Dressed in fish and armed with popcorn, we excitedly went to see Finding Dory in theaters the week it came out. Ever since, they have been mesmerized with the ocean and all the creatures that live there. So we have done out best to compile the best gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and any time for Nemo, Dory, and Ocean-loving kiddos!
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Great gifts for kids who love the Ocean
There are so many find ideas for a Finding Dory themed birthday party or even Christmas gifts that all relate to Nemo, Marlin, and Dory. And sometimes, there are even some awesome presents out there that aren’t even straight from Disney but are perfect for the kid whose interested in the ocean was piqued by the movie(s).
Ocean Pets by Putao
Sent to me by Pai Technologies, we found this set to be a perfect activity to merge hands-on creative play with screen time fun. It is a wonderful interactive set that allows kids to build fish with their special, feed and care for them, and learn about marine biology.
Jenn was completely enthralled with the process of molding and building and her eyes got so wide when she saw that the iPad scanned her fish into something she could interact with on the screen! It absolutely makes her allotted tablet time less about just sitting in front of an iPad and more about learning and being hands-on in the creative process.
Read more about how to share a family iPad even with young kids.
Finding Nemo Board Game
I really love this game. In fact, if you remember the old-school original Nintendo Game “Pipe dream” it’s very similar just in a hands-on form for younger kids. (I think there are various names for this type of game like Pipe Mania, Fun2Link, Oilcap, and others). Anyways… it’s a great spatial and critical thinking game and they have the board game variety in Finding Nemo theme!
Read more about How to “Gameschool” and use board games to teach kids.
Melissa & Doug Floor Ocean Puzzle
We have had this giant foam fish and underwater puzzle for years. It’s such a great gift because it can be adapted for different ages and can also be used as a small floor activity mat when it’s done.
For younger kids, it’s easy to keep “chunks” of pieces together to make it easier to solve. We kept ours in big squares for this purpose. But then as the kids get older, breaking them into smaller pieces to solve makes it more challenging for them.
LEGOs to make character & fish mosaics
So this is one of the coolest things I have seen and it’s also a great learning and spatial awareness activity to recreate characters from Finding Dory with LEGO bricks. Simply Gather all the blocks you would need, print the templates in the link, and let your child build and make their favorite characters. (or do it together!)
Stocking stuffers or Small birthday gifts that are Finding Dory-themed
Movie-themed sticker sets
What kiddo, young or older, doesn’t love some stickers?! There are so many great options and it’s a simple gift that can even be slipped inside of card (which, personally, is still appropriate if it’s for a child whose birthday invitation asks for no gifts).
Matching games
We have this cute little Finding Dory matching game that has been great for both my 4 and 2-year-old to play together. plus it’s easy to pack up into a small zipped bag to take with us when waiting for appointments, playing in the car, and waiting for food at a restaurant.
Plus, check out my free educational Fish Fins Matching game printable here!
Finding Dory Water-Ring Game
Another great small gift is this Dory water pinball game. It has been something the girls can play with in the car and work to promote some healthy competition in the family too. Just a fun, but off-the-beaten-path type of gift.
Navystar Pull String Bath Toys
Jenn and Emma have both the turtle and the clown fish and they are the hit of bath time every single moment they get in the tub. There are several options and they are all ocean-themed. We have had other pull-string bath toys in the past, but none of them have really held up, but these are sturdy and really well made, outlasting many of our other tub toys. In fact, we got the Squirt swimming bath turtle specifically from the movie, but it unfortunately broke after about a year.
Get Finding Dory coloring books and pages.
Make a small gift set with crayons and download these free Finding Dory coloring pages to enjoy in the car, for quiet time, or whenever. In fact, they make some simple little silicone molds of fish that can be used to melt down old crayons into favorite characters and creatures of the ocean.
Other great DIY ideas for kids who love Find Dory and Finding Nemo
- Make a really shark teeth snacks together for fun before you watch the movie(s) again!
- Package up the ingredients to make this Finding Dory Magic Sand activity that you can do together at a later date.
- If your child is old enough, quiz them with these facts that Finding Dory got wrong in the movie.
- Print out this template to make egg carton turtles together.
- Make no-sew Dory and Nemo hand puppets to use during imaginative play time.
What gift ideas do you have for the Finding Dory enthusiast in your life? OR… what great treats, snacks, and decorations have you found that are perfect for a Finding Nemo birthday theme kids’ party?
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Kara is an author and advocate for positive, grace-filled parenting. She is homeschooler to her 4 children living in Boston, MA and believes in creative educational approaches to help kids dive deeper into a rich learning experience. She has her degree in Secondary Education & Adolescent Childhood Development and is passionate about connecting with and helping other parents on their journey to raise awesome kids!
Katherine King
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