We are grateful to the Narragansett Council BSA for sponsoring this year’s Mom-Approved Gift Guide.
This year, consider giving your favorite kid the gift of a summer they’ll never forget. More and more families are seeing the value in choosing experiential gifts and we can promise you – there’s not a parent out there who wouldn’t appreciate a grandparent or family friend helping offset the cost of summer camp.
The Narragansett Council BSA has camps for Cub Scouts and siblings entering 1st – 5th grade starting at just $230, with additional weeks only $140. Instead of another hunk of plastic, give a child the gift of a summer full of Sports, Crafts, Games, Scout Skills, Swimming, Boating and Fishing and more. Follow Narraganset Council BSA on Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date on all the adventures that await.
Every year we end up buying some hot new toy that the kids lose interest in before the wrapping paper is cleaned up. So we asked our team of moms for their best gift recommendations – what toys have continued to capture their kid’s interest and would be worth adding to this year’s list. These are their recommendations:
The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game
“The sneaky sneaky squirrel game is my new go-to preschool-age gift!” – Amelia
Headphones & an MP3 Player
“We bought our two kids comfy kids headphones and an mp3 player (we like this one) and it may have been the single best decision of our lives. They LOVE listening to music on them. We load them up with kids podcasts for long car rides (my husband and I actually get to have a conversation!) and when they’re starting to get on each other’s nerves at home we can pop their headphones on with music or a podcast and give them some “space” from each other.” -Tracy
Echo Dot Kids Edition
“I’m happy with our Alexa kid’s package we got last year. They love listening to audiobooks before bed.” – Jessica
“Each of our kids got a kid’s Alexa for Christmas one year. They use them every night to listen to audiobooks when they go to sleep, not to mention all of the hours they have spent playing games with Alexa and having her tell them new jokes.” – Niki
Kiwi Crates
“My mother in law gave us a sub to Kiwi Crate 2 years ago and it was fantastic. The kids were so excited to do it every month and I love seeing all that brain-action happening!”
– Jessica
“We love kiwi crate! I love that they have options for so many ages! Keep an eye on their site last year they did $5 boxes around black Friday. Make great small presents or stocking stuffers.” – Ashley
The Cat Game 
“Ignore where it says it’s for 16+. It’s Pictionary with cats and we have the best time drawing silly pictures and cracking each other up.” -Gigi
Micro Scooters
“We love, love, love our Micro Scooters. They are so lightweight and portable, making them easy to bring places it would be a pain to take bikes. We bought the Macro’s for our kids starting at 4 (and they are small kids) and they worked just fine. They frequently go on sale, so if you have time, sign up for their mailing list and wait for a sale.” – Tracy
Snap Circuits
“Snap Circuits are great!!” – Robyn
Arts & Crafts
“We also loving getting sticker books, coloring books, art supplies, and play dough because they are consumable and we go through them fast!” – Niki
“Art kits are a saving grace every year for us! So many different options and we save them for snowed-in days or sick days. One year someone got us a box filled with googly eyes, pipe cleaners, pompoms, glitter glue, stickers, construction paper, etc. I love seeing what she creates.” – Jane
Legos & Magna Tiles
 “Also (and this may be obvious) but I cannot love Legos enough. Same with Magnatiles. My son can play with these things for HOURS. So much building and creativity!!”
Laser Tag
 “Laser tag—we got 2 sets, so 4 vests and guns. It’s such fun—they can play just the two of them; they have enough for friends; and we can sneak up on them and shoot them, which they love!” – Gigi
A place for the stuffed animals!
“We bought a bean bag chair cover that doubles as a stuffed animal holder. There is finally a place to put the 9000 stuffed animals that my kiddo has acquired over the years!” – Jane
*editors note- this went into my amazon cart immediately after clicking on the link!Â
And speaking of stuffed animals… “GIANT stuffed animals. I was so beyond mad when my brother bought them as a joke but my kids use them for OT, for bedtime, for social skills, and gross motor because they are HUGE.” – Jenny
*editors note, proceed with caution when buying giant stuffed animals for any kids that are not your own 😂
Bigger Gifts
 “My parents bought my kids a little kid-sized table with four kid chairs for our playroom and it is the BEST ever. They (5 & 2) use it constantly. It’s awesome to have a designated area for coloring, crafts, etc.” – Elizabeth
“We bought our son a train table when he was 2 and he still plays with it all the time (now 5).” –Â Elizabeth
Play Kitchens
“My son used his from 3 until 8!” -Jenny
“Bought my boys one probably 4 years ago. It still is played with very often.” -Jessica
“Bought my daughter a play kitchen one year and it was the best money I’ve ever spent. She played with that kitchen for 3+ years. I handed ours down to a friend when my daughter was 6…only because we needed the space.” -Jane
Experiences, Experiences, Experiences!
“The best gifts we got were memberships to the children’s museum, zoo, trampoline parks, etc.”
Join BSA today and give your son or daughter the gift of the Scouting Advantage. “Youth in Scouting experience amazing outdoor adventures, learn vital life skills, and become great citizens and leaders, all while learning a code of ethics to base their decisions on. Enroll your child today! Learn more at www.BeAScout.org or call us at 401-351-8700.”
