Tis the season! Yes, can you believe that we are already here?! I know, we are not quite into the holiday season, but with shorter days and the fresh dusting of snow on the mountains, it got me all excited. This is the first of what will be many Endurance Mama gift guides full of real and tested favorites that add joy, movement, and connection to your days. I hope they sparks some inspiration, joy and excitement.
I started with kids gift guide because with starting homeschool this year, it has been in the forefront of my mind. Below are the things that have been total wins in our home — gifts that get our kids outside, thinking creatively, or just plain having fun. Whether you’re shopping for a mini adventurer, a builder, a thinker, or a kid who loves cozy bath time, here are our top picks for this season of giving.
Specialized Turbo Levo SL Kids
E-bikes for kids sometimes get a bad rap — we’ve even heard the “that’s cheating” jokes from our own crew. But for one of our boys, this bike has been a total game-changer. It’s given him the ability to ride with us as a family and opened the possibility for longer, more joyful adventures. He swaps between this and his regular mountain bike depending on the day — but when energy (or allergies/asthma) hits low, this little Levo keeps him in the mix and the stoke high.
We have been testing this bike for just over a month and have gone on multiple 10-15 mile bike rides on it. While it is still on the bigger side for my son, he is still able to get on and off it with ease thanks to the low stand over height and comfortable geometry. At 36.6 pounds, this is a heavy bike for him, but with the trail assist, he can barely feel it. The only time we do is if/when we have to push it up a super steep hill! However, as his bike handling skills improve and he gets more confident, he will be riding up them!
The battery life has been the most impressive thus far, after 4 long rides, the fully integrated 320 wh battery is still fully of juice for a few more goes.
At $2999 it’s definitely a gift to think about for a while before purchasing, but if you are a family who likes to get out for long mtn bike rides together, this is an amazing investment that will keep on giving.
Why we love it: It keeps the adventure accessible for every kind of kid — confident, tired, or just finding their groove.
Woom Bikes
For younger riders or those still getting their confidence, the Woom bikes are beautifully designed, lightweight, and made for success. The geometry, brakes, and gearing are all scaled perfectly for kids — which means fewer crashes, more smiles, and a whole lot more independence. Our oldest son’s bike is a Woom Off, and he loves it because it’s light weight, easy to handle and get on and off. The geometry is also super comfortable for his relaxed biker stance. Both of my boys started on the Woom 1, and I love seeing Woom keep killing it in the “getting kids on bikes” department in a practical, inexpensive and success building way.
Why we love it: They’re the gold standard for learning to love biking from the start.
Scentco Air Dough
Simple, sensory, and endlessly creative. Air Dough has become one of our favorite low-mess, big-fun activities. The soft texture and yummy scents make it perfect for cozy afternoons or travel days when you still want hands busy and minds calm. We love having the boys play with it while we are reading to them. It keeps them engaged in the book while still bringing out their creative side. These last two weeks we have been reading the book “PIE” and while I read them a few chapters of it, they have been making their own pie’s out of the dough. It’s been a huge win because I also love the scent.
Why we love it: It’s screen-free creativity in a jar — and it smells amazing.
The Big Book of HOW & The Big Book of WHY
Two of our all-time favorite “quiet adventure” books. These are packed with fun facts, explanations, and ideas that get kids asking more questions about how the world works. They’re perfect for long car rides, cozy winter mornings, or fueling curiosity before our next trip. Our boys have always been very curious, so at first I didn’t really think we needed this. However the amount that I have learned along with them and the family conversations it starts has been so fun. My 8 year old now even reads some of it to himself and to his little brother which has been super amazing during our quiet times at home.
Why we love them: They turn every “why?” moment into a spark for discovery.
Crunch Labs Subscription
Invented by Mark Rober, this monthly subscription delivers a hands-on engineering project to your door. Each kit builds on STEM skills — but more importantly, it builds confidence. So far (we have built one and are about to build the next one) our kids love the mix of storytelling, humor, and real problem-solving. It comes with detailed instructions and a super engaging and fun video that actually gets your KIDS doing the building instead of you!
Why we love it: It’s a creative, self-paced way to bring curiosity and invention into your living room on a monthly basis.
Hootie Hoo Pinnakle Insulated Bibs and Jacket
Yes, I know, not all kids are excited about outdoor clothes but if they are, Hootie Hoo is your ticket. My boys love their fun colors and get stoked for new jackets and snow pants because they know it equals longer outside time! So if your kiddo spends as much time outside — building forts, skiing, playing in the snow — as ours do, this jacket + bib combo is a gift that doesn’t get taken off. Built for real winters: 20,000 mm waterproofing, PrimaLoft® insulation, and a “grow-with-them” sleeve extension system. This is our new favorite kids winter outdoor gear company. Their pieces are well designed, durable and they actually fit well so that kids can focus on playing rather than being frustrated with their clothing. My boys are extremely picky when it comes to how things feel and move with them, which for better of worse have also made them perfect testers. My boys favorite feature is the built in whistle and the thumb hole loops that help keep their wrists warm when they refuse to wear gloves. These two pieces have already been put through the paces at our cabin and we look forward to seeing how they do on the mountain!
Why we love it: When it’s cold, wet or wild? This keeps our littlest adventurer going strong — and still smiling.
Garmin Bounce
The Garmin Bounce has been a huge hit for our oldest. It tracks steps and activity which has been super great for me personally who records his “P.E” time for homeschool. I have also seen it affect him, as he has been getting into recording his steps and activities for his own well being. While it does let me message him during his independent outdoor play in the neighborhood, we don’t use this much yet as I can usually hear him and his friends from a mile away. However, I do see this and the tracking feature (you can see where your child is on a map) as he gets more and more independent and wants a bit more responsibility. I also love that it’s not a phone and that’s it’s not big or bulky on his wrist.
Why we love it: It keeps kids connected and active while still protecting their freedom.
If your kids love to climb, run, and explore, these are the shoes that can keep up. The Salomon XA PRO V8s are built like mini versions of the adult trail shoes we race in — waterproof, grippy, and tough enough for every muddy trail and creek crossing. They’re supportive but still light, and they dry fast (which, if you’ve ever had kids play in snowmelt puddles, you know is essential).
Why we love them: They make kids feel like real adventurers, seriously our boys put them on and know that it’s go time!
Rock Gym Pass or Adventure Tickets
Some of our favorite gifts aren’t “things” at all. Passes to our local rock gym, lift tickets, a night of camping with their best friends, or a “kids Best Day” pass are way more fun in our book. Every month we have begun giving our kids a “perfect day” pass where they get to choose their 3 favorite meals and 2 activities that we do as a family on their day. This has given them something to look forward to, to write about and they we get their full buy in (of course!) for their day but also for our other family days as well. For a fun gift, perhaps make a book of coupons that gives them special days and other activities to look forward to through out the year!
Why we love it: Memories > stuff, every single time.
Bath Bombs
After a big day outside, there’s nothing better than a warm bath that feels a little magical. Our kids love watching bath bombs fizz and change colors, and it’s become part of our cozy-down routine. We did try to make some but they didn’t turn out so well, I may try again as part of a project at home or they also make a great stocking stuffer gift!
Why we love it: Simple joy that doubles as self-care for little bodies.
Wrapping it all up
At the end of the day, our favorite gifts are the ones that inspire play. Whether it be outside, in the living room, or in the imagination, these gifts have helped us spend more time doing what matters most: learning, laughing, and adventuring together. And remember, if this time of year stresses you out for the reason of getting “stuff”, focus more on what brings you joy and go towards that. Your time, energy and presence are what your kids remember the most. Here’s to enjoying this season of joy with your loved ones!
One comment