Even though minimalism is currently on trend, I’m pretty sure parents have always had a minimalist mindset when it comes to toys.
To the point that non-toy gifts are welcome. Encouraged, even. (This post contains affiliate links.)
This is usually due to a) lack of space, b) stepping on blocks one too many times, c) cleaning up toys one too many times, and/or d) all of the above. Plus kids not playing with said toys you step on and have to clean up.
Don’t get me wrong. Our family and friends have always been incredibly generous to us. Our kids have never lacked anything to keep them amused, and we’re grateful for the toys we have and receive.
But having made a big move this year, we ended up getting rid of a lot of stuff. And surprisingly, getting rid of some toys has actually been great for our kids. Plus makes for less to clean.
You might be thinking: Yeah, that’s a great idea in theory. You might be a family member looking for presents for a birthday or the holidays, and feeling strained. It’s hard to find gifts for kids that aren’t toys – right?
Actually there are a lot more ideas for non-toy gifts than you think.
Here are some ideas.
Take them on a special activity just between you and them.
- Do something seasonal, like a cookie baking class, light maze, ice skating, or skiing.
- Go see a show together. My mother-in-law took my oldest to a Sesame Street Live show one year, after gifting him a stuffed animal and PJs to take to the show (which avoided the need to buy expensive, cheaply made souvenirs at the event). He loved it.
- Take a class together.
- Visit a museum or a local event.
- Get tickets to a sports game.
- Go clothes shopping, if they’re needed.
- Have a lunch or dinner date.
- Take a trip to the spa for a facial, manicure, or pedicure.
Non-toy gifts can be something you make or do together.
- A science experiment kit is a fun way to explore something new. We bought a crystal kit for a friend’s birthday; there’s also a gemstone kit, fossil dig kit, dinosaur eggs, and an engineering kit.
- Craft kits leave you with something memorable and usually useful. Try something consumable like bath bombs, lip balm, candy; or try bouncy balls, necklaces, or comics. This gumball machine and this boombox look amazing!
- Try out a new or favorite board game. We love Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders (or get a set with both!); I grew up with Pretty Pretty Princess; our family enjoys Ticket to Ride, Scrabble, and Apples to Apples.
- Learn a new skill. You can get kits for magic, juggling, making a movie, or hand-lettering. My son loves our paper airplane book with pages to tear and fold.
Yes, you can choose practical gifts for kids, too.
- My mother-in-law has given us snow gear and sleds before, and how perfect! It’s just the right time of year, and we always use them. Try a two-person sled, a snow disc, or a snow tube (that you can deflate for better storage – win).
- Camping gear is an option that might even be fun to use indoors during the frosty season. Tents, sleeping bags, and lanterns make for gifts you can take outside when it heats up.
- Pick up pajamas that double as costumes. We got my kids onesie style pajamas that look like superhero costumes for Halloween last year, and they wore them all year long. Try Spiderman, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Batman, Black Panther, Incredibles, Batman, or Wonder Woman. If you’re more a fan of movie characters, there’s Princess Jasmine, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Snow White, Rapunzel, Darth Vader, Ariel, Anna, or Simba.
- Get decor that doubles as entertainment. I had glow-in-the-dark stars up in my room as a kid, and we got some for my son, too. You can try a star-projecting night light, a cinema light box, chalkboard paper with magnets, an indoor hanging chair, or comfy seating.
- Give them some options to work out that energy, indoors or out. I’ve heard rave reviews about indoor trampolines, and then this big bouncy house is great to get out when you want it, and put it away when you don’t.
- Imaginative play makes for a great option, too. Try a playhouse! I love the look of this one for littles, and here’s a lovely wooden option.
Gift a membership or subscription.
- My grandmother used to give me magazine subscriptions, which I loved! It’s the gift that keeps on giving all year long. (Movie quote, anyone?)
- There are also so many subscription box options out there now – books, crafts, science, clothes. Some ideas are Bookroo, Amazon Prime Box Books, and Lilypost for book subscriptions; We Craft, Kiwi Crate, and Green Kid Crafts for crafts; Amazon STEM Box or BitsBox for science; or StitchFix Kids, Kidpik and KidBox for clothes.
- Or alternatively, order a Young Reader Kindle with a Kindle Unlimited subscription!
- Memberships to your/their local children’s museum, science museum, transportation museum, gym, or zoo are a year-long hit with our kids.
- Lessons or classes can fit any interest – soccer, swimming, art, drama, block building, horseback riding, dance, cooking, or science. (You can even gift practical things they’ll need for these classes, if there’s more you want to do. My mom got a soccer ball and kneepads for my son when he was taking soccer classes.)
- Movie theater gift cards, or a television/movie subscription service.
How about you? What creative ideas do you have for non-toy birthday or holiday presents for littles?
Photos:
1 – Plush Design Studio on Unsplash
2 – Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
3 by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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