Meg Donnelly Spills Her Perfect Holiday Gift for Kids & Families

Editorial note: This article is based on publicly available entertainment reporting, official brand information, toy-safety guidance, and family play research. It is written as original editorial content for web publication.

Holiday gift shopping has a way of turning even the calmest person into a detective with a cart full of “maybe.” One minute you are confidently buying wrapping paper; the next, you are staring at a toy aisle wondering whether an eight-year-old still likes dinosaurs, whether a tween wants something creative, and whether “family gift” secretly means “something everyone opens together before drifting back to their own screens.” Enter Meg Donnelly with a refreshingly simple answer: LEGO sets.

The ZOMBIES star and Broadway performer has become closely associated with family-friendly entertainment, upbeat music, and the kind of joyful energy that practically comes with twinkle lights. So when Donnelly shared that LEGO sets are among her favorite holiday gift ideas for kids and families, it made perfect sense. The pick is nostalgic, interactive, display-worthy, and flexible enough for a six-year-old, a Star Wars fan, a busy parent, or an adult who says, “I’m just helping,” then spends three hours organizing tiny bricks by color.

What makes her recommendation especially smart is that it is not just a celebrity “buy this because it is cute” moment. It taps into something families are actively looking for during the holidays: gifts that create time together. A LEGO set is not only an object under the tree. It is a shared project, a quiet afternoon, a little friendly debate about whether the gray piece is “dark bluish gray” or “definitely black,” and a finished build that can live on a shelf like a tiny trophy of patience.

Why Meg Donnelly’s Holiday Gift Pick Feels So On-Brand

Meg Donnelly is best known to many families as Addison from Disney’s ZOMBIES franchise, a musical universe built on acceptance, friendship, big feelings, and even bigger choreography. The franchise has always leaned into positive messages for young audiences, which makes her holiday gifting angle feel natural rather than forced. She has spent years connecting with kids, tweens, and families through performances that are energetic, colorful, and emotionally accessible.

In 2025, Donnelly’s holiday season became even more festive when she appeared on The LEGO Group’s Brick-tastic Winter Mountain float during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For an entertainer who grew up watching the parade as a family tradition, that moment had a full-circle quality. It also positioned her gift recommendation in a warm holiday context: music, family memories, New York City traditions, and a brand that has been part of childhood playrooms for generations.

Donnelly has also stepped into a new career chapter with her Broadway debut in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, showing that her audience now spans kids who know her from Disney, teens who grew up with her, and adults who appreciate musical theater. That range mirrors why LEGO works so well as a holiday gift. The same brand can offer beginner-friendly builds, fandom-based sets, collector pieces, decorative architecture models, and cozy seasonal calendars.

The Gift She Loves: LEGO Sets for Kids and Families

When Donnelly talks about LEGO as a holiday gift, the appeal is simple: it brings people together. That matters because many families are not just shopping for “stuff.” They are shopping for a moment. A good LEGO set can turn gift opening into an activity, and the activity can last beyond the first burst of wrapping-paper excitement.

For kids, LEGO sets offer hands-on play, storytelling, problem-solving, and that wonderful little confidence boost that happens when a pile of pieces becomes something recognizable. For parents, grandparents, older siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins, the gift is easy to join. You do not need to understand the latest app, memorize video game lore, or learn a complicated rulebook. You can simply sit down, sort pieces, follow steps, help when asked, and pretend you were not secretly hoping to place the final brick.

The best part is that LEGO sets can be tailored to the recipient. A child who loves countdown surprises may enjoy an advent calendar. A Star Wars fan can build a tiny galaxy of holiday-themed characters. A city-loving teen or adult may prefer an architecture set that becomes room decor. A family with mixed ages can choose a set where younger kids handle easier sections while older builders take on the more detailed parts.

Meg Donnelly’s Standout Picks

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025

One of the standout holiday ideas connected with Donnelly’s gift list is the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2025. Advent calendars work beautifully as gifts because they do not deliver all the fun at once. Instead, they stretch the excitement across December, giving kids a small daily ritual to anticipate. That matters during a season when routines can get chaotic, school breaks are approaching, and everyone is running on cocoa and calendar reminders.

The Star Wars theme adds another layer of appeal. It bridges generations. Parents who grew up with classic Star Wars stories can build alongside kids discovering droids, spaceships, and mini scenes for the first time. The result is less “here is a toy, have fun” and more “let’s open today’s door together.” That daily rhythm can be especially meaningful for families trying to create traditions that are simple, affordable, and not dependent on elaborate outings.

LEGO Architecture Statue of Liberty

Donnelly has also shown love for the LEGO Architecture Statue of Liberty set, a more display-focused build that fits older kids, teens, adults, and families who like slow, satisfying projects. This is the kind of set that says, “We are not rushing. We are building a landmark brick by brick like tiny holiday engineers with snacks.”

The Statue of Liberty set also fits Donnelly’s New York holiday connection. Between Broadway, the Macy’s parade, and classic city traditions like festive window displays and winter markets, New York has a strong presence in her seasonal story. A Statue of Liberty build is not just a toy; it can become a decorative reminder of travel dreams, city memories, or family time spent around the table.

Why LEGO Is a Strong Holiday Gift for Kids

LEGO sets are popular because they hit several sweet spots at once. They are tactile, creative, and structured. A child can follow instructions to complete a specific model, then later rebuild, remix, or invent a completely new story. That combination of guidance and freedom is rare. Some toys are so open-ended that kids feel lost; others are so fixed that the fun fades quickly. LEGO sits in the middle, offering a clear starting point and endless second lives.

Building also supports practical skills. Kids practice patience when a step takes longer than expected. They use visual matching when comparing instructions to pieces. They develop spatial reasoning by understanding how shapes connect. They build fine motor skills through snapping, aligning, and adjusting small parts. They also learn a surprisingly important life lesson: sometimes the problem is not the whole project, just one piece placed backward three pages ago.

For families, the biggest value may be communication. A build creates low-pressure conversation. Nobody has to sit formally and announce, “Let us bond now.” Instead, the bonding happens naturally while people ask for pieces, laugh at mistakes, and celebrate progress. This is why building toys remain a holiday staple even in homes full of screens. They give everyone something to do with their hands while still leaving room to talk.

How Parents Can Choose the Right LEGO Gift

Meg Donnelly’s LEGO recommendation is broad, but smart shoppers should still match the set to the child. The first rule is to check the age guidance on the box. Age labels are not just decorative suggestions invented by elves in a boardroom. They help indicate safety, complexity, and whether the build is likely to feel fun or frustrating.

For younger kids, look for larger pieces, simpler steps, and themes connected to everyday play: animals, vehicles, houses, trains, or favorite characters. For elementary-age children, themed sets with mini figures, small scenes, and imaginative play value are often a hit. For tweens and teens, consider more detailed builds, fandom sets, architecture models, flowers, vehicles, or display pieces that feel grown-up enough for a bedroom shelf.

Parents should also think about the recipient’s personality. A child who loves stories may enjoy sets with characters and scenes. A child who likes puzzles may prefer detailed builds with lots of steps. A kid who prefers free building may get more joy from a classic brick box than a licensed set. And for families who want a group activity, choose something with multiple sections so more than one person can contribute without creating a tiny brick traffic jam.

Safety Still Matters During Holiday Toy Shopping

Even the best gift needs a quick safety check. Small pieces can be a choking hazard for young children, so LEGO sets with tiny elements should be kept away from toddlers and babies. Families with mixed ages should create a building zone where older children can work without leaving small parts on the floor. A tray, storage bin, or zippered pouch can save both safety and sanity.

It is also wise to inspect sets for batteries, magnets, or accessories if the product includes anything beyond standard bricks. Read labels, follow age recommendations, and show children how to store pieces after play. Holiday excitement can make everyone a little careless, especially when cousins, pets, and dessert plates are all moving through the same room.

The good news is that with basic attention, building toys can be a safe and rewarding choice. The goal is not to turn gift opening into a safety seminar. The goal is to make sure the fun continues without anyone stepping barefoot on a brick at midnight, an experience that belongs somewhere between “minor inconvenience” and “dramatic opera solo.”

Why This Gift Works for the Whole Family

The phrase “family gift” can be tricky. Sometimes it means a board game everyone plays once. Sometimes it means a kitchen appliance pretending to be festive. LEGO avoids that problem because it can be both personal and shared. One child may receive the set, but the experience can include siblings and adults.

For busy families, LEGO sets also offer a rare kind of screen-free togetherness that does not feel preachy. Kids are not being told to “go do something educational.” They are just building. Parents are not being asked to perform elaborate entertainment. They can participate quietly, help when needed, and enjoy the small satisfaction of progress.

There is also a memory-making element. Many adults remember building sets as children, losing pieces under rugs, or proudly displaying completed creations. When they build with kids now, the gift becomes generational. It is not just plastic bricks; it is nostalgia with instructions.

Holiday Gifting Ideas Inspired by Meg Donnelly’s Pick

If you want to use Donnelly’s LEGO-loving holiday spirit as a guide, think in categories. For a young builder, choose a colorful starter set with easy instructions. For a Disney fan, look for character-driven sets that connect to favorite movies or shows. For a Star Wars household, an advent calendar or spaceship build can create instant excitement. For a teen or adult, architecture, botanicals, art, or display sets may feel more sophisticated.

You can also turn the gift into an experience. Wrap the set with hot cocoa packets, a snack mix, or a note that says, “Family build night: pajamas encouraged.” For grandparents, include a framed photo spot idea: build first, take a picture with the finished model, and make it part of the holiday album. For siblings, choose two smaller sets and plan a friendly build challenge where creativity matters more than speed.

The magic is in the framing. A LEGO set can be a box on a shelf, or it can be a tradition. Meg Donnelly’s recommendation works because it points toward the second option.

What Families Can Learn From Meg Donnelly’s Holiday Style

Donnelly’s holiday story is not only about a specific gift. It is about choosing presents that carry emotion. Her connection to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, her family traditions, and her love of joyful entertainment all point to the same idea: the best holiday moments are usually shared.

That is why LEGO fits the theme so well. It gives kids something to open, but it also gives families something to do together after the wrapping paper settles. In a season that can become expensive, rushed, and overly focused on “the perfect thing,” this is a helpful reminder. The perfect gift does not have to be the flashiest. It has to invite connection.

And connection does not require perfection. A slightly crooked build, a missing piece later found in someone’s hoodie pocket, a parent misreading step 18, a child proudly explaining the story behind their custom creation these are the moments people remember. The holiday gift becomes part of the family’s actual life, not just a receipt in an email folder.

Extra Experience Section: Real-Life Holiday Gift Lessons for Kids & Families

One of the best things about a LEGO-style holiday gift is how easily it becomes an experience instead of a one-day thrill. In many families, the first hour after gift opening is loud, messy, and full of competing interests. Someone wants batteries. Someone wants scissors. Someone lost a bow and is blaming the dog. A building set can slow the room down in a surprisingly pleasant way.

Picture a family on Christmas afternoon. The big meal is still hours away, the kitchen is busy, and the kids need something engaging that does not involve launching couch cushions into orbit. A LEGO set becomes the perfect table activity. One person opens the bags, another flattens the instruction booklet, someone becomes the official “piece finder,” and a younger child gets the very serious job of placing the first brick. Suddenly, the house feels less chaotic. Everyone has a role.

This is also where parents can make the gift more meaningful. Instead of handing over the box and disappearing into chores, sit with the child for the first ten minutes. Ask what part they want to build first. Let them lead. Resist the urge to correct every little thing unless they ask for help. A child’s confidence grows when they feel ownership over the process. The finished model matters, but the pride they build along the way matters more.

For families with different age groups, teamwork is key. Younger children may enjoy sorting colors or finding big pieces. Older kids can handle tricky steps. Adults can read instructions, keep small parts organized, and provide snacks, which is arguably the most important engineering role. The build becomes a shared project where every person contributes at their level.

LEGO gifts can also help create traditions beyond December. A family might start a holiday build night every year, choosing one set to complete together during winter break. Another family might display finished builds on a seasonal shelf. A grandparent might give one small set each year and write the date inside the instruction booklet. Over time, those builds become memory markers: “This was the year we built the droid workshop,” or “This was the year Dad put the roof on upside down and tried to call it modern architecture.”

There is also a practical benefit for parents: LEGO sets are easy to revisit. Unlike some toys that are exciting for twenty minutes and then mysteriously retire under the bed, bricks can be rebuilt, combined, and reimagined. A holiday set can become part of a larger collection. A child can follow the instructions once, then later build a spaceship, bakery, castle, or tiny concert stage for a mini version of Meg Donnelly. The gift keeps changing because the child keeps changing.

For families trying to reduce screen time without starting a household debate, building toys offer a gentle alternative. Nobody has to announce a “digital detox,” which usually makes everyone panic as if the Wi-Fi has joined a witness protection program. Instead, leave the set on the table and invite people to join. Curiosity often does the work.

That is the real lesson behind Meg Donnelly’s perfect holiday gift idea. Great gifts do not just entertain kids; they open a door for connection. They let families laugh, focus, create, and share a small win together. During the holidays, that kind of joy is not just nice. It is the whole point.

Conclusion

Meg Donnelly’s holiday gift pick is a reminder that the best presents are not always the trendiest, loudest, or most complicated. LEGO sets work because they combine nostalgia, creativity, family time, and lasting play value. Whether it is a Star Wars Advent Calendar for daily December excitement or a Statue of Liberty architecture set for a cozy winter build, the idea is the same: give something that brings people together.

For kids, LEGO can spark imagination and confidence. For parents, it offers a screen-free activity that feels natural instead of forced. For families, it becomes a shared memory. And for holiday shoppers who are tired of guessing, Meg Donnelly’s recommendation is refreshingly useful: choose a gift that builds joy, one brick at a time.