The Best Non-Toy Gift Ideas For Your Kids
As parents, we often turn to toys as gifts for our kids. I mean why not? Getting our kids the special toy they want and watching their faces light up as they open it is priceless.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with gifting your kids toys. In fact, depending on the toy you get your child, it can positively influence their development. However, there may be a different way to gift your children this time around.
What I am talking about are non-toy gifts. That’s right, instead of giving your kids toys for their birthday, Christmas, or whatever the occasion, gift them with something that isn’t a toy.
*This post contains affiliate links, at no additional cost to you I am compensated if you purchase after clicking on the links.*
Why get your kids non-toy gifts?
Gifting your kids something that isn’t a toy could expose them to different people, expand their knowledge about a specific subject, and provide them the space to be creative and have new adventures.
We often don’t think about the impact non-materialistic gifts could have on our children, but you have heard it before and I’ll say it again, experience is the best teacher. And exposing your kids to new and exciting experiences will do just that.
This holiday season, if you are looking beyond the scope of the materialist usual gift, this non-toy gift ideas list will give you a chance to help your child grow in a way you never thought possible.
If you’re wondering what in the world you can give your kids that aren’t toys, well don’t worry, I’ve got your back. I have come up with a list that will make the perfect non-toy gifts for your kids no matter their age.
70+ Best Non-Toy Gift Ideas For Kids
1) Quality time: Spend time together creating memories by doing things like going horseback riding, hiking, snow tubing, and rock climbing. You can take on projects like creating a new reading nook, or a fun bathroom makeover.
2) A pet: There are obviously a lot of things to consider before bringing in a pet into your family. For instance, would a pet be a good fit for your family right now? Do you have time to take care of the pet? Are the kids responsible enough to care for the pet? What kind of pet would best suit your family? Do some research before introducing a new member to your family.
3) Memberships: Membership to a kid’s museum, science center, zoo, aquarium, and national park is a great way to expose your kids to educational experiences that will challenge and expand their minds. Getting a library card and spending time at your local library are great ways to save money on books.
4) New bike/Scooter: If your kid doesn’t already have a bike, this is a convenient way for them to stay active.
5) Classes/Lessons: Dance, soccer, swimming, or gymnastics are great ways for your kids to release all that build energy they always seem to have. And these classes keep them active throughout the year.
6) Roller skates: Roller skating is a fun way for your kids to strengthen their leg muscles and burn calories.
7) A coupon book: A coupon book for things like going for a hike, picking dinner, splashing in the rain, baking cookies, PJ day, and 2 desserts day, will give your kids something exciting to look forward to. Just remember to include the fine prints!
8) A nature journal/Explorer kit for outside: Pair this visual art journal with pencils, crayons, an insect field guide, a little bag for collecting, and a digital camera, and your kids will have a grand time exploring nature, particularly in the Fall and Spring.
9) Shoes: We all know kids don’t take care of their shoes. For this reason, shoes are always a good non-toy gift idea.
10) Weighted blanket: As a psychotherapist, I have witnessed the magical wonders of weighted blankets. A weighted blanket can be used as a grounding technique to help kids calm down. There are many other mental health benefits when using a weighted blanket.
11) Musical instruments: Studies have shown that people who play a musical instrument are smarter than those who don’t! Playing an instrument also improves memory and decreases stress as well as promotes creativity. A keyboard/Piano, guitar or ukulele, and violin make the perfect gift.
12) Headlamp: A headlamp can be used for reading in the dark at night and nighttime outdoor play, how fun!
13) Tickets to an event: Last winter I took our kids to see Disney on Ice and we had an amazing time! Tickets to a basketball or hockey game, Play, musical, or concert is a great non-toy gift idea.
14) A watch: My kindergartener came home one day asking for a watch because her classmate had one, LOL.
15) Shockproof camera: Noticed I said shockproof, LOL. A children’s camera or polaroid is the perfect way for your kids to capture their special moments. They can even use those pictures to create a scrapbook!
16) Art and craft supplies: Art and craft items such as art easel, paint, canvases, acrylics, brushes, dot markers, paper, pencils, paint, clay, washable crayons, and non-toxic and quick-drying paint stick for kids are consumable and can keep your kids busy for hours. You can encourage your kids to use these items to make gifts for family members during the holiday season! You can also create projects for your kids. I get plain wooden birdhouses and boxes from Walmart and have my kids paint and decorate them. You can also paint seashells, etc.
17) Baking kit: Get your little helper their own baking utensils and you won’t be able to get them out of the kitchen.
18) A large gymnastics foldable tumbling mat.
19) Outdoor equipment: A trampoline, outdoor climbing dome, swing set, slide, basketball hoop, and tire tied to a tree are all ways to improve your kids’ physical health in your own backyard.
20) Dressing up clothes: If your kids’ lack in the dressing-up clothes department, you can make up for it by gifting them dressing-up clothes for church, family photos, and other special occasions.
21) Any storage items and furniture they might need.
22) New bed: Any changes to “big kid” items they need can be treated as a gift, LOL.
23) Favorite character bedding: Our daughter loves Frozen, so my husband surprised her with the bedding and she was super excited.
24) Puzzles: Our kids started with the 25-piece puzzles we got from the dollar store to the 50-piece puzzles. And now they are asking for puzzles with more pieces! They get very excited about puzzles.
25) Toniebox or yoto player: If you are looking for fun, engaging, educational, and screen-free entertainment for your kids, a toniebox or yoto player is an awesome way to achieve that.
26) Bubble bath stuff: Bath time is a sacred time for kids and makes everything better. Give them the chance to make it extra fun by gifting them things like kid’s bath bombs/ jelly that change the color of the water, and bathtub paint. Use the kit below to create your own bath bombs and soap!
27) Drawing mat: A Drawing mat is a lower supervision art option.
28) A real desk: A real desk gives your kids their own space to be creative.
29) A room divider: If your kids share rooms, some privacy would be nice, so they say!
30) A big kid water bottle and cup: If you are looking to create some much-needed space in your cabinet and get rid of all the kid cups as your child gets older, this is a great idea that can be turned into a gift.
31) Coloring books: Coloring books are always in style. My kids use their coloring books often, if not every day.
32) Small Safe: If you are looking for a way to teach your older kids responsibility, a small safe is a great way to give them the chance to take care of their meaningful items.
33) Nail polish kit: Non-toxic water-based nail polish is safe and so cute!
34) Science experiments: Have a little Einstein in your hands? This science experiment kit will make them very happy.
35) Balance board: A balance board improves your kid’s balance and strength.
36) Books in line with their current interests: Little busy books as well as wipe-clean learning books and sketchbooks are also great options.
37) Go somewhere special: Going to a spa, shopping, the movies, getting ice cream are very special to our kids.
38) Globe/world map: We live in a big world. A globe can teach your kids about geography and exposes your kids to different cultures and areas of the world. Wouldn’t it be cool to have your kids learn about a country or culture before you travel there?
39) A family vacation: Traveling gives your kids a break from their norm, teaches geography and introduces to different areas of the world and different cultures. Great way for them to meet new people.
40) Start giving them an allowance: Teaching our kids about money at an early age is important. Start giving them an allowance for completing extra chores, even if it’s one dollar.
41) Open up a basic checking or savings bank account: Having a place to put their money will teach them about money management. This is a great place for them to put all the birthday money they get from their grandparents.
42) A weekend getaway: Surprise your kids with a weekend getaway. This getaway doesn’t have to be fancy or extravagant. It could be to an indoor water park in the next city over.
Other Non-toy gift ideas for kids
43) Teepee/tent
44) Vitamins
45) Piggy Bank
46) Surfboard
47) Backpack
48) Sleeping bag
49) Traveling suitcase
50) New PJ set
51) Board games
52) Headphones
53) Lunch box
54) Colored pencil case/organizer
55) Photo Album
56) Tea set
57) Neck pillow for long car rides
58) Picnic basket
60) Portable chair
61) Balance bike
62) Socks
64) Portable bed
65) Kids travel mug/leak-proof tumbler
67) Snow scooter
71) A telescope
72) Bookcase
73) Kids Table
74) Voucher for pottery painting
75) Sponsor an animal
76) Costume closet
77) Kids makeup kit
78) Kid’s bathrobe
79) An alarm clock
Whatever non-toy gift you decide to gift your kids, they don’t have to use them right now. You can get them experience gifts they will enjoy throughout the year.
What non-toy gift or gifts did you decide to give your kids? Let me know in the comments.
70+ Best Non-toy gift ideas for kids
There are so many great ideas here. Now that my kids are teens, I think a vacation is a great gift. I only have a few more years to force them to travel with me. I could also get them some travel gifts to open, like a neck pillow and travel-size toiletries.
Vacation, neck pillow AND travel-size toiletries, are the PERFECT gift combination 🙂
I’m so glad I found this post! This is going to be so good to have for shopping for my nieces and nephews this Christmas!!
I am so glad you found this list helpful!
I LOVE these ideas! Thank you so much for sharing!
I am happy to help!
I love these ideas! Thanks for sharing! ❤️
No problem!
Thank you for this post! As a mom of a tween and teen it is great to have ideas of what to get them as they move away from the toy phase. I have been on the fence about getting them weighted blankets but I would like to see their quality of sleep improve but your post has convinced me to invest 🙂
Tweens and teens are hard to shop for, so it’s useful to have a list to help out. Let me know if your kids find the weighted blankets useful.
I have a 7 year old boy and this list is golden. Thank you so much for sharing it.
No problem! You’ll be able to use this non-toy list of ideas for years to come!
I agree with you toys can’t help them to improve their knowledge. These are great recommendations. I will consider some for Christmas!
This is a great list. Thanks for sharing!
These are such great ideas! We get so many toys from others for our children on their birthdays so we always like to get non-toy gifts for our daughters!
Great point Catia. They do get enough toys from others for birthdays and other special occasions.
I absolutely love the idea of non toy gifts for kids. Gifting them experiences like memberships for educational experiences is the gift that gives all year long. I also really like the colored pencil case…great for using at home or travel! Thanks for these great gift ideas for kids!
Amazing ideas, I love the outdoor equipment..
Outside equipments are a great way to get the kids out of the house.
Bringing home a cute pet is a lovely gift for children. Really helps with their personal growth, and they learn so many things about compassion and taking care of others. It can be wonderful watching the two grow together. Love the other items on your list too.
Yes! A pet has the potential to help kids with their personal growth as well as teach them compassion and how to care for others.
Thank you for sharing! Great ideas. Just in time for birthdays and Christmas.
Right! This list can be used for pretty much any occasion.
Awesome suggestions! It’s a great idea to give a gift that’s not a toy, it sparks creativity and turns into a gift that keeps on giving. Where kids can get more use out of it. Thank you for sharing this great list!
A gift that keeps on giving, I like that.
This is such a great list!! So often we buy toys because it’s the norm but kids end up with SO many. I love the idea of giving other things and not just toys!
Yes! Gifting our kids toys is the norm, that’s why it can be challenging to adapt to the concept of non-toy gifts.