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🎁 Macaroni KID Holiday Gift Guide: Our Top Gift Picks This Season

Some of our favorite products that caught our eye this year

By Macaroni KID November 17, 2024

Ready to make holiday shopping a little less hectic this year? Our holiday gift guide is here to help! We’ve handpicked the best gifts to make your family smile, from stocking stuffers full of fun to thoughtful treasures that keep giving all year. Whether you’re shopping for a budding artist, a tween, or just hoping to create some memorable moments, you’ll find something special for everyone on your list. 


This article is sponsored by the featured businesses.


Let’s make this holiday season the easiest (and most joyful) one yet. Read on for our top picks for the best holiday gifts in 2024, including unique stocking stuffers, memorable family experiences, and practical gifts for kids:





Best Stocking Stuffer: 
Flat 2 Fast Card Racers
One of 2024's best holiday stocking stuffers for kids and the ultimate pocket-sized racing fun!

Looking for the ultimate 2024 holiday stocking stuffer? Flat 2 Fast Card Racers are the perfect gift for little racers! These unique toys start as flat cards and transform instantly into fun, colorful race cars, with no batteries required. Available in red, blue, sky blue, and yellow, they’re pocket-sized for easy travel and endless racing fun. An award-winning 2024 toy, Flat 2 Fast Racers make an affordable, interactive gift for kids ages 5 and up.

  • Price: $9.99
  • Best For: Ages 5+
  • Where to Buy: Find Flat 2 Fast at retail stores nationwide, Amazon, and on the Luki Lab website.



Best for Holiday Memories:
JCPenney Portraits by Lifetouch
Capture the magic with holiday family portraits

You know how those perfect holiday cards seem just out of reach? Not this year! Capture the holiday season with JCPenney Portraits by Lifetouch. This experience gift makes creating perfect holiday cards and framed memories a breeze. After your session, choose from a variety of holiday card designs, each uniquely suited to match your family’s style. With exclusive deals on prints and albums, it’s a thoughtful way to capture holiday memories that last a lifetime. Ideal for families seeking quality holiday photo gifts, JCPenney Portraits by Lifetouch offers an easy, one-stop solution for memorable photos and personalized family holiday cards.




Best Hands-On Gift:
Makedo Cardboard Construction Tool Kits
The gift that transforms cardboard (and kids’ imaginations!)

Looking for a unique holiday gift for kids that gets them creating, building, and using their imaginations? Meet Makedo, the ultimate tool kit for transforming everyday cardboard into big-time creations. With Makedo, kids can turn old boxes into robots, castles, or anything they dream up — no tape, glue, or sharp tools required! The magic is in Makedo’s safe, durable, and totally reusable tools, designed especially for young builders ages 5+.

Beyond fun, Makedo is an eco-friendly gift for kids and a screen-free activity that encourages problem-solving, fine motor skills, and teamwork. And when the masterpiece is done, the cardboard can be recycled, with all Makedo tools and screws ready for the next big project. It’s creative, sustainable, and endlessly entertaining — perfect for the little engineers and dreamers on your list! Read reviews from three moms who gave Makedo a try.




Top Experience Gift:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra tickets
Give a unique family experience gift in 2024 with tickets to "The Lost Christmas Eve" winter tour

We love experience gifts, and tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra tops our wish list! This holiday season, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is bringing an all-new production of "The Lost Christmas Eve" on their winter tour. It’s the perfect early gift for families and music lovers that is sure to get you into the holiday spirit. This holiday rock opera delivers a stunning mix of lasers, pyrotechnics, and music that tells a powerful story of hope and second chances. Expect two epic sets packed with fan favorites and incredible storytelling. Grab your tickets now for this show that your family will talk about for years to come.

  • Price Range: Starting at $59.99 in most locations, plus applicable taxes and fees
  • Best For: Families and music lovers of all ages
  • Where to Buy: Get tickets here



Best Practical Gift:
Fabric by Gerber Life's Investment Accounts for Kids
A gift they won't outgrow!

What do you get kids who already have everything? How about a head start for their future? Meet Fabric by Gerber Life's investment accounts for kids. Intentionally designed for busy parents like us, this money-savvy holiday gift allows you to open an account on behalf of your kids in just five minutes, starting with as little as $20. 

Then watch the money grow as your kids do! Use this financial gift for kids to cover expenses along the way, like school supplies, or future costs, like college tuition. One of the many reasons to choose this practical holiday gift: Fabric doesn’t charge any commissions or hidden fees.

  • Price range: Start an account with as little as $20
  • Best For: Future-focused parents
  • Where to Learn More: Get signed up today!

This is a paid ad for Fabric by Gerber Life’s UGMA (Uniform Gift For Minors Act) Offering and not a paid endorsement for advisory services. Investing in securities involves the risk of loss. Learn more at meetfabric.com/ugma.





Best Gift for Kids with Autism:
Verizon Gizmo Watch 3
Best smartwatch gift for kids on the Autism spectrum

Looking for a gift that’s equal parts fun and helpful? The Gizmo Watch 3 by Verizon is a great option for kids and people who like structure, and those on the Autism spectrum. It’s perfect for fostering routines, tracking activity, and staying connected safely.

With features like timers and checklists, Gizmo helps neurodivergent kids manage daily routines like chores and mealtimes. It also encourages movement with a step counter and jump timer — great for adding healthy habits. And for parents, GPS, location alerts, and geofencing make it easy to keep kids safe and sound.

With messaging, games, and even a scratch-resistant build, the Gizmo Watch 3 is a smartwatch for kids that’s both practical and fun!





Best Getaway Gift:
Westgate River Ranch

A getaway they'll always remember

Experience one of the last untouched pieces of Florida wilderness at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo — where families can revel in the beautiful, great wide open just one hour South of Orlando. Specializing in luxe glamping, Westgate River Ranch is the ideal destination for an unforgettable family getaway, featuring horseback riding, an award-winning Saturday night rodeo, and so much more.

The S’mores 'n Pours Package is the perfect pairing for parents to kick their boots up and toast to a day of fun-filled family galivanting on this authentic Florida dude ranch’s expansive 1,700-acre estate. Families who book a Luxe Conestoga Wagon or Luxe Teepee receive two deluxe s’mores kits (plus a complimentary bottle of Buffalo Trace Bourbon for parents) to gather 'round and cozy up fireside under starlit skies for some good old-fashioned quality time together while enjoying everyone’s quintessential campfire treat.






Best Gifts for Tweens
Meaningful Jewelry by Angara
Give them a gift they’ll treasure for a lifetime!

Struggling to find the perfect gift for your hard-to-please tween this holiday season? Skip the gadgets – they’ll outgrow them anyway. Instead, gift them something timeless: Their very first piece of fine jewelry! Think Angara birthstone pendants that reflect their unique personality, chic initial necklaces, or classic heart designs that say “I love you.”  You can also opt for lab diamond studs that deliver all the sparkle without the splurge! Plus, with Angara's customization options, you can create a one-of-a-kind piece that's as unique and precious as they are. Shop now and make this season truly unforgettable. 


There you have it — our top holiday picks that’ll make you the ultimate gift-giver this season! Whether you’re stuffing stockings, creating memories, or giving a little extra peace of mind, these gifts are sure to bring smiles (and maybe even a few happy dances). Hope this guide made your holiday shopping a bit easier — and way more fun! Now go get those perfect gifts and enjoy all the holiday magic with the people you love most. πŸŽ„ πŸ•Ž ✨

Happy gifting, and cheers to a joyful holiday season!