When birthday or Christmas come, we always struggle of searching for gift ideas, for wife, for kids and other family members. If your kids already have too many toys from family and friends which are difficult to organize, then we suggest to try “non-toy gifts”. It sounds easier than actually searching. Kids may not so exciting when they open the gift, but it is practical and joyful. They can play for a long term instead of just three days. After an extensive trial and error, I came to this 14 best non-toy gift ideas for kids.
Related topic:
- 50 Outdoor Activity Gifts for Kids in 2022
- Creative Things to Draw with Chalk
- 21 Best Kids Camping Toys
Table of Contents
Gifts For Learning
1. World globe
Make learning fun with interactive world globes. They can learn about different countries, states, and cities. You can even chip in a little bit of history about the nations so that they learn a little about each location. Tell them stories about the landmarks, fun facts, past rulers, and other exciting things they should know.
The led lights give a warm, soft glow, and the globe comes with cards. You can read the fun facts on each card for your little kids. Check out for planets designed to fit into your little ones’ hands.
2. World map
Another exciting yet educational non-toy gift idea for your kids is a World map. They come in different exciting colors, making a colorful décor piece in your child’s room. With this simple decorative and educational map, your child can learn about other countries and continents while having fun. The best part is that they can play without leaving a mess behind.
Take your kids on a trip worldwide from the comfort of their bedroom with this map. For less than $15, you can get one with an adhesive that you can apply easily to the wall and peel off if necessary. Take a break from getting your kids toys; try this super interactive World Travel Map instead.
3. Subscription boxes
Subscription boxes are the gifts that keep giving for a whole year. That’s why I love them so much. There are different types of subscription box:
- KiwiCo is educational and creative box suitable from 6 months to 14 years
- Mel Science is a fun STEM kit including physics, chemistry, and a medical subscription for teens
I recently got my kids a coding subscription box Bitsbox, and watching them coding. The hope is that in no time, they’d be inventing their apps. It has been a fun yet educative experience. They explore new concepts each month courtesy of the monthly boxes mailed and encourages the kids to try their hands at complex and exciting stuff like greeting cards, video games, apps, and even simulations.
4. Doodle book and chalks
A doodle book is the perfect non-toy gift for your little ones, and it gets their creative juices flowing and allows them to express themselves freely. The best part is that most doodle books come with an art kit. So, keep your child doodling and occupied this summer with this art and craft gift.
I got my kid a doodle book with 100 silly doodle prompts and he loves it! It is a great way to keep him busy and occupied. Of course, there’s the fact that with little luck, you may be raising the next Picasso. Art and craft gifts like this are a hit for kids because they work for anyone.
5. Online or offline classes
COVID showed us the benefit of online classes. Why not try enrolling your kid in an online or offline class? It could be cooking, painting, coding, gardening, singing or surfing. My youngest is currently enrolled in an surfing class – sure, it’s messy, but she seems to enjoy thoroughly.
Find out where your child’s passion lies and take advantage of it. You can also get them small physical gifts to go with the classes. A perfect gift idea would be a cute apron, paint brushes, gardening tools, etc. The physical gift would depend on the activity you have enrolled them in.
If you have a hands-on older child, you can enroll them in a sewing or quilting class. Let them explore the lengths of their passion. Dance classes can serve as the perfect non-toy gift for your kids. It keeps them active and away from trouble. Another plus of dance classes is that they learn a lot from the seemingly small activity and enjoy themselves thoroughly. You can get a salsa tutor for them or start with ballet.
I particularly love ballet classes because they teach them to focus, balance, and strength and hone their muscles. You can also get the dance outfits for the kids to feel truly special as they begin their classes.
6. Books
Books are the greatest gift you can give anyone – adults and kids alike. You can get some from your local library or register at a digital library. Get the books and read to your kids. You can turn it into a bedtime fun.
Some of my favorite books for babies and toddlers are “Guess How Much I Love You“, “Goodnight Moon”, “I Love You More Than Rainbows”, etc. You can also get picture books so that the kids learn to associate images with words, which helps teach them how to read fluently.
You can gift your older kids other age-appropriate books like Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, Famous Five, And Then There Where None, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less. All these books help your child imbibe a reading culture. And of course, books allow them to use their imagination and improve their vocabulary. Honestly, there is no downside to kids’ reading.
7. STEM gifts
Please encourage your child to be curious and explore the world around them. A microscope is a perfect gift to enable them to explore, and they can examine all sorts of exciting things around them, from their hair strands to their hands, the soil, plant leaves, and much more.
You can also gift them a telescope to get them interested in the world around them and science. It is particularly great for older children who can stay up late to view the stars and moon. You can even get them a small journal to document what they’ve seen so far. It’s an excellent non-gift idea for the summer.
Gifts for Relaxing
8. Plush bean bag chair
I got my child this beanbag chair a while back, and he loved it! You should check it out, too, if you have kids around the age of 2 to 5 – I mean, which kid won’t love a plush Nintendo chair?
With iconic Super Mario graphics, this chair is appealing to kids. It comes in a kid’s friendly design – a high-back chair with arms to give your child the support he needs. The chair is comfortable, safe, lightweight, and beautiful. The handle at the top also makes it easy for you to carry about.
As a plus, it is easy to clean and care for. Spot clean with a damp cloth, and you are good to go. Gift your loved ones this unique lightweight plush chair today and watch their faces light up.
9. Bath and body products
Make bath time fun with excellent bath and body products. They are practical and yet exciting gifts that make your kids feel excited. You can pick sweet-smelling gentle body wash made from safe organic products. Make your kids crave bath time.
For younger kids, you can pick out bubble bath bombs they can play with as they bathe. Trust me. They’d love it. Couple the body wash with a new sponge, body lotion, and spray. Toss in some sweet-smelling deodorants and shaving cream if your kids are teenagers.
You might want to toss in some lip gloss and nail polish if you have a teenage girl. You can even pick a day of the week when you all have a spa date at home. Talk about a non-toy gift that brings the whole family together.
Gifts for Financial Learning
10. Piggy bank
A piggy bank is an excellent non-toy gift idea for young kids, and it teaches them the culture of saving and indoctrinates them into the world of financial discipline. To spur my kids to keep, I tell them that I’d double whatever they have saved by the end of the year, and it gets them saving every penny!
You can get your kids saving with this cute musical piggy bank with 11 inbuilt children’s songs. You can get one with a paper slot for hard currencies and another for all the pennies. Ensure that whatever piggy bank you choose is safe, durable, and large enough to contain all the savings.
Of course, for added security, you can get the kids to set up a password – that way, when it’s time to end the savings plan, it’s easier. Piggy banks are suitable for kids aged 3-12 years, and you will find more unique ones for teens and adults. Help your kids imbibe a healthy financial discipline today; gift them a piggy bank.
11. Board game
Board games, including monopoly, is excellent way of teaching kids about money. But you can also play the game by chalk drawings.
Gifts For Exploration
12. A trip
Create a memorable experience for your kids. If you have a bit of cash to spare, you can take the kids on a trip to view exciting things. Younger kids appreciate a trip to Disney Land, but the older ones may not be as freaked. Alternatively, you can take them on a hike, to the park, go shopping, or even sign up to redecorate their rooms.
If you choose to go with the redecoration, all the kids can chip in and do some of the painting and decorations. You can hang up a family picture, favorite photographs, and other stuff that bring back great memories.
13. Zoo or museum memberships
A zoo or museum membership is a great gift you can give kids. It saves you some cost and also helps educate your kids. You can track down the zoos and museums around you and explore with your kids. Sometimes, you may even get a discount for the whole family.
Fun and smooth learning experience aside, these membership cards won’t add to the clutter in your home and are great for the entire family. So, invest in them today and get the whole family out and about learning about history and animals.
Gifts for Sports
14. Sport gifts
Get your kids up and about with a sports gift. You can get them a soccer kit if they love soccer. I got one for my son, which helped him become more active. The best part was that the whole family could participate in the fun and get their hearts pumping.
For less than $25, you can pick up a set of three containing a mini soccer ball, mini football, and mini basketball. That way, your kid can explore all three and find the one they love best. The balls are already inflated and super durable so that you can use them indoors and outdoors. Pick up one today and give your child a chance to explore the fun of physical activities.
Final Thoughts from Pragmatic Lifestyle
I hope you find the gift ideas helpful and explore them. Your house may still look cluttered with toys, but you’ll strike a balance with time. I’m sure you’ll love one or two if not all, these gift ideas because they help engage your child while still educating them. They say learning is fun, so get your child playing and learning with these awesome non-toy gift ideas.
About me
Hi, there. I am Lin. Together with my husband and two kids, we live in the beautiful Netherlands in Europe. I am dedicated to self-development, creating quality time for the whole family, and fully supporting kids with their potentials and possibilities with all I have learned from engineering, MBA, and 10+ years of working experience in the energy sector.
4 Comments
Comments are closed.