41 Non-Toy Gift Ideas for Children

When simplifying gifts for children, a simple strategy can make a big difference.
One of the favorite strategies I’ve seen on the web is:

• Something they want
• Something they need
• Something to wear
• Something to read

Another gift giving strategy is:

• Something Pleasant
• Something Practical

What our family does:

• Something Personal
• Something to Share

Generally, we keep it to one gift per-person and one family gift.
I much prefer keeping the number of gifts to a lower number, not only does that simplify my shopping, but it simplifies the day of giving as well.
When there are more gifts than that, I feel overwhelmed and struggle to enjoy opening presents.
Christmas morning, the kids will open their stockings, which are fairly simple and practical. After a breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls, we all sit down and pass out the presents, opening one at a time so everyone can celebrate with the gift receiver.
The personal gifts are specific to each person, based on their interests. Then we have something that the younger kids share. This has been a lego set, a board game, hot-wheels track set, basketball or swing.

It’s wonderful to give gifts to the children in our lives, this year, commit to making the focus of gift giving on memories instead of stuff.

1. Classes. Music, dance, riding, drawing, classes are a great way to encourage children in their interests and let them know that you pay attention to them and what they enjoy.
2. Memberships. Zoo, science museum, children’s museum, YMCA membership, etc. These are particularly great for family gifts! Many young families want to enjoy day outings, but affording them can be a challenge, so give them the gift of a yearly membership.
3. Something for their room. Do they need a lamp, alarm clock or shelf? Perhaps an organizing caddy to help keep their art or hobby supplies under control. Many older kids enjoy displaying their lego creations on a shelf where younger siblings can’t reach.
4. Events. Movie tickets, tickets to a play, concert or sports event are really exciting! Having an event to look forward to makes the rest of life more enjoyable.
5. Activities. Mini golf, bowling, skating rink. These are so much fun! And a big part of the fun is going together. Children love spending time with the adults in their lives, they want to see you enjoying your time as well as enjoying them.
6. Recipe and Ingredients. Kids love cooking with their parents. Baking something special or cooking dinner is an ideal time to spend together and learn life skills. Print out a recipe, purchase all the ingredients and set a date for cooking together.
7. Crafting Date. Crafting dates can mean the world to our creative little people. Keep a basket of craft supplies and check out books from your local libary for inspiration.
8. Arts and Craft supplies. If your craft box is running low, stock up a little on things you need. Add in something fun the kids haven’t used before. A gift of art and craft supplies often brings on the imagination and kids can’t wait to get to work!
9. Coupons. An envelope of coupons that they can “spend” at any time: I’ll do one chore- no questions asked, movie and popcorn night, you pick the movie!, 1:1 game of cards or basketball (whatever the child’s interest is in), sit and read a book with me, Stay up 1/2 hour past bedtime.
10. Restaurant Gift Card. Dinner, ice cream, coffee, cupcake- whatever suits their fancy! Give them the freedom of inviting whoever they wish: it may be mom or dad, it may be a grandparent, aunt or even teacher that they would like to spend more time with.
11. Dress Up Clothes. Some of the most fun my kids have had have been with 2 old wigs and play silks that they created dresses or capes out of.
12. Books. Books are always excellent options and typically aren’t considered “toys”.
13. Kindle and Books. Minimize the clutter of a bookshelf and get a bunch of books loaded on a kindle.
14. Audiobooks. Audiobooks are great for all ages, it’s great for downtime for kids.
15. Clothes. When kids only have a certain amount of clothes, they often enjoy getting clothes. Make it a point to get something that fits their style and can be worn many ways.
16. Snacks. If your child is a foodie, they will love this! Some homemade granola or cookies made just for them is a special treat!
17. A Watch. The average child these days doesn’t know how to read analog or finds it takes too long to think about it, so they search for a digital watch. Getting them a cool watch makes them want to be able to tell time on it. Young, tweens and even teenagers can be excited about this.
18. Puzzles are great activities for when kids have to be indoors. It’s a good practice to have individual quiet times during the day, and having a puzzle to sit and work on by themselves helps brain development and problem-solving skills.
19. Games teach a lot too! Monopoly and PayDay have been popular and help cement math skills. Memory games are great for younger children. Settlers of Catan and Ticket to Ride are great for older kids.
20. A Lego Swoop Bag is a huge help for children and parents alike. Great for legos or sets of small toys that the kids like to play with, the swoop bag makes clean up and storage so simple.
21. Calendar. Many children like to know what is going on, what day it is, how many days until ____. Give them their own calendar so they can plan everything out.
22. Photo Album Little ones love looking at a picture of family members and of themselves doing things or at special places. Costco and digital photo site let you create a photo book of all the special people and special things the child has done.
23. Bird Feeder and Seed. Having a bird feeder outside a winder is very entertaining for kids to watch and helps get them interested in wildlife. You can also encourage them to recognize bird species and develop a lifelong interest!
24. Artwork Picture Frame. Displaying our children’s artwork is important and also very fun. But the fridge tends to get filled up and parents at times feel guilty for throwing anything away. An art cabinet hangs on the wall and allows you to change pictures out when a new masterpiece is created.
25. Savings Account or Stocks. Setting money aside each birthday or holiday may not be very exciting for these little people right now, but when they turn 18 and realize the amazing start they have in life, it will be a huge blessing. You can give a small token gift that they can open and enjoy on their special day, but put the majority of the gift into a savings program.
26. Music. Kids love music! Some great kid-geared artists are: Raffi, Tom Chaplin, and Sandra Boynton.
27. Sleeping Bag. Having their own sleeping bag can make little ones pretty excited about sleepovers, trips or camping out family nights.
28. Piggy Bank and Coins. This may take some supervision, but all the little people I know absolutely love putting coins into their piggy banks!
29. Wallet. A wallet is such a grown-up thing, which makes it extra exciting. For the young ones, it’s best if it has some zipper pockets as well as areas for bills.
30. Shoes and Boots. Snow boots or rubber boots are especially helpful. For the little cowboy or cowgirl, having a special pair of cowboy boots is super exciting.
31. Math Counters. Kids will totally end up playing with animal math counters, we keep ours in a small bucket and bring them out when everything else is put away. We stack colors together, make patterns, practice adding and subtracting. We have a lot of fun with these.
32. Donations. Children understand more than we think they do, generally, they are caring and thoughtful of others. If you explain to them that some people don’t have food to eat, or a nice place to sleep and the children have to have jobs, they can sympathize with that. There are many places that take charitable donations, help those in need and send a card or a plush animal to someone you love. We personally like World Vision and Compassion International.
33. Sporting Equipment. Now is a great time to splurge for their own skis, snowshoes, trampoline, etc. Think through what activities you do as a family or something you would enjoy doing.
34. Real Tools. Yes, they have play ones, but isn’t it more fun if you can use the real thing? Go ahead and give them a box of nails, a hammer, and some scrap wood. Be sure to supervise, but it won’t take long before they pick up this important skill.
35. Real Fishing Supplies. If you are an outdoor family, you know high-quality supplies are easier to use and work better than any of the character/cutesy supplies they market to gets. It’s much more fun to take children into the outdoors when the adults don’t have to fight the equipment. If you get a telescoping rod, it means the kids can transport their own to the fishing spot and not worry about damaging it.
36. Real Camping Supplies. Just like the fishing stuff, higher quality supplies are easier to use, even if they aren’t as “cool”. Quality equipment can last them their entire lives.
37. Real Gardening Supplies. Again with the real- but real is good! Having their own set is special and makes working easier for them. Add everything to a pot with some dirt and seeds and they can grow something fun right away.
38. A Digital Camera. Help them develop good photography skills. A point and shoot is great to start out with, and if your photographer an older teen and in need higher end equipment, it’s a great time to learn those skills.
39. Jewelry Box & Real Jewelry. Having a great place to store jewelry without losing earrings and getting necklaces tangled is a true gift, but also getting them into the habit of putting jewelry away will help them their entire life.
40. An Umbrella. My kids beg to be in the rain with an umbrella and it’s a great way to show that you are paying attention to their interests with a themed umbrella.
41. Tea Party. Do you remember real tea parties? I loved sitting for tea with my grandmother, eating little sandwich triangles and dainty cookies. Schedule a date and have them wear something nice. If they are young, maybe give a coupon with the Fancy Nancy Tea Parties book.

More gift ideas:

• 18 Non-Toy Gifts for Toddlers
• 18 Clutter-Free Gift Ideas for Teens
• 18 Non-Clutter Gifts for Expectant Parents
• 18 Clutter-Free Gifts for Men
• 18 Clutter-Free Gifts for Women
• 18 Clutter-Free Gifts for Grandparents
• 18 Clutter-Free Gifts for Teachers
• 18 Clutter-Free Gifts Under $20
• Clutter-Free Stocking Stuffers
• How To Redirect Excess Gifting