Guest post from Marci of My Heavenly Recipes:
I’m willing to bet that you don’t need any more toys lying around your house, right?!?
Whether it’s Christmas, a Birthday, or a special occasion, there’s no reason you must give toys for a gift. Think outside the box a bit and I’m sure you’ll come up with a great non-toy gift to give.
Whether you create a themed gift basket using the items listed below or throw a few of the non-toy gifts into a gift bag, I’m sure they will be a welcome surprise for anyone on your gift list!
- Karate Class
- Books that you enjoyed as a child
- Zoo membership
- Trampoline
- Museum membership
- Sidewalk Chalk
- Swing set
- Donation to a Children’s Hospital or special cause in their name
- Savings bond
- Construction Paper
- Money deposited into savings or 529 account
- Clothing and shoes
- Children’s Cookbook
- Dinner date coupons (one on one time)
- Gift certificate to a cooking class
- Music Class for 1 session
- Arrange a family day at the bowling alley
- Cook a family dinner together
- Play Mat or Rug
- Movie Date at the Movie Theater
- Child’s Umbrella
- Drawing Pads
- Ride On Vehicle
- Water Table (used for kinetic sand in the winter)
- Scarf
- Work on a craft together and proudly display
- Gift Certificate to Favorite Restaurant
- New Christmas Ornament
- Horseback Riding Lessons
- Dress Up Clothes
- Add accessories to their fairy house
- A Radio
- Art Class for one Session
- Gift Certificate for favorite ice cream eatery
- Sheets and Comforter for Bed
- Spend the day with a friend at the skating rink
- Embroidery Floss
- Playing Cards (Uno, Go Fish, Regular Deck)
- Their favorite chef’s cookbooks
- Your favorite books from your childhood
- Yearly Subscription to National Geographic
- Add necessities to their sporting gear
- Sandbox
- Beads for Crafts
- Gift Certificate to Paint Pottery
- Notebooks and Smell Markers
- Day out with a Friend For Skating
- Little Passports membership to explore the world
- Magic Tricks For Kids
- Head for a local kid or school theater for a play
- Your favorite movies (on DVD or Blu-ray of course) from your childhood
- Gymnastics Class for 1 Session
- Cookie Cutters
- Dry Erase Boards & Markers
- I See Me! Personalized Book
- Kidorable Rain Boots (so cute!)
- Chick-Fil-A Gift Card
- Car Seat
- Amazon Prime Membership to stream movies and tv shows
- Snack Cups
- Yearly Subscription to Highlights Magazine
- Photo Album with pictures of the special kiddo
- Blanket
- Sign up for a library card
- iTunes Gift Card for Educational Apps
- Personalized Step Stool
- Colored Pencils
- Tickets to an age-appropriate music concert
- Pair of Skechers Light-up Shoes
- Finger Flashlight
- Fun Hat and Mittens
- A puppet theater
- Puzzles
- Fun Colored Belts
- Bicycle
- Finger Puppets
- Crochet Blanket
- Character Alarm Clock
- Kitchen Tools to help make meals
- Educated with a membership to ABCMouse.com
- Create a craft bin with supplies
- Pillow Pet
- Help your child create a Countdown Calendar for a special event
- Diapers
- Markers
- Wipes
- Cooking Apron
- Writers Workshop (pencils, pens, notebook, journal)
- Bath Mirror for Bath Time
- Day out at the water park
- Go for a hike
- Crayons
- Membership to local attraction/amusement park
- Night out at a local hotel with a pool
- Candy Molds
- Drinking or Sippy Cups
- Teach a hobby of yours
- Funky Socks
- Create a coupon book
- Start a collection or add to an existing one
- Wendy’s Gift Card
- Spend an entire day baking and delivering the goods to friends and family
- Finger Paint
- At-home movie night with dinner, snacks, and dessert focused on the movie
- Popcorn Cart
- Potty Seat or Chair
- Squeaky shoes for toddlers
- Beanbag chair
- Science Kits
- Hat & Mittens
- Create a book on Shutterfly expressing your love
- Jewelry
- Bubbles
- Baseball Glove or Soccer Ball
- Book Shelf
- Karate Class
- Tickets to a Professional Sporting Event
- Crayons for Bathtub
- Balloons
- Shadowbox of Keepsakes
- Book of handwritten notes of children’s “Silly Sayings” they’ve said over the years
- Night Light
- Pottery Kit
- Personalized Anywhere Chair
- Indoor Parachute
- Duct Tape
- Instrument
- Chalkboard
- Outdoor Movie Theater Screen
- Slippers
- Sunglasses
- Nail Polish
- Hammock
- Drawing Paper
- Bag of Craft Supplies (Googly Eyes, Glitter, Popsicle Sticks, Cotton Balls)
- Bird Feeder and Seed (one of the best gifts we’ve ever received!)
- New Pajamas
- Stamps and Ink Pads
- Sleeping Bag
- Children’s Movies
- Sled
- Camping Tent
- Popsicle Molds
- Bubble Bath
- A treasure of yours that you would like to pass down
Do you have any items that you would add to the list?
You can find Marci Loehner sharing recipes for busy Moms at My Heavenly Recipes. Each recipe and project is kid tested & Husband approved.
Janet says
A personal child sized chair
Janet says
A cuddly bath towel!
Jen says
Great ideas! Curious if anyone has tried Brick Loot lego/building subscription?
kim says
Karate is on there twice… #1 & #116
Heather @ My Mothermode says
A few years ago, my daughter received an unfinished dollhouse and a few dolls & pieces of furniture for Christmas. It has been wonderful to work together designing it and painting, wallpapering, doing floors, trim, etc. Best of all, she receives tiny accessories as gifts for all occasions.
Today, she had lost a tooth and found a tiny gingerbread dough, roller, & cutter accessory in the ‘tooth pillow’. Her stocking will have a wooden dresser (Dollar Tree) and tiny mantel clock & candleabra thanks to Michael’s clearance sale!
Mel says
Sounds nice! Are you familiar with Tasha Tudor’s dollhouse?
https://www.pinterest.com/lisanva/tasha-tudor-dollhouse/
Her family would create a Christmas party for the little house.
Heather @ My Mothermode says
Thank you for that- we’ll have many more ideas from her! We have a mother/daughter trip planned to see the dollhouse at the Smithsonian & hopefully the one at Mt. Vernon, too. One of her gifts is a homemade D.C. ornament since the trip is the big gift!
G'ma Stacie says
When my granddaughter was expected, I started furnishing a dollhouse for her for when she got old enuff. Unfortunately, that turned out to be an inappropriate choice for her. But some of the free furnishings might be suitable for other girls. Every time I brush my teeth I see the toothpaste cap as a lamp shade. I formed a vase from Play Dough and a bouquet from baby’s breath I dried. The flowers last forever and the Play Dough also lasts forever if it’s allowed to dry out completely. I braided a rug out of a medium-heavy yarn for the floor and continued to keep an eye out for anything that resembled a miniature of anything. Now I’m waiting for a great granddaughter to have fun with.
Meg says
How creative! I love that! -Meg, MSM Team
Katie Arias says
Some great ideas! 🙂 Heads up ‘karate class’ is on there twice (#1, #116).
Jenn says
I love all of these – we downsized our home recently and are trying to downsize our toys too so these ideas are really helpful. 🙂
I also try to make my kids something every holiday and birthday that is exactly suited to what they are interested in and love playing with at the time! Sometimes I even rope my husband into some projects. By making gifts we have less “stuff” that doesn’t get used and we save money too. 🙂
Heather @ My Mothermode says
I began making my children a gift each year, thinking they might not appreciate it, but they absolutely love it! Last year was matching PJ’s from a hand-me-down flannel sheet set. This year, I made bedside pocket organizers filled with chapstick, books, pens, & notecards. So fun!
c says
Any time you can share an experience (a play, movie, museum….) it is so much better than any STUFF you give.