5 Small Shops to Support for Kid Gifts

"When you shop small, an actual person does a happy dance!"

Our family loves to shop small whenever possible, especially around the holidays. There's nothing quite like gifting something handmade, unique, or specially sourced by a small shop - and knowing you are supporting someone's life's work versus a big corporation. This list contains a few of our favorite places to buy gifts for the children in our lives but is by no means exhaustive!

This post contains some affiliate links - I receive a small commission while you support small shops, at no cost to you!

Present Not Perfect is a woman-owned small shop focusing on mindful sensory kits for children. Their unique LARGE playdough kits contain playdough or sensory sand, small items for play, and a mini mindfulness guide to work through with your little one. Join their Calm Subscription Club for a cool experience gift throughout the year or gift a Holiday Sweater kit to a child in your life! Use code SIMPLIFYINGPLAY20 for 20% off your order!

We love our t-shirts from Rivet Apparel, the perfect place to snag seasonal, nature-focused, and even inclusion t's! I've got the "Love Anyway" crew neck sweatshirt on my holiday list. Use code PLAY20 for 20% off through December 31st, 2023 - CAN be combined with free shipping!

Made by Shellmo is a favorite local maker - her animal masks and crowns are some of our favorite dress up items and would make perfect stocking stuffers. She also makes gorgeous cloth dolls and pennants with encouraging messages on them!

Hopscotch Store is our favorite local toy store. We bring my daughters here each year to pick out presents for each other and it's my favorite place to grab a birthday or baby shower gift! They have a robust online store with quick shipping - and they stock Jellycat, Fat Brain, Green Toys, and more!!

Merci Milo is not a local toy shop BUT they carry some a wide range of unique toys from some of our favorite brands. They have everything from Maileg Mice (my girls have more of these on their holiday wish lists) to this pop up toy from my baby gift guide to adorable crafts, books, and clothing. I love that I can cross lots of things off of my list from one small shop!

Other favorite small shops: Chunky Cheeks for adorable baby clothes, Wear Truth and Gold for the "Diverse Readers Make Inclusive Leaders" tote we use for the library, and local shop Nestology for gifts for me!

Do you have a favorite small shop? Drop it in the comments so we can support more awesome makers and store owners!

Check out the rest of my gift guides here!