Conscious Christmas: Gift Guide for Mini Yogis
The mad rush of shopping season is officially upon us! Here are some of my top picks for gifts for kids. In general, I try to avoid plastic, commercial brands (if possible), electronics and battery-operated and gimmicky things (I find they usually only have one use and the kids get bored of it quite quickly).
These books are not only engaging for the kids but have a deeper yogic message and are just as entertaining for us. 
The Awesome Book by Dallas Clayton, Elmer by David McKee, If... by Sarah Perry, The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O and The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, Zen Shorts by Jon J Muth, Ganesha's Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel, The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson, and anything and everything by Dr Suess!
My kids are currently obsessed with puzzles. On any given day the entire living room floor is completely covered in puzzles. I'll take not being able to walk without stepping on a puzzle piece to having my child glued to an ipad anyday. 
Top Quality Wooden Building Blocks - worth the investment. Shure ArchiQuest. I think Melissa and Doug make something similar.
Crafts, crayons, markers, watercolors, colored paper, homemade playdough and anything else that encourages them to make art.
What they're getting this year: Hape Quadrilla - marble railway
My friend Tara has a lovely tradition in her family for the holidays. The kids collect some of their toys to donate to the Salvation Army for their gift hampers. "It teaches the children to share with those less fortunate and to let go to receive. It's actually an exciting activity! This year it's big for a 4 and 6 yr old to say they are okay with giving their xmas gift we were to give to them to another child/family. This is the true gift in giving and will serve them in their life as it has for me. " - Tara Pilling
If YOU have any good ones I'd love to hear them and would be delighted to add them to my list! Also, if you have any alternatives to physical gifts, I would love to hear them too.