As a mother of a toddler, I have always been upset when receive another pack of sweets as kids’ gifts from my employers. Christmas is the time for sweet treats, and she will have a chance to eat some candies and cinnamon bakery. 

What I really appreciate is a thoughtful approach that shows care for my child’s well-being, creativity, and education. And the best Christmas gifts for kids do not necessarily have to be expensive. Let’s explore some non-sweet gift alternatives together.

What do parents expect from kids’ gifts?

  • Safety and quality: Gifts should be made from non-toxic materials, free of small parts that could be choked, and generally well-constructed. As a parent, I prioritize quality to ensure the product is durable and safe for my child.
Eco-firendly and safe kids' gifts
  • Educational value. Games and toys that foster creativity and intellectual development are probably the most desired gifts for kids. These include artistic sets, paints or clay, puzzles, board games, etc.
  • Relevance. Both parents and their children expect kids’ gifts to correspond to their interests. Teenagers enjoy listening to music on the go, so why not present them with branded wireless speakers?
  • Usefulness. Practical gifts can be easily integrated into their children’s lifestyles, such as custom clothes, school supplies, drinkware, and accessories.

What do employers look for?

Employers are looking to promote brand awareness and employee loyalty, so they are interested in finding the kids’ gifts that meet all the criteria below.

  • Promote company values. As any other branded swag, children’s gifts are an excellent way to promote the company’s values and ideas. For instance, to promote caring about the planet and nature, the company can opt for eco-friendly toys and accessories made of organic or recycled materials. Likewise, to express a focus on family and work-life balance, the employer can gift family-uniting games and sports accessories.
  • Boost brand awareness. Company-branded backpacks in public transport, logo towels on the beach, custom smartphone stickers—there are many ways of spreading the company logo worldwide through small ambassadors. 
  • Showcase the employer’s care. Thoughtful, relevant, and useful gifts show that the employer cares about the employees beyond the workplace, leading to higher job satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Universal for all ages. The gifts must be appropriate for different ages. This drastically simplifies merchandise logistics, especially for large-scale businesses with thousands of employees.
  • Budget-savvy. Let’s face the truth: the kids’ gifts are secondary, and you can hardly find an employer ready to invest tens of thousands of euros in them. Therefore, everyone is looking for a win-win solution.

As you can see, the requirements for employee kids’ gifts are high and challenging. Sweets, despite being universal and cost-efficient, do not boost brand awareness, strengthen relationships with employees, or convey a strategic brand message. Your employees will hardly remember the sweet gift a month after the winter holidays.

Christmas kids’ gifts by Swag42

To meet the interests of both parents and employers, Swag42 prepared a thoughtful collection of corporate kids’ gifts for the 2025 winter holidays. Look how many eco-friendly, educational, and cozy Christmas gifts are inside!

Edutainment gifts

Safe for health, Christmas-themed, and entertaining.

Branded toys

The cute and huggable toys are made from recycled materials and comply with European standards on toy safety.

Lifestyle kids’ gifts

The collection contains functional items for everyday use. Opt for a zero-waste package: put all the kids’ gifts in the backpack.

Conclusion

As a mom, I would prefer a branded Christmas tic-tac-toe or coloring bag, a reindeer sweatshirt, and a plush teddy for my daughter. And what about you?