In the aftermath of a heartbreaking election season, to pull myself out of shock and grief, I made promises. I promised I would do more. I would listen better. I would speak louder. I would love stronger.

But I’ll be honest, that also terrified me. Here is what we need to do, they said. Call up your congressman. Study this book. Reach a hand out. Further. No even further. Take in all the oppressed and let them know they belong. All of them. Every single one.

It was enough to paralyze me.

Which in itself is the problem right there.

You see because of my privilege, I can care when it really matters, but quite easily retreat into a world that is safe and stable when it feels like too much.  I didn’t want to do that. But I didn’t know where to begin. Because adding something to the to-do list that itself is never finished was the part I couldn’t wrap my head around. Where does “saving the world” fit into my schedule? Can I fit it into nap time, among all the other tasks that "perfect" mothers do?

I’m not ready to give up yet. I’m not ready to stop doing more, stop listening better, stop speaking louder and stop loving stronger, not ever.  But in the face of paralysis, I know I need to start small. Much like closet clean outs and marathon training, one small step at a time. I realized there is something I can do every single day. There is something I do already. And it is probably one of the greatest hopes we have for a brighter future.

I can raise my children to save the world.

These little people in my house and the little people they encounter are the ones we can count on to carry our mission. If we can teach them to love and celebrate diversity, to not be afraid but to be kind, to see the world as big enough for all God’s children, then we can, indeed, save the world.

And the conversation begins in play.

So my final gift guide for this season is more than just great suggestions for the little people in your life. It is an opening for dialog with your children. We need conversation, one that actually talks about the differences we might see in our world, instead of hushing it. Children have so much insight. Their curiosity about the world is contagious. They are building maps in their brain for the rest of their lives forming the kind of people we need more of as the next great leaders. Fill your homes with toys and books that spark conversation about the incredible beauty of diversity and kindness. Because it is through these thoughtful discussions at our home where they feel most safe and loved and supported that they can gain the confidence to take this mindfulness beyond.  

Raising our children to be better is a promise I am willing to keep.

Here are some of my favorite gifts that celebrate diversity…

Dolls

Provide dolls for your children of varying skin tones. Racial diversity is a fact in our country and the more we are comfortable around it, the easier it is to talk about. Our skin tone is something to be proud of, to love, and to celebrate. After stealing her babies all too often, Caroline decided she needed to get Elliott a doll of his own. I saw this as a great opportunity to pick out a doll with different skin color than the other 29,000 in our house and Caroline agreed we needed a baby with brown skin like some of the children on her soccer team. This lead to a great conversation about how exciting it is that we can all have different skin and hair, to be proud of that, and then to talk about how all the children, all the little dolls need the same love. My favorites in this category are these soft dolls for the littlest ones, a larger baby as they grow, and this Barbie doll, who I want just because that hair is everything. 

Crayons

I'm sticking these crayons in Caroline's stocking. Her illustrations are still in the stage of coloring people green and pink. But as the details fill in, I would love for her to feel inspired to create a diverse look of her people. I want the conversation to lead to an awareness that skin tone itself is not just black and white but a rainbow of hues. 

World Puzzle

This summer we took a week to study different countries from around the world (in between pool splashing and popsicle eating, of course.) I found it to be such an enriching lesson on learning about children all around the world in a positive light. I think too often the conversation goes to pity of our brothers and sisters who don't have enough (eat your dinner; there are starving children in Africa.) As we learned about how children go to school and how they eat and how they play, the conversation highlighted the differences while also allowing room to celebrate what we do. You need both. Awareness and appreciation. For a child interested in puzzles, this is a great one to begin that conversation about people of our world, how they might be different and the same. And also that these differences can be seen right here in our own neighborhoods. 

Socks

Socks? That help us raise culturally aware children? These socks are called Pals and they are designed especially to start conversation. They feature mismatched socks in more ways than one. The pair of characters are two unlikely friends demonstrating how a dog and a cat or a t-Rex and a brontosaurus or a bird and worm can be quite different, but still remain Pals. I want these in big people sizes. 

Games

The Peaceful Kingdom company creates games that encourage all the players to work together to all collectively win the game. There are plenty of opportunities in a child's world to encourage healthy competition. I love that these games teach a different lesson for our young learners, that cooperation can be a winning strategy as well. Oh if only more of our leaders could get on board with this. We have an owl game from this company, but this version stood out to me because it teaches empathy, a skill we must develop to respect the diversity of our neighbors. Children draw tokens and decide if they can help someone on the board. What a great conversation starter about empathy and feelings. 

Books

And of course, as I have said repeatedly, if you do nothing else, read books. There are countless options out there. I chose just a few that stand out. But if I were to give you one suggestion, it is to judge a book by it's cover. An odd request, especially in light of this post about diversity. Here is why: beyond the great books that encourage the conversation of diversity, sometimes it is as simple as just seeing faces that look different than ours. Our children need to have heroes and heroins that look like them and that look like their neighbors. A book about a black child from the inner city does not need to be a book about overcoming hardships. It could be a story about a Snowy Day, something children everywhere (except in Texas) might be able to relate to. So as you pick out books, look for diverse characters, judge that book by its cover, and begin to normalize the beautiful shades of color in our country for our children.

Be sure to add these to your personal library, or at the very least your library hold cue. 

Say Hello - This little girl love Ina neighborhood full of many different people speaking different languages, but they all speak the language of friendship.  

The Colors of Us - Skin color is a rainbow of shades, a great pairing with the multicultural crayons.

We're Different, We're the Same - Sesame Street has always done a nice job of showing diversity in their neighborhood. 

Whoever You Are - How children all over the world may look different but they all share similar ode experiences.  

The Sandwich Swap - This not only teaches a great lesson in respecting cultural differences, it also might remind your children to try new foods! 

I Love My Hair - Celebrate what makes us different as well as others.  

The Last Stop on Market Street - An award winning book of a boy with many questions about his world and the grandmother who is willing to open up his eyes.  

One Family - Families come on many different numbers and ways, but are all together as One.

Praying for Peace on Earth this Christmas, and let it begin with me.  

I'm with her.

This girl who dreams of being a doctor and a ballerina and a princess and a mommy.

Who firmly believes she can and will be all these things.

A girl with big goals and the confidence to make them happen.

This is a girl I want to stand behind.

I'm with her.

So to keep supporting these aspirations, I try to fill her world with creative play and learning that reflect this spirit.

Despite our best efforts to raise gender neutral children and girls who like trucks and dirt as much as the boys on the playground, these strong girls we are raising let their opinions be known, opinions that more often than not involve some combination of pink, twirly, and sparkly.

So don't fight it, I say. Line up the dolls, fill the closets with pink, don that sparkly crown. But ALSO don't don't leave out the important discussions around strength and confidence and initiative. She needs to hear that too.

Because I want every girl to know this world is big and there is room for all our dreams. They can dance around in a princess crown and engineer a trip into space all in the same afternoon.

Here are a few of my favorite gifts for raising strong girls with big dreams...

Star Exploration Lego Set

Here is an example of a building toy that does not need to be pink for a girl to enjoy it. Truth. However, I love how Lego company draws in a different audience, maybe one who prefers the aisles of pink and purple, thus inspiring a budding engineer and a star gazing explorer. This one is on our Christmas list this year. 

Lottie Doll

My snail loving girl's face lit up when she received this Fossil Hunter Doll from her aunt last birthday (see, Aunt's can be both cool AND nerdy!) A doll with hiking boots, a backpack, and tools. What more could you want. Or how about a stargazer? Maybe a pirate? These Lottie dolls are as darling as they are inspiring, just the right combo for your strong girl. Perfect for the little one who hasn't quite jumped into the world of Barbies. But if she has...

Career Barbie 

Mattel is so on point with their Barbies this year. Their line of Career dolls show our little girls that their life goals do not need to end at mall shopper, fashion model, or housewife. There is the pediatrician, the game developer, or my personal favorite the girl president and her girl running mate, pantsuits and all! Talk about dreaming big! 

Doc McStuffins Dress Up

Another great way to encourage big dreams is in dress up. Sure, princesses can be honorable, but so can doctors. I don't let a lot of characters make their way into our play space. But I love Doc McStuffins as a model for our children and this little doctor coat would be a perfect addition to the dress up box.

Goldiblocks Craft-struction Box 

The Goldiblocks line is a fantastic resource for encouraging girl engineers. Many of the kits are best for ages 6+ but this one is a good start for the younger crowd. It involves a bunch of different pieces encouraging imagination, planning, creative thought, and more. The possibilities are as big as they can dream.  

Books

It wouldn't be a Raise and Shine gift guide without a book line up too. This is usually my go to way of inspiring a young girl. Stories open up the imagination more than any other resource. But more importantly, it provides an outlet for discussion because we are reading together. Here are some of my favorites...

Rosie Revere still brings me to tears with the powerful message of never giving up in learning and creating. Ada Twist is the next book, and while it's not my favorite, a science loving girl will be inspired by a very similar message. ​

I fell in love with this book, Bloom, as soon as I began reading. Essentially a tiny little girl with an even tinier voice learns to take up space, speak up, and make a big mess, ultimately saving a crumbling kingdom. Even the font of the book changes as the meek little girl gets braver. It's a powerful message. Listen up ladies. This one is for you. Take up space. Be heard. Save the world. 

I came across two new to me books with a similar message at our local book store and I wanted to bring home immediately. In Stand Tall little Molly Lou's grandmother has some wise words about being exactly who you are. Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun has a similar message. Have courage to be the unique you. That's the best dream to dream. 

These books come from a series called Ordinary People Change the World. There is no better message than that for raising strong girls. There really many to choose from but this collection of great female role models is an excellent way to teach our young growing little girls how to dream big.  

Finally, we can't leave out the princesses. Two favorites, Not all Princesses Dress in Pink and Paper Bag Princess. Because having dreams of being a princess is perfectly fine, as long as you don't mind just being exactly you and not needing anyone to rescue you but yourself.  

If my little girl grows up with those dreams, I'd say we did alright.  

When this parenting gig slows down, you know, never, I'm making plans for my next career as a gift concierge. I could dream up gift lists for others for days. I take great joy in the mindful practice of finding just the right gift for someone. 

But until this new career really takes off, I'm going to bring my skills to the screen, like every other blogger out there at Christmas time. 

Up first, my most favorite way of gifting for children, the book and toy pairing. I love books, no secret there. I could gift books all day. And sometimes I do just that. Merry Bookmas family!

But for kids, I sometimes choose the book as a compliment to the toy. The pairing of a great story and the imaginative nature of a toy is the perfect recipe for development. One can encourage the other. When I want to explain something to my children, I pull out a book. And then as they sit down and play, I can hear them talking through lines of the story while lost in make believe. This is the kind of thing that someone like me geeks out about. "They're learning, by golly!!"

Here are some of my favorite book and toy pairings. Some I have gifted before. Others I may be gifting this year. Many take gifts from my Essential Toy Pantry, which is still relevant if you need a good place to begin for rounding out a child's playroom. 

Train

A simple book that I have read a hundred times over is the perfect match to any train lover. The colorful train stands out against the simple background. It makes you want to ride on a rainbow train too. This Brio was our first train in this house followed by many others. Another favorite are the CTA replicas, fondly referred to as "Choo Choo Bus" in this house which I think is such a great description, a train that acts like a bus. 

For another book recommendation, see also Steam Train, Dream Train for lullaby language or the classic Little Engine that Could. 

Blocks

You can never go wrong with blocks as a gift for a child. Every kid needs blocks, any and all kinds. If young, a classic wood set is perfect. You can never have too many. For older children, ask if they have a preferred set. Sometimes it works best to add to an existing favorite set rather than add in a new type of building set. But there are many cool ones out there so you can not go wrong if you want to be trendy. Our favorite still remains the magnatiles. 

These books are not necessarily about blocks but they are shaped like a big block. I love how each page interacts with the next. They are easy to hold and invite you to keep turning the pages. Have a dino friend in the house? The Dinoblock is both fun and educational. 

Chalk Box

Such a brilliant book that tells the many stories a box can become. The book depicts precisely the amazing imagination of a child, and the sometimes obliviousness of the onlooker (i.e. parent). Give this book inside of a GIANT box. Paint it with chalkboard paint and throw in some chalk. Let the child turn their box into whatever they can dream up. Kids like to play with the box anyway, right? Also, chalk is great for the parent fearful of drawing on walls. Just wipe away and its done. 

Animals

This is a new book to me but one I am hoping to add to our collection, especially with the 100 anniversary of the National Parks this year! We have these  extra large animals and I think they would make a great match to this book. For the restless reader (I have one) adding animals to the reading makes it fun and interactive (this tip could really be useful with all these book/toy pairings for the younger reader.)

Finger Puppets

I think I might hint to Santa that this needs to make its way under the Christmas tree. Pretty much the only animal sound Elliott likes to repeat is the Owl. And he uses it for every animal. This book is an award winner and the simple four words on each page sounds like the perfect before bed read. And how adorable is that finger puppet! There are so many more of these sweet little animals so if you have a different favorite book with a different animal, I bet you could find a finger puppet to read along too. 

Flashlight

Flashlights are one of those simple fun pleasures a child may never think to ask for but they can bring hours of fun, even if you aren't a camper. I really like this cute firefly but the flashlight doesn't need to be cute to be functional. We found this book this summer and I loved it, maybe more than the kids. The illustrations are captivating.

In addition, these series of books would be super fun paired with a flashlight. You shine the flashlight through the pages and it shines on the wall. Snuggled up together in bed, that sounds so cozy!

Glow Stars

Ever since sleeping under her Uncle's old high school bedroom ceiling still covered in the glow in the dark stars of his youth, Caroline has been asking for her own stars that glow. They made it on the Santa List. She means business. I'm hoping Santa reads her letter, and also pairs it with this great book by Oliver Jeffers. Anything by this author is fantastic. This is a great combo for the space loving fan. 

Balls

I have mentioned this book before, but it was probably one of the first books my difficult to read to child fell in love with. "Ball! Ball! Ball!" the only word in the whole book is repeated over and over in various ways telling the delightful story of a dog and his two loves, a girl and a ball. Every young reader should have this book and every young learner needs a ball, or six. These sensory balls are my favorite. But any ball of any size is fun paired with this book. 

Play Kitchen

We love pancakes around here. When I saw this book I thought it looked like so much fun. it will surely inspire some delicious cooking in the kitchen with some of my favorite children's toys. And you can pretend to enjoy it like I taught you in this post. 

Truck

Finally, every child needs a truck in their life. And I don't believe you can ever have too many. Any trucks by Green Toys are some of my favorites. And for the truck loving fans in your life, this book is the perfect addition. They can snuggle up with the new favorite truck and read of their love with their love. What a way to end the day, huh?

My list could go on and on. But I hope this gives you inspiration of your own when gifting. Or perhaps, just to look around the house at what toys you can pair with the next reading time. There are no rules. Happy gifting, playing, and reading!