Non-Toy Gifts for Kids: The Ultimate Guide

I can’t be the only parent whose kids’ toy boxes are overflowing this year. 

But what can you buy for a kid that they will enjoy as much as a toy?

What can you do instead of birthday presents? Or Christmas Presents?

Is it possible to find non-toy gifts for a one-year-old?

When it comes to giving kids gifts, there are lots of options besides more toys.  There are experience gifts, educational gifts, subscription boxes and so much more.

Whether you’re looking for non-toy gifts for a toddler or a preteen, here are over 100 ideas you can use for Christmas, birthdays or any other occasion.

Every year for Christmas I try to give my kids a few non-toy-gifts.

Since one of my goals is to start living a more meaningful life, I’ve decided that this Christmas there needs to be more meaningful gifts under the tree, and less toys that will just end up in next summers yard sale.

This year my focus for gift giving for my kids is going to be on non-material gifts.

Things that we can do together.

Places to go together.

The kind of gifts that will turn into cherished childhood memories.

Experience Gifts for Kids

Experience gifts are my favorite non-toy gift idea for my kids.  Instead of giving them something that will end up in the bottom of the toy box, you’re giving them something that will remember doing years from now.

Experience gifts are great for any age too.

Need a gift for a teen?

Concert tickets. 

Can’t think of a non-toy gift for a 1-year-old? 

Paw Patrol Live.

Here are 15 more ideas for experience gifts for kids

• Movie theater tickets
• Event tickets (like Disney on Ice)
• An annual pass to your local children’s museum
• Tickets to a science center
• Tickets to a zoo/aquarium
• Amusement Park tickets
• Indoor playground tickets (find the best one near you on Yelp)
• Trampoline park tickets
• Gift cards to their favorite restaurant
• Movie store gift cards
• Mini golf
• Bowling
• Skating
• Train Ride
• Parent/child one on one dates

Vacations Ideas

Vacation gifts are another favorite of mine, mainly because I like to be creative in how we tell the kids what their gift is.

Planning a camping trip for a gift?

Wrap up some of the supplies they will need for the trip, like a new tent if you are taking them camping.

Is the trip a few weeks away?

Buy them a new suitcase and print off a countdown calendar to put inside.

You can even do it as a scavenger hunt once all the other presents have been unwrapped.

Where you go will obviously depend on your budget, but here are a few ideas.

• A waterpark resort (like GWL or Kalahari)
• A camping trip for the summer
• A weekend in a close-by big city
• A staycation in a near by hotel with a pool
• A big family vacation (check Expedia for ideas and deals)

Classes or Lessons as Gifts

Maybe you were thinking about putting your daughter in ballet this year.

Why not make it her Christmas gift?

Even just getting a family membership to your local YMCA can be a great non-toy gift for kids.  Most offer several classes, plus swimming lessons so your child can choose for themselves what activity they want to try.

Not sure what class or lesson to gift them?  Here are some ideas to look into in your community

• Dance class
• Gymnastics
• Soccer team
• Basketball team
• Baseball team
• Hockey team
• Karate
• Swimming lessons
• Skating lessons
• Horseback riding lessons
• Singing lessons
• Musical instrument lessons
• Drama classes
• Cooking classes
• Art gallery workshops
• Photography class
• Pottery class
• Stem classes
• Day camp for Christmas break (really this is a gift for you too!)

Hobby Accessories and Equipment as Gifts

Whatever lesson or class you choose, don’t forget to pick up any equipment or supplies they will need for it so they have something to unwrap too.

Maybe some new paint to go with the art class they will be taking.

Or a ball so they can practice the sport you signed them up for at home too.

Here are a few other ideas for hobby accessories you could wrap for them

• Baseball glove/bat
• Hockey stick
• Ballet shoes
• Gymnastics tights
• Skates
• swim suit
• Musical Instrument

Educational Gifts for Kids

Looking for something educational to give as a gift?

While most kids won’t be too thrilled to get a math workbook, there are lots of other educational gift options (that aren’t toys) that kids will be happy with.

• Educational games
• Books
• Ebook reader and subscription to kindle unlimited
• Audiobooks
• Kids Echo Dot with Amazon Storytime enabled
• Tablet and subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited

Kid and Toddler Subscription Boxes

Want a gift that will last all year?

Try a monthly subscription box. 

With so many different boxes to choose from, you can easily find one for any age and interest.  While not all of these boxes are entirely toy-free, the toys are at least educational.

• Panda Box (0-24 month)- contains age-specific educational baby toys and activities. 
• Koala Crate (2-4 years)- contains theme-based science, arts, and crafts and play activities
• Kiwi Crate (5-8 years)- contains theme-based science, arts, and crafts and play activities
• Atlas Crate (6-11 years)- geography and history-themed educational activities
• Doodle Crate (9-16+)- arts and crafts materials and instructions
• Tinker Crate (9-16+) – STEM activities
• Maker Crate (14+)- Art materials and instructions
• Eureka Crate (14+)- Science and math activities
• Bitsbox (6-12)- Coding
• Owl Crate Jr (8-12)- a novel with theme-based items
• Sensory Theraplay Box (5-9+) Sensory items for children with autism and sensory needs
• Amazon Subscription Boxes – a variety of themes for all ages including Baby Einstein, Little Passports, Highlights magazine, Comics, Cooking, Coding, Geography, Stem, Engineering, Chemistry, Crafts and Favorite characters (like DC, Star Wars, Minecraft, Lol, and Jo Jo Siwa)

Non-Toy Gifts for Kids That They Can Play With

Just because you’re giving your kids non-toy gifts, doesn’t mean you can’t still give them things they will play with.  And no, I don’t mean the cardboard box the toy came in.

Here are a few ideas for things kids enjoy playing with that aren’t toys.

• up clothing box (Store-bought or DIY and fill with old clothes, hats, purses and fancy dresses)
• Loose parts
• Board games
• Puzzles
• Playhouse or pop up tents and tunnels
• Fort kit

DIY Christmas Gifts for Kids

Are you crafty?

Even if you aren’t, you can find lots of easy to follow instructions for homemade Christmas gifts for kids.

Like the felt sets in the pictures above that, I made for my kids a few years ago.

If you want to make your kids some gifts, here a few ideas to get you started.

• Felt board with homemade felt sets  
• Felt hopscotch mat
• Felt race car track 
• Felt Christmas tree
• I-spy bottles
• Sensory bottles
• Baby/toddler sensory board
• No-sew tutu
• Lego Tray
• Find more ideas from Happy Hooligans

Activity Kits for Kids (Store Bought And DIY)

Another great gift idea for kids, that keeps them busy, is craft and activity kits.

There are lots of store-bought options out there, or you can even make your own.

Here are some ideas for activity kits you can put together for your kids, and some store-bought options as well.

DIY Activity Kits

• Ready to make craft kits – Find some crafts your kids will enjoy online, print off the instructions to make the craft and put all the supplies you need for the craft in a Ziploc bag.  Fill a box with these ready to make craft bags.
• Science kit -Binoculars, microscope, magnifying glass, magnets, bug catchers, and an ant farm.
• Craft supplies kit -Fill a box or storage cart with all kinds of craft supplies from the dollar store.
• Playdough kit- Make homemade playdough stored in a Ziploc bag and put it in a box with old kitchen tools like plastic knives, rolling pins, and cookie cutters.
• Baking kit- Print a recipe card and put all the ingredients that don’t need to be refrigerated in a box with it.
• Snowman kit- A hat, scarf, carrot, a couple of sticks and some buttons.
• Spa kit- a foot bath, foot scrub, lotion, nail file, and nail polish
• Paint kit- a nice set of paints and paintbrushes with a few different sized canvases.

Store-Bought Activity Kits

• Science kit
• Lego Movie Activity Kit
• Grow ‘N Glow Terrarium Science Kits
• Crystal Growing Science Experiment Kit
• Make Your Own Soap Kit
• Fossil Digging Kit
• Art Kit

Practical Gifts for Kids

Maybe you want to focus not just on finding the perfect non-toy gifts for your kids, but on buying them things that are practical too.

If there are things that my kids need (like new bed sets or bedroom furniture) I always try to hold off until Christmas to make it one of their gifts. Last year we even redecorated their toy room as their “big gift”. 

This year the kids will be getting several practical gifts, like Fitbits for both of them and a new camera for Big Sis.

Here are a few ideas for practical gifts kids will actually use.

• Piggybank
• Fitbit
• Calendar
• New bedding set
• Redecorated bedroom or toy room
• New bedroom furniture
• New beach towels
• Digital camera
• New umbrella
• New headphones
• New toy box or swoop bag
• Jewelry box
• Christmas Pajamas
• Disney Plus

Sentimental Gifts for Kids

I’m the type of person who loves meaningful gifts. 

Whether it’s a gift that symbolizes something special or a gift that captures a favorite memory. 

While these types of meaningful gifts for kids may not be something they entirely appreciate when they are young, they are the type of thing that will be kept forever and increase in sentimental value over the years.

These are some of my favorite non-toy gift ideas.

• Mother/daughter necklace
• Photo album from a favorite vacation
• Their baby book/keepsake box
• Photo gifts
• Personalized book
• Start a collection (porcelain dolls, Christmas Barbie, model cars, sports cards)

Non-Toy Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Last but not least, stocking stuffers.

Is it possible to find practical stocking stuffers that aren’t toys?

Sure is. 

• New toothbrush (I do this every year)
• Hairbrush
• New hat and mittens
• Fun socks (Christmas themed)
• Bubble bath
• Shampoo
• Body wash
• Play makeup
• Nail polish
• Face Paint
• Stickers and sticker album
• Tattoos
• Sunglasses
• Silly straws
• Crayons/markers
• Playdough
• Card games
• Travel games
• New Christmas ornaments
• Their favorite snacks (or healthy treat)

While I have already gotten some toy gifts for Lil Sis and some video games and accessories for Big Sis (and will be heading across the border to snag a few Black Friday deals today), the rest of my Christmas shopping will be focused on non-toy gifts this year.

So far, I’ve bought tickets to a local trampoline park, plus the Fitbits, a camera, and a tablet.

I am debating between getting an annual pass to the local children’s museum or just getting tickets to a science center that’s a couple of hours away.

I am also considering one of the subscription boxes, but it will depend on how much of my Christmas budget I spend on Black Friday.

Of course, their stockings will be filled with the usual bath and body care stuff, plus a new toothbrush, a hat, and mittens.

While it’s great to get our kids some new toys for Christmas and see the excitement on their faces when we buy them that toy they’ve had their eye on, there are lots of non-toy gifts that they will enjoy too.

It’s all about finding a balance, or only buying what there is room for in the toy box.

Can you think of any other non-toy gifts for kids?  Which non-toy gift idea do you like the best? Let me know on my Facebook Post.

Follow me on Facebook for more ideas on how to live a more meaningful life with your kids and to see what else I learn on my journey to live a happier and healthier life.