Nature-Themed Pacific Northwest Gifts for Kids
It's getting harder and harder to blog as the month goes along. I just want to craft and sew and invent for my Christmas Elf. Of course, some of those ideas will appear on the blog soon, but I'm also saving some others for December.
I have written before about living in the northwest, so I thought that I should do a northwest themed gift guide for this year's "All Wrapped Up" series. Last year, my post about gifts for campers and glampers was the most popular and has remained popular all year. I also have been wanting to write a post with some great books and toys for learning about the pacific northwest for a whiles, so this seemed like a good time. Most of these items would be great for homeschooling, too!
I'm very excited about this Northwest books, and I'm hoping to add many of them to our own collection. Where Do I Sleep is a Pacific Northwest Lullaby with each of the native animals tucking their children in for the night- I don't think it could get much sweeter. In another adorable board book, the Three Bears of the Pacific Northwest work together to reunite a teddy bear with his child owner, meeting many animals from the woods on their journey. Children will enjoy learning the songs of many different animals and their reasons for vocalizing in Why Do I Sing. Click the links to go directly to the products.
The Pacific Northwest has a rich Native American history, as well. In the legend of Eagle Boy, kids can learn the story of an orphan boy who befriends eagles. Color different native designs and learn about their meanings with the Pacific Northwest Art Coloring Book. The Raven book tells about the Raven's quest to bring light to the Northwest. I don't have space to list out all the other amazing books about the Native Americans, like Chef Seattle, who live in the region. Click on the links to browse more interesting titles.
For learning about the specific states in the Northwest, you'll want books like B is for Beaver and E is for Evergreen, which have fun ABC rhymes for younger kids and interesting details for older kids and adults. All Aboard the Pacific Northwest takes kids on a tour of the area and highlights some of the best sights. Of course, there are many other subjects you can explore with your kids, including animals, pioneer and Oregon Trail history, Mt Saint Helen's eruption, and much more. Click on the links to start exploring.
> > > See my other book lists here < < <
Looking at books brought up a bunch of field guides for kids, so I thought I should do those separately. I have had my eyes on the Curious Kid Nature Guide for over a year, because of the beautiful gentle illustrations. The Audubon Guide isn't specifically for children, but it has a good reputation and would be a great resource for the whole family. Families who enjoy being outdoors with their kids will appreciate the Hikes for Kids and 50 Hikes with Kids books. In One Tidepool looks at the crabs, snails, sponges, and other animals that live in the unique habitat of a tidepool. I love the way this Backback Explorer book cover looks- super inviting and interesting. There's too much awesome stuff about it to write here, so you'll have to click the link to check it out for yourself.
All this talk about hiking and spending time outside has gotten me in the mood to write about camping! Flashlights are always one of the most popular things at our house, so this LED water-resistant and shock-resistant headlamp is very important. Little explorers will appreciate having their own Backyard Safari binoculars for spying all sort of interesting things. Of course, every kid needs their own camping chair, which my kids are playing with right now while I write this post. And you can't forget the S'more kit and roasting forks for making marshmallows and hot dogs. When camping with a baby or toddler, a fold-able travel high chair does an awesome job containing kids.
I learned my best camping secrets from my parents, and continue them on with my own kids. For Pacific Northwest camping, making sure everyone sleeps warm is important. I recommend a high-quality canvas sleeping bag, which aren't as fun as cartoons but will last them through adulthood. Every kid also needs their own durable, reusable water bottle, too. Lastly, we always pack glow sticks, which make create "nightlights" for young kids and encourages night games with elementary-aged kids. Click on any of the links to read more about the products.
Kids who live in the Pacific Northwest often want to play with toys related to their surroundings. Plastic animal collections like the ones from Safari Ltd and Schleich are great for learning about creatures in this habitat. If the family enjoys being outdoors, the child would probably like a camping playset like this one from Learning Resources. Homeschoolers will appreciate toys that add to their studies like Safari Toobs of animals, which are great for sensory bins, and 4D animal models like this one of a frog. A nature journal paired with some twig pencils is another good gift for a wild-at-heart kid. These adorable and authentic plush bird with real sounds are a great introduction to bird watching for babies and preschoolers. Click on the links to find the perfect toy for your nature-loving kid.
There were so many more things I could have added to the list, like animals specific to the Pacific Coast or birds, bugs, reptiles, fish, and other creatures from the different biomes. Of course, I can't write about nature in the Pacific Northwest without at least one mention of Bigfoot! What would you add to the list? Comment below!
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I like your Pacific Northwest Themed ideas! I grew up around Portland and my sister lives out in Seattle. Your list put a smile on my face :)
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