free group that meets up no matter the weather. We have been needing to get my son a good rain suit like this one. The Slaskeman is a fully Water and Windproof two-piece rain suit . And very cute in my opinion! price: $85 *free shipping

12. Winter Journal from Raising Up Wild Things- We have the Autumn journal, the Winter Journal, and the Forest Journal from this small shop! These are pdfs that you can print out at home. I print them on cardstock and then take the journal to my local UPS store to have them bind it and add a clear cover. (This is usually only a few dollars!) price: $12

image from raisingupwildthings.com

Amazon Finds:

1. Eco-Friendly Bug House Hotel – These Insect Nest Box’s have been all the rage the last couple of years! These are so fun and a perfect gift idea for any insect-lover. These little hotels attract bees, butterflies, ladybirds and a host of other insects to your garden and offer them a safe place to stay. price: $15.99

2. Kid’s Solar Powered Camping Lantern– from reading books in their indoor fort made of blankets, to sitting around the campfire, your kiddo will LOVE this lanterns! I recommend a solar-powered lantern like this one because they will forget to turn it off and you will be going through batteries SO fast. We put ours in my son’s bedroom window to charge and then use it as a nightlight and for all his adventuring and pretend play. price: $11.99

3. Watercolor Nature Journal– This journal doesn’t have many pages but the paper is nice and thick (140 lb weight) so it is perfect for the child that wants to use watercolors in their journal. We have tried several different notebooks and this is our favorite! price: $6.20

4. Twig Colored Pencils– to go along with their nature journal! We have several packs of these because we go through them and gift them often! They are fun to use and easy for little hands to hold. Price: $5.55

5. The Stanley Classic – This Vacuum Insulated Food/drink Jar is 24oz, making it a perfect size for a child! My son is getting older and more independent so he has been asking for his own thermos to bring hot cocoa along on our snowshoeing adventures. This Stainless Steel, Naturally BPA-free Container – Keeps Food/Liquid Hot or Cold for 15 Hours! price: $24.97

6. Animal Tracks Ink & Stamp Set– these will be great to go with the nature journal! You can learn about the different animal tracks and go looking for them outside at your local parks! price: $16.95

7. Adventure Bag– this tactical day pack is smaller, so perfect for my son’s size (He is almost 8 years old) The many loops on the outside of the bag can be loaded with hooked carabiners to tote all their adventure gear. My son has a similar bag to this and he uses every loop, pocket, and compartment in his bag. price: $28

8. Walkie Talkies- we were gifted some very nice walkie talkies a couple years ago and use them ALL the time! This more affordable option has good reviews and seems like a great deal for kids. These have a built-in flashlight and a decent range in open terrain(Up to 1.86 miles) price: $24.99

9. Wildcraft – An Herbal Adventure Board Game – This unique board game is for Kids Ages 4-8 and Up. It’s a Fun, Cooperative & Educational Board Game that Teaches 25 Medicinal Plants and Problem Solving Skills! The game itself is made in the USA with 100% RECYCLED and RECYCLABLE materials, using a WATER-BASED coating instead of varnish, and the beautiful watercolor illustrations are printed with VEGETABLE OIL-BASED INKS. How cool is that?? price: $39.99

10. Match A Leaf- A Tree Memory Game–

11. Play The Forest School Way: Woodland Games And Crafts For Adventurous Kids -This outdoor adventure manual is packed full of ideas, from making nature jewelry and whittling a bow and arrow, to building a shelter and foraging for food, it also celebrates the Forest School philosophy of encouraging self-esteem, confidence, and social skills through engagement with nature. price: $14.69

12. Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids– has 50 Creative Projects to Spark Curiosity in the Outdoors and is filled with hands-on, educational outdoor activities. price: $13.34

13. Compact Binoculars- These lightweight, small binoculars can be folded into palm-size, perfect to throw in their adventure backpack. price: $23.99

14. BOGS Classic Boots– These waterproof, insulated boots are made SO well. My son has worn these through every season now, and they are still in great shape! They are a bit pricey, but an investment for the kiddo that plays rough. price: $79.95

15. Children’s Folding Pocket Knife– Teach your little one how to tinker, spread, cut and carve with this Beechwood knife, featuring a rounded tip and easy-to-grip handle. price: $19.00

16. The Curious Nature Guide- Explore The Natural Wonders All Around You. We love this book and have referenced it often! price: $13.54

17. Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of The Natural World price: $14.95

18. SunPrint Paper Kit – This easy-to-use paper uses the power of the sun to make beautiful pieces of art. Place a fern, flower, or other object on the special paper and set it in the sun briefly. Then rinse the paper in water and watch as a beautiful long-lasting image appears! price: $15.79

19. Coleman Kids Wonder Lake 2-Person Dome Tent– this is the tent my son has and we just love it! It is very good quality for being a child’s tent and we love setting up in the backyard to pretend we are camping. It is very light-weight and easy to assemble. price: $56.27

20. Animal Tracks Pocket Guide– My son uses this little pocket guide ALL the time! It’s fun to track animal tracks in the mud and the snow. price: $15.29

21. Pack of Three Magnifier Box’s– I couldn’t find the wood magnifier box that we have (we bought it at a local shop here in MT) but these little boxes would be a wonderful addition to a nature shelf! They magnify up to 5X and would be fun to study a specimen up close. price: $9.95

More gift ideas:

  • A bandana- my kiddo always has one around his neck and he loves to pretend he is Indiana Jones or some other great explorer
  • Make or buy outdoor activity cards! There are some wonderful options on Etsy or you can create your own. Print them out on cardstock and then laminate them so they last longer
  • Snowshoes are a great gift idea. My parents gifted us all snowshoes a couple years ago and we love going on snowy nature walks.
  • If your child likes to nature journal, or wants to start, you can get them a new set of watercolors, markers, and pencils to take with on their adventures and record their observations.
  • My son LOVES wearing “adventure gear” and one of his favorite accessories is an adventure vest. We have one that is a Junior Ranger vest and one that is just a fishing vest. For Christmas last year we filled the pockets of the vest with little outdoor gadgets such as a pocket knife, binoculars, a little first aid kit, a whistle, etc. He was thrilled to open that gift and he loves stuffing the pockets with nature treasures such as rocks, leaves, and wildflowers.
Next Post
Previous Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome! I’m Natalie. I am a western mountain mama who just recently relocated to the coast! Here I share all things motherhood, homemaking, homeschooling, and slow living. I hope you follow along as we share this next chapter of our lives. I am so glad you are here! Grab a cup of coffee and stay awhile

Follow My Simple Wild

Categories

Join the Tribe

Popular in Lifestyle

Our Favorite Family Camping Gear & Hacks

Popular in Travel

travel toiletries checklist

Travel Toiletries Checklist + What’s In My Carry On

Popular in Food & Drinks

cinnamon applesauce muffin

Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins

Archives

Follow Along @mymountainwild

I wish you could smell these garden roses and this I wish you could smell these garden roses and this eucalyptus 😍 
It's been a long time since I treated myself to some flowers, and they really do make me so happy. 

It was 61 degrees and sunny today, and I needed the warm fresh air. Theo has been having serious sleep issues where he's screaming for hours every night. He has still yet to sleep through the night, and now he's up for hours at a time, and there's nothing I can do to soothe him. We are all exhausted. And now the only time he naps is if we're in the car. Lord, give me strength 🙏
The chiropractor doesn't seem to be helping, and I've called 3 pediatricians to only hear they're all booked until mid to late March for an appointment. 
I've had a headache for 4 days now that is just relentless, making it hard to concentrate on anything. My hip is already killing me and I'm only 16 weeks pregnant 😩
It's been a rough several days. 
So fresh flowers and epsom salt baths and essential oils and tea have been life-giving.
Home education with a busy crazy toddler... oh, th Home education with a busy crazy toddler... oh, the struggle is real 😆 
He craves constant attention, needs a snack every 35 minutes, wants to climb on everything and everyone around him, and he cannot communicate his needs yet,  but has THE biggest emotions. 
My older son struggles with concentrating on his work anyways, so throw a loud toddler in the mix that just wants brother to play with him... it can feel chaotic. 

So we take lots of wiggle and play breaks and it really benefits us all. I get 10 min to clean up or kick my feet up. The boys get to spend quality time together, use their imaginations, run around, and get their wiggles out. 
And I'm trying to get better at setting up mess-free activities and busy work for Theo to keep him occupied for longer. 
It hit me today as I observed this absolutely adorable scene of them playing restaurant while I made lunch... 
If Liam was in school, Theo would only see him a few hours a day during the week and on weekends. They'd both be missing out on so much. 

I know that's "normal" for any family's that choose public school, and there's of course nothing wrong with that at all. I'm just glad we all get to spend our days together, even when they're difficult. 

This life we have chosen can be so draining. I am really starting to feel the exhaustion that comes along with pregnancy these days. But I see so many beautiful moments like this throughout the week, and I feel very blessed indeed that we get to do life this way.
Yesterday we visited @seaquestlynchburg and had su Yesterday we visited @seaquestlynchburg and had such an amazing time ! The highlights were the stingrays showing off and squirting water at us, and the birds eating out of Liam's hand. For Theodore, it was all just fascinating. Every animal got an "ooo" and "awww" and wide eyes and a pudgy little finger pointing at it or a little hand excitedly waving high. 
Then we spent some time at the little toddler play area in the mall where Theo hugged every kid there and had the biggest smile on his face the whole time. 
I would say this week's homeschool field trip was a success!
Next week we're checking out our local library, and the week after that, the children's museum.
It's always so fun to explore a new area. ☺️ 

#howwehomeschool #fortheloveofhomeschooling #homeschooling #homeschoolfieldtrip #unschooling #homeeducation #seaquest #fieldtrip #fieldtripfun
I don't always get a few quiet moments to myself, I don't always get a few quiet moments to myself, but when I do, I make the most of it !
I put on a homemaker or homesteading podcast, light a candle, sip hot tea... 
It gives me time to slow down and take deep breaths, and relax a bit. (And I'll be honest, this time often also has a good snack involved or some dark chocolate I hid on the top shelf of the pantry 😆) 

I spent some time yesterday during nap time restocking some herbs in my new apothecary cabinet. I filled jars of nettle, peppermint, red raspberry leaf, and rosemary. These dark amber jars are on Amazon and pretty perfect for storing herbs ! 
I'm dreaming of what herbs I'll be drying from my garden to add to these shelves 🤩

I'm curious- if you use herbs in your home, what are your top 3 most used ?
S'mores, burning brush, snuggling up with a blanke S'mores, burning brush, snuggling up with a blanket, and admiring our new house on the hill. 

We've been busy setting up our new home, finding places for everything, and thrifting some furniture. Theo is already use to the new house and his new room. He loves the playroom in the basement and having a real bath tub! 
Liam had his first playdate on Friday, and we're planning out his lego table this week. Nate has been busy fixing things around the house and helping me hang art and things all over. 
 It feels good to be finding a new rythm again. To have a regular bath night, and cooking big meals we eat around the table my grandpa built. We're dreaming of the garden this Spring, what fencing we can put up for animals, what color to paint the house... 
and it just feels so so good to be in our own home again where we can do what we want and plan and dream for the future.

Copyright © 2023 · My Simple Wild · Designed by Bella Creative Studio