With over 140 million active users, there is a pretty good chance that you have at least 1 Minecraft player in your family. That can actually make it easier when it comes to gift-giving. At least you have a place to start!

My Son’s Favorite Minecraft Gifts

When it comes to gift ideas for Minecrafters, there are tons of options. But, the gifts below are things we actually own and have been well-vetted. From Lego’s to decor, these are some of my son’s favorite Minecraft-related gifts.

Minecraft Legos

Maybe it is because both revolve around blocks, but Minecraft and Legos are a perfect match. Many kids who play Minecraft are also into Legos, so they make a perfect gift for Minecraft-lovers.

We have a number of Minecraft lego sets now, and they are some of the few Lego sets that we actually mix together. The individual sets are fine, but mixing them together is way more fun. We have used them for stop motion video, school projects, and just putsing around. When we lived in an RV, we even used them to make our Christmas tree each year!

A Working Minecraft Torch

This torch lamp is so freaking cool. What you can’t see in the picture is that one side of the bottom flips down so that you can mount it to the wall at a 45 degree angle. It really looks just like it does in Minecraft!

Minecraft Card Game

If you want to get your kid off the computer for a bit, this Minecraft card game might be just the ticket. It isn’t very hard to play and it is small, so it travels well. It isn’t as good as the real thing (obviously), but it isn’t a bad way to spend a rainy afternoon.

Minecraft Potion Light

In the same vein as the Minecraft torch lamp, the potion bottle light makes a great gift for kids who play Minecraft. My son’s friend got it for him for Christmas, and it was (and is) a huge hit.

Minecraft Guides

My son has an older version of this set of guides, and has read them cover to cover a number of times. Even though he knew just about everything there was to know about the game, they were still a handy reference. I can’t get him to donate them, even though his are painfully out-of-date.

More Minecraft Gifts

We haven’t actually tried the Minecraft gift ideas below, but they look pretty darned cool. Everything on here has gotten 4+ stars on Amazon, so even though I haven’t vetted them myself, they should make pretty good gifts.

Minecraft Mini-Builds

Speaking of ideas…This book looks like loads of fun. It has great ideas and easy-to-follow instructions for smaller builds.

Minecraft Playing Cards

If you like the idea of a small, non-computer-related gift, but you don’t want to learn how to play a new game, Minecraft playing cards might work. These come in a travel tin and would make a good stocking stuffer for any kid that plays Minecraft.

Minecraft Magnetic Logic Puzzle

I wish they had this magnetic logic puzzle when we lived in an RV…The small size and magnetic pieces would have been perfect for the RV life. I love the fact that it is educational as well!

Minecraft Stuffed Animals

My son has a stuffed glow squid that he loved, but I couldn’t find the exact one on Amazon. There are actually quite a few options for Minecraft-themed stuffed animals, but these got really good reviews.

Minecraft Joke Book

OK…So this Minecraft joke book is totally up my alley. I am always up for a good joke, and as a Minecrafter myself, I think this book would get a few good snickers from any kid (or adult) that plays. I flipped through it (virtually on Amazon), and I can see why it has gotten such good reviews.

Minecraft Idea Book

Regardless of how creative you are and how long you have been playing Minecraft, it is always good to get more ideas. Flipping through this book (virtually), I was stunned by some of the builds.

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“Don’t play with your food.” How often do you say those words to your kids?

You might change your mind when you see how much fun kids can have while playing with food. In fact, recent studies suggest that when children are allowed to toy with unfamiliar food, they’re more willing to eat healthy.

Here’s the skinny on 7 of the best food games to play with your kids.

1. Food Jenga

How much fun is the classic game Jenga?

If you and your kids enjoy stacking tall block towers, you should make Food Jenga part of family night.

Use a variety of cookies and crackers to build your towers. Break them into halves if necessary, then attempt to remove pieces from the middle while keeping the tower intact. Don’t worry about winning or losing; everyone’s a winner with Food Jenga when you have a feast with the game pieces.

2. Guess The Food

Does your family love mysteries?

Turn your kids into avid foodies by exposing them to a plethora of tastes. Use healthy fruits and veggies in a guessing game.

• Choose up to 10 fruits and veggies to play with.
• Cut each one up into bite-size chunks.
• Have each participant close their eyes or wear a blindfold.
• Pass each player a small plate containing one fruit or veggie chunk.
• The first to guess what it is wins the round.

This game will encourage children to try new foods they might not otherwise touch.

3. Edible Play-Dough

Do you scold your preschoolers about eating play-dough?

Now you don’t have to worry about it: Solve the problem by making edible play-dough instead. This is one of the best food games in terms of variety from start to finish.

First, let the kids help you prep the play-dough. Follow this recipe, which yields a flavorful, colorful batch. Then, enjoy some free play, or have fun with a sculpting contest.

4. Food Necklace

Are your kids crafty?

If so, they’ll love making edible necklaces. Use Cheerios or Fruit Loops to create simple, colorful jewelry.

You can opt for an edible string (licorice, for instance) or a regular necklace thread. For smaller kids, use a thicker, more manageable kind of string such as a shoelace.

5. Food Face Contest

Is your family feeling competitive? Paint faces on waffles, pancakes, or other flat pastries. Use whipped cream, fruits and jams to create your messy masterpieces.

If you have a savory tooth instead, use potato pancakes or bread with various condiments to make your silly faces.

6. Pasta Relay

How do you stay sane on a rainy day with the kids at home?

You plan one of the best food games to burn off that pent-up energy. Enjoy a pasta relay.

• Boil, drain and cool a pot of pasta.
• Set it on one end of a long counter.
• On the opposite end of the counter, set up an empty pot.
• Let the kids line up in front of the counter.
• Have them scoop the pasta from one pot to the other as quickly as possible.

This slimy game evokes whoops of laughter and helps to build team skills. It also helps the development of good hand-eye coordination.

7. Candy Checkers

What beats playing a board game?

Playing a board game with edible pieces. This concept works best with checkers or Tic-tac-toe, both of which involve skipping over pieces.

• Wrap a checkerboard with foil.
• Place two kinds of candy on the board.
• Each time a player’s edible piece is eliminated, the winner gets to eat the candy.

The real winner will likely be the one who gets to eat more of the candy in this fun spin on checkers.

Do You Know Any Best Food Games?

There are at least as many creative ways to play with food as there are cuisines. The possibilities are endless. The best food games bring joy to the whole family and create many lasting memories.

Visit us often for new tips and ideas about fun activities for kids.

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(I originally wrote this post when Edison was a toddler. This activity was fantastic for practicing the alphabet and phonics. Now that he is in preschool, we are still getting a lot out of it. Even though he knows his alphabet, the game is great for phonics practice and we have modified it to help with vocabulary too!)

I have a lot of board games left over from when I was a kid, and I just can’t wait until my son is old enough to enjoy them. Lately, I have started adapting some of the games to work for younger kids. Even though Scattergories is quite a bit above his level (it requires writing), I did manage to find a great way to “play” it with my son.

My spirited child has more fun learning when he is moving. So, the other day, I pulled the alphabet die out of our Scattergories box and turned it into a little alphabet and phonics game. We called it Letter Ball.

The “rules” were simple. My son would roll the die, run after it, tell me the letter on the top of the die, and then we had to come up with words that started with that letter. The nice thing is that the Scattergories die does not have the notoriously difficult letters like X and Z.

This little alphabet activity kept him occupied for about a half an hour. It also gave him the opportunity to run around and throw things in the house, always a plus with an active child.

Practice Phonics and Introduce New Vocabulary with Your Preschooler

Even though my son is now a preschooler, I am still able to modify the rules to keep it challenging. Now, we pick a category like “food”. Then, when he rolls the die, we have to come up with foods that starts with that letter.

So, not only does the game help him practice phonics, but it also expands his vocabulary because he can’t just come up with the same old words time after time.

Scattergories Letter Ball in Action (Toddler style…)

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What a simple and beautifully designed toddler toy. A friend of ours gave this to our son Edison when he was about six months old. A year and a half later, he still loves it.

This toy is so much more than it looks. You can stack the cups two different ways, nest them inside each other, or put cups together into balls. The balls are big enough to hold little treasures like animals or the chime ball that it comes with.

But, forget what it was designed for…We use it to practice colors. I ask my toddler to close his eyes and then I put a treat like a Cheerio under one of the cups. When he opens his eyes, I tell him the treat is under the red (or whatever) cup. It is silly, but he loves it.

The cups lock together just enough that they stay together, but my two year-old has no problem getting them apart.

Versatile, durable, and inexpensive, this toy definitely packs a bang for your buck.

From the Manufacturer
Baby can learn so much through basic play, and these stackable, nestable, fit-together-and-roll-around cups offer endless versatility for lots of enriching discoveries. Includes 10 colorful cups to grasp, stack or nest, with grooved surfaces for a snug fit and easy stacking. Different colors, sizes and numbers help build early identification skills. A smiling jingle ball nests inside any cup, or fits on top of a whole stack! (more…)

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