The Many Little Joys

Awesome gift ideas for kids that cost under $10 (and aren’t junk!)

Great gifts can come in inexpensive packages… In fact, these inexpensive gift ideas for kids are all under $10 and have been long-standing favorites at our house.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make Christmas special for your kids. Yes, sometimes it’s worth investing in good quality items that will last for years and years. But for the most part, kids are happy with simple!

Today, I’m sharing some of the simple, inexpensive gifts that have given us the biggest bang for our buck over the years. They’re all under ten dollars, and yet they’ve become favorite toys and activities of my three kids. No junk toys here that are going to end up in the garbage by Valentine’s Day!

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Awesome science gifts for kids with BIG ideas!

Have a curious kid who loves to tinker and build? These science gifts for kids are perfect for teaching scientific principles and inspiring creativity in your budding inventor!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

If you ask my seven-year-old what he wants to be when he grows up, he’ll confidently tell you: AN INVENTOR. Specifically, an electrical engineer. He wants to design and build robots that can do everything.

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Easy Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal you can make in your Instant Pot

This hearty and delicious cinnamon apple oatmeal is an easy breakfast recipe for busy mornings that evokes all the cozy feelings–and flavors–of fall.

This hearty and delicious cinnamon apple oatmeal is an easy breakfast recipe for busy mornings that evokes all the cozy feelings--and flavors--of fall.

Whew! Halloween is over, and we’re up to our eyeballs in candy around here. If you–like us–could use a really healthy breakfast option to counter all the Halloween candy lurking in your house, I’ve got the perfect recipe for you today:

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Printable Halloween Memory Game for Kids

This free printable Halloween memory game is the perfect activity for kids who need something to keep them busy until trick-or-treat time!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Need a quick and easy activity to keep your kids happy today? I’ve got you covered! Try playing this Halloween memory game for kids. It’s a great (and simple) way to get into the Halloween spirit! Just print, cut, and play!

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Apple Nachos: easy, healthy afternoon snack your kids will love

These super simple apple nachos are the perfect afternoon snack for kids: healthy, delicious, and ready in less than five minutes. Enjoy!

These super simple apple nachos are the perfect afternoon snack for kids: healthy, delicious, and ready in less than five minutes. Enjoy!

The search for easy, healthy, and kid-friendly snacks has been a long-standing quest around here. My kids come home from school hungry, and one in particular gets a *little* hangry if he doesn’t get food at regular intervals. So I really try to have a good quality snack available for my kids when they get home from school each day.

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Funny Halloween jokes for kids that your little goblins will love

Tickle your kids’ funny bones with these fun (and oh so punny) Halloween jokes for kids. Squeaky clean and perfect for even the littlest ghosts in your house.

Tickle your kids' funny bone with these fun (and oh so punny) Halloween jokes and riddles for kids. Squeaky clean and perfect for even the littlest ghosts on the block.

Who says Halloween has to be scary? If you’d rather switch out the spooky for silly this year, I’ve got a treat for you:

Q: What happened when the mummy ate too much candy?

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Free printable Halloween BINGO game for kids

This free printable Halloween BINGO game is perfect for class parties, community activities, and for family fun at home. Just print & play!

This free printable Halloween BINGO game is perfect for class parties, church or community activities, and for family fun at home. Just print & play!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

It’s October! The weather is getting colder, we have pumpkins on our porch, and my kids are busy planning out their Halloween costumes. The holiday season creeps up faster each year, doesn’t it?

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Fun Friday Activities: a simple family tradition for early out school days

Want a simple way to celebrate the beginning of the weekend and reconnect after a busy week of school? Try our favorite new family tradition: Fun Friday Activities!

3 boys posing during Fun Friday Activity

After a year (and then some) of homeschooling, my boys are back in public school this year. They are LOVING it (and so am I), but the downside is that during the week our schedules are much busier! My two older boys don’t get home from school until almost 4:00, and as much as I love my new-found freedom…I miss all the quality time I got with my boys last year.

While homeschooling was INCREDIBLY challenging, I loved all the time that we spent together exploring the mountains, playing at nearby parks, and visiting local attractions together.

Knowing that this year I wouldn’t have the same quantity of time with my kids, I started a new tradition to help us get some quality time. We call it: “Fun Fridays.”

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Easy-to-read chapter books that kids in the “early reader” stage will love

If your child is just crossing the bridge from picture books to novels, you’ll love these easy-to-read chapter books. They are the sweet spot that will keep kids entertained while strengthening reading skills and confidence.

If your child is just crossing the bridge from picture books to novels, you'll love these easy-to-read chapter books. They are the sweet spot that will keep kids entertained while strengthening reading skills and confidence.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

Over the last year, my 7-year-old son’s reading ability has exploded. I’ve seen him develop a hunger for books, and seen his confidence in reading grow. He is flying through stories now that he would have been intimidated by just a few months ago. It has been so fun to watch!

But this in-between stage of reading is tricky in some ways, too. Several months ago, he got to the point where he was ready to experiment with reading longer texts than a typical picture book, but he wasn’t quite ready for a full novel. So, I began hunting for books that could help him bridge that gap.

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