Home
>
Blog
>
Gift Ideas

20 gifts model & blogger Rocky Barnes says are perfect for a first birthday

A circular headshot of Rocky Barnes with images of different kids' toys surrounding her.

Lifestyle and fashion blogger, model, and mama-of-two Rocky Barnes celebrated her son Charlie’s first birthday with a super fun(gi) mushroom-themed party, complete with adorable mushroom decor and the sweetest theme backstory ever. As a proud, trendsetting mom to two young boys, Rocky’s passion for ultra-cool and engaging kids’ toys is apparent in this list of 20 gifts every 1-year-old (and their parents!) will love.

Personalized Wooden Name Puzzle

A personalized wooden name puzzle that says "Charlie."

Who doesn’t love a personalized gift? This thoughtful wooden puzzle not only encourages fine motor skills and cognitive ability, but it’s also a sweet keepsake that can be displayed once they’ve moved on to more challenging activities.

Recommended age: 1 month & up

Price at time of publication: $9.99

Montessori Wooden Mushroom Shape Sorting Game

A wooden mushroom sorting game.

They’re mushrooms. They’re colorful. They’re numbered. They’re everything! This cute wood shape sorter game facilitates number matching, color recognition and sorting skills, making it a trendy and educational choice.

Recommended age: 3 years & up

Price at time of publication: $12.99

Magnetic Tiles Beginner Set

Magnetic building tiles.

Parents and kids alike can enjoy hours of creative play with this colorful, STEM-approved magnetic building set! 

Recommended age: 3 years & up

Price at time of publication: $21.99

Melissa & Doug Old MacDonald’s Farm Sound Puzzle

Old MacDonald's farm shape sorting puzzle.

Melissa & Doug’s sound puzzles are practically a must for toddlers thanks to their engaging designs, easy-to-grasp pegs and irresistible sounds/music. (Yes, parents, you can turn the music off.)

Recommended age: 2 years & up

Price at time of publication: $10.99

Wooden Push Walker with Blocks

Wooden push walker with blocks.

Every child approaching toddler status needs a great push toy to help them improve their coordination. Not only does this one come with 33 wood blocks to play with, but the soft, muted colors give this set a fresh, calming aesthetic. 

Recommended age: 12 months–3 years

Price at time of publication: $49.99

Wooden Play Fruits & Vegetables

Play fruits and vegetables.

Kids LOVE pretend play, so this box of “choppable” fruit and veg is an awesome way to teach them about different healthy foods, hand-and-eye coordination and imaginative play.

Recommended age: 24 months–12 years

Price at time of publication: $26.99

Melissa & Doug 17-Piece Wooden Tabletop Railroad

Wooden railroad set.

Melissa & Doug makes fantastic wooden train sets that can be mix-and-matched with other brands, but this one is extra special as it can be folded up and carried around so little ones can play conductor wherever they are.

Recommended age: 3 years & up

Price at time of publication: $30.99

“(Peekaboo You)” Board Books

Peakaboo books.

Written by Camilla Reid and illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius, these sturdy, interactive board books encourage kids to push, pull and turn on every page to reveal a “peekaboo” moment. Rocky recommends “Peekaboo: Sun," “Peekaboo: Moon” and “Peekaboo: Farm”!

Recommended age: 0–2 years

Price at time of publication: $9.99

Soft Car Toys Set

Soft car toys set.

Any parent of a rambunctious toddler knows that accidents will happen. That’s why these soft, cloth-covered vehicles are a joy. They even make crinkling, squeaking or rattling noises to encourage continued play and sensory development!

Recommended age: 12–18 months

Price at time of publication: $19.99

Montessori Wooden Activity Cube

Wooden Montessori activity cube set.

Neutral colors added with non-toxic water-based paint and a wide variety of shapes elevate the classic shape sorter activity cube to the next level. 

Recommended age: 36 months–8 years

Price at time of publication: $22.99

All-in-One Musical Toy

All-in-one musical instrument toy.

Little rockstars will adore playing with this plethora of percussive instruments—including a xylophone, cymbal, drum and guiro—while improving their fine and gross motor skills, memory and coordination.

Recommended age: 6 months–8 years

Price at time of publication: $29.99

Baby Balance Bike

Baby balance bike.

Learning how to walk is simply more fun when you combine it with riding! This sleek balance bike is designed with ease of use and safety in mind, so your little one can focus on exiting the crawling stage with flying colors.

Recommended age: 12 months & up

Price at time of publication: $49.99

Mushroom Plushie

Mushroom plushie.

A cuddly-soft plushie to keep them company during naptime and beyond is essential. And really, how cute is this happy little mushroom one?

Recommended age: 3 years & up

Price at time of publication: $9.99

Montessori Wooden Stacking Rocks

Montessori wooden stacking rocks.

These rock! No, really, these beautifully painted wood polyhedrons help to develop fine motor skills, logical thinking, balance ability, creativity and so much more. 

Recommended age: 36 months–15 years

Price at time of publication: $35.99 

Melissa & Doug Wooden Car Carrier Truck and Cars Set

Wooden car carrier toy truck with cars.

When it comes to toddlers, you can’t go wrong with toy vehicles! This wooden set is especially engaging thanks to its “vehicles within a vehicle” design. Kids can easily move the upper level up and down, load and unload cars, and then move them around!

Recommended age: 3 years & up

Price at time of publication: $14.99

Wooden Mushroom Toy Set

Wooden mushroom toy set.

Whether you use these natural wood mushrooms for decor or imaginative play (how adorable would they be in a fairy tale setting?), they’re simply charming.

Recommended age: 36 months & up

Price at time of publication: $19.99

Melissa & Doug Caterpillar Xylophone

Caterpillar xylophone toy.

An octave of rainbow notes and antenna mallets come together to create a sweet symphony of musical learning and fine motor skills. It even comes with some simple song cards so they can learn how to play their favorite tunes!

Recommended age: 36 months–6 years

Price at time of publication: $10.99

“I Am One - My First Scribble Book”

I am One scribble book.

When in doubt, keep it simple! This scribble book is a blank canvas for your toddler’s imagination (and something you’ll want to hold onto forever and revisit as they grow up).

Recommended age: 1 year & up

Price at time of publication: $5.99

All of the products we feature are hand-selected by our editors! You see only what we love and what we think you'll love too. If you buy something through links on our site, Evite may earn a commission.

No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

All of the products we feature are hand-selected by our editors! You see only what we love and what we think you'll love too. If you buy something through links on our site, Evite may earn a commission. Prices are subject to change.

No items found.

No items found.

What makes Evite SignUp Sheets different from other signup tools?

Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than other signup tools:

  • 100% free: SignUp Sheets are free to use.
  • Ad-free: No popup ads ever! Our signup sheets remain clutter-free, keeping your volunteers focused on signing up.
  • No extra login required: Seamlessly use your Evite account to create and manage your signup sheets, keeping all your events in one convenient location.
  • Automatic reminders and notifications: Stay on top of your event with automated reminders and notifications for you and your participants. Perfect for busy parents, teachers and anyone juggling multiple commitments.
  • Customization options: Tailor your signup sheets to your specific event, whether it's a school fundraiser, potluck, volunteer opportunity or team activity. Add custom tasks, time slots and requirements for smooth coordination.
  • User-friendly experience: Our intuitive interface makes creating and sharing signup sheets simple for everyone, regardless of tech experience.
  • Real-time updates: Get instant notifications whenever someone signs up or makes a change, so you always know where things stand.

Choose Evite SignUp Sheets for the easiest, most streamlined way to get volunteers and signups for your next event!

What is a SignUp Sheet?

Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.

Evite SignUp Sheets offers parents, teachers and event planners customizable online forms that organizers and volunteers can access and update effortlessly. Volunteers can choose their preferred time slots, sign up for tasks or indicate what they'll bring to the event. It only takes organizers a few minutes to create a signup sheet and send it out with a shareable link, so they can get the word out via text, email or social media—whichever way they prefer! 

Long story short, SignUp Sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.

How do I create a SignUp Sheet?

Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:

  1. Go to Evite SignUp Sheets and choose the template that best fits your needs. Evite offers multiple signup sheet templates perfect for every occasion, including:
    • Signup sheets for one day events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a class party, potluck or end-of-season party.
    • Signup sheets for single or multiple day events (with time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing concession stand volunteers, fundraisers, parent-teacher conferences, meal train, post-game snack duty or during appreciation week.
  1. After selecting your sheet template, create a title for your signup sheet and add the date, the location, the time (if applicable), who the organizer is, the organizer’s phone number or email and an optional note describing the event to your volunteers. You can also change your signup sheet background and title image if you wish!
  1. Next, create slots for your signup sheet. If you aren’t logged into your account, you will need to do so at this point, but luckily, you can use your existing Evite account (no need to create yet another login!). What you’ll include here will depend on what your event needs, but you can include a list of what’s needed (along with optional descriptions), how many volunteers are needed, and dates and times.
  1. After creating your slots, you can then add a wish list from any retailer or include supply suggestions from Evite’s retailer partners. These are to help your volunteers find and purchase supplies quickly and easily.
  1. Finally, review your sheet, copy your shareable link and send it out to everyone on your list! Every time a volunteer signs up for a slot on your signup sheet, Evite will email you. We will also send reminders to you and your volunteers before your event so no one will forget about it, and we’ll even let volunteers know if you remove their slot or cancel your event sheet so you don’t have to!

What information should be included on a SignUp Sheet?

When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:

  1. A title for your signup sheet. Tip: Aim to keep your signup sheet title concise but clear. You want volunteers to read it and have a general understanding of what your event is about, and also make it easy for them to look for later if they need to reference your sheet again. You have the option to include a more descriptive note in a different field about your event, so save the more in-depth details for that!
  1. When and where the event is taking place. 
  1. The organizer’s name and phone number.
  1. Slots for volunteers to choose from. Once you choose the SignUp Sheets template that fits the occasion, the slots you’ll need for your sheet will be right there and ready for you to add the relevant info, such as dates, times, items to bring and tasks to complete. 

When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!

Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!

What are the benefits of using a SignUp Sheet template?

Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:

  • A 100% free experience (no subscriptions required!).
  • Shareable links for quick and easy sharing.
  • No need to create another login—you can use your existing Evite account.
  • The option to add a wish list to help your volunteers out.
  • Automatic reminders—we’ll remind everyone on your behalf.
  • An easy-to-use experience with eye-catching guided templates.
  • Clean, modern designs with no pop-up ads.

With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.

View More Articles

View All