In this article, we’ve got plenty of ideas for the top non toy gifts for kids. We’ve got non-toy gift ideas for babies to teenagers. Find the next perfect birthday present or non-toy Christmas gifts that your kids will actually want!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
As I was cleaning up the playroom, my daughter started opening a plastic toy still in its original packaging. I’d never seen the toy before, so I asked her where she got it from. She said she got it last Christmas, and she doesn’t remember who gave it to her.
She started pulling out box after box of dolls, playhouses, and unopened Lego kits, among other toys, from her playroom closet. It’s been almost a year, and she still has so many toys that she has not played with yet! The holidays and her birthday are around the corner, so she’ll be getting more toys, and I’m guessing half the pile will most likely be sitting in the closet.
I’m determined to come up with ideas for non-toy gifts for kids that can ignite creativity, explore new interests and experiences, and are actually useful in everyday life.
Instead of adding to the clutter of traditional plastic toys, try these non toy gifts for kids to get for their next birthday or Christmas present!
What are some non-toy gifts for kids?
Non-toy gifts for kids can be as impactful and meaningful and provide unique benefits that contribute to their overall development. Plus, it keeps the plastic clutter manageable every birthday or Christmas day!
When it comes to choosing gifts, there are many other non toy gift options that can bring joy and entertainment to kids from less than a year old to teenagers. From children’s experience gifts to useful gifts for toddlers to Christmas gifts that aren’t toys, we will explore some of the best non toy gift for kids that will truly make an impact!
Children’s Experience Gifts
Make memories with your child this year with experience gifts for kids! Here are some awesome ideas for children’s experience gifts for all ages, from toddlers to teens!
1. POGO Pass
Family activities can get expensive, but if you have a POGO pass, you pay for the pass once and then have access to a whole list of venues, activities, and events in your city for an entire year.
My family has bought this pass for years and love it so much that we’ve recommended it to everyone with kids. We get to explore new venues and try out new activities together as a family because of being a pass holder. And we’ve got all year to attend all the events!
We’ve even discovered our new favorite movie theatre through this pass because the theatre offered one game of Glow Golf and one game of bowling every week for being a POGO pass holder.
Check if the POGO pass is available to you in any of these major cities. Each family member must have their own pass to participate. And it’s so easy to use; keep the pass on your phone, show the barcode at the door, and you’re in!
Mom hack: We’ve never paid full price for this pass! Please take advantage of my discount code to get 50% off your pass by clicking here!
2. Seasons pass to their favorite place
As a child, I dreamed of being gifted a season pass to one of my favorite places, Disneyland! Season passes can also be bought for sports events, water parks, theatres, and other theme parks. Figure out where your child would love to spend a lot of their time and see if they offer passes for a discount.
3. Memberships
Instead of a season pass, check if memberships are offered at any of their favorite locations. A one-year membership can save a lot of money and make a wonderful gift if they often visit zoos, museums, and play areas.
Our favorite memberships include Uptown Jungle, a trampoline park for kids, and the children’s museum.
4. Tickets to a concert
Does your child love music? Surprise them with a night out to a live performance of their favorite artist! Check Spotify to see if there is an event near you of their favorite singer or band!
5. Tickets to a museum, zoo, or fun park
Instead of spending a year-long membership to a museum, you can buy a one-time family outing to their favorite museum, like the Children’s Museum, where they can go run, play, and have fun for one day. This also applies to the zoo, jumping places, and other fun parks.
6. Butterfly Wonderland and Odysea Aquarium
If you are local to Arizona, book a day at the Butterfly Wonderland Exhibit for you and your little explorer! The experience involves walking in the largest butterfly conservatory in North America while over 60 species of butterflies fly around you. They’ve also got a reptile and insect exhibit, a 3D theatre, and a gallery.
To save even more money with more fun experiences, you can book tickets to their sister attraction, the Odysea Aquarium, for the kids who love the ocean. Odysea also has a penguin and sloth encounter and a SeaTrek Helmet Diving. We loved our visit to Odysea! Don’t miss the shark swimming past you as you wash your hands in the restrooms!
7. Painting place for kids
If you have a creative child who loves anything arts and crafts, a great gift would be to take them out to a pottery place or art studio where they can get artsy for one day.
Check out places like As You Wish Pottery to spend a day painting pottery pieces that you can take home, Painting With A Twist for Mommy and Me canvas painting art classes, and Spin Nation for creating fun spin art.
8. Outdoor Adventures
Promoting physical activity and exploring new places is so valuable to our kids’ growth and development. That is why I always encourage outdoor play. It also doesn’t have to cost a lot of money!
Spend time and create memories with your kids by taking them to the lake to go fishing, camping, or to an outdoor adventure fun park. If your kids love being adventurous, take them to a park with an obstacle course. Nothing is more valuable than spending time with your kids, making memories, and going on new adventures together.
9. Go skydiving
Yes, skydiving! What a fun and adventurous gift to give somebody! I’m talking about giving your child an iFLY flight package as an incredible gift!
iFLY is an indoor skydiving experience that is family-friendly and safe for all ages! The minimum age for a flyer is three years old and safety is their major priority. You dress up in a flight suit, and they will guide you through the whole experience. It’s so much fun!
10. Disney on Ice
Bring the magic of Disney to your hometown with a Disney show on ice featuring all of your kid’s favorite characters! This is a fun show to bring your little one to!
11. The Adventure Challenge
The Adventure Challenge is a book filled with activities and adventures that your kid can scratch off as they do them. It’s fun for the whole family!
The premise of the challenge is to “Inspire human connection” while making memories together. So, once you scratch off a challenge, you have to do it! Once you complete the challenge, you can take a picture and keep it in the book as a keepsake.
Non Toy Gifts For 1 Year Old
Here are some great suggestions for practical, nontoy gifts for a 1-year-old and under.
12. Wubbanub Infant Pacifier
If you have a baby, you know that when that pacifier falls out of your child’s mouth, it goes into the depths of the unknown. The best solution for you is the Wubbanub baby pacifiers that I absolutely swear by! They have a cute stuffed animal attached to them to make finding your baby’s pacifier easier.
I used this when my daughter was a baby, and it was a game-changer when it came to not losing my child’s pacifiers. If it falls somewhere, I can quickly grab the stuffed animal attached to it, clean it off, and pop it back in before she can start crying again.
They also make useful and practical gifts for babies! We’ve had the lamb, and I’ve gifted new parents the lion and the giraffe, but now they have many more cute designs.
13. Warmies Stuffed Animals
I know we said no toys on this list, but hear me out—the Warmies Weighted Stuffed Animal is also practical and useful as a non-toy gift for a 1-year-old because it doubles as a warm pack, ice pack, and has aromatherapy properties!
This adorable stuffed animal is a great gift because it is so soft and comforting and makes the perfect cuddle buddy. It can be microwavable to keep warm and releases a relaxing lavender scent. You can also place it in the freezer to use as an ice compress.
14. Long body pillow
One of my favorite childhood gifts was a long body pillow from my grandma. I liked it so much that I’ve even searched for one to use as an adult.
And I’m not talking about just a regular flat, long pillow. My pillow was like an extra-long bolster body pillow, and it helped me sleep so much better as a child.
This adorable pink cat long pillow would make a great gift! There are also plenty of cute animal design pillows, like this pink unicorn plush body pillow and this dinosaur body pillow.
15. Personalized songs or books
Name identification plays a massive role in developing a sense of self and reaffirming one’s identity in the first year of life. Help your child create this sense of self with personalized songs and books.
Incorporating your child’s name in the song or book creates a connection and makes reading or listening more memorable. It’s just so fun to see your child’s face light up when they recognize their name in their book or a song!
Even better is when they are actually in the book as a main character, like in this personalized Candyland Story, where you can add their name and picture to the story! It will help nurture their love for reading because they will be the hero in their own story!
16. Book of people
Speaking of customized books, make a custom board book with pictures of your family members! It’s an excellent gift for a child to help them recognize who is in their family.
When my daughter was a baby, I made a custom book on Shutterfly.com with pictures of the day she was born. It has all of our loved ones who came to see her on her first day of life with their names under the pictures.
As she grew into toddlerhood, she liked looking at the pictures, which helped her connect names and faces. It easily became one of her favorite books as a one-year-old!
17. Hooded animal bath towel
Babies need bath towels, especially the ones with the hood! I’ve found that regular towels are too big for babies, and they need ones that are perfect for their small size.
These cute animal-hooded bath towels are so soft and super absorbent. They’re the best baby bath towels!
18. Baby Essentials
A parent can never have enough baby essentials! Whenever I was gifted baby essentials as a new parent, they helped much more than any toy or baby gadget I received.
Here are some gift ideas for baby essentials that are always appreciated:
- Diapers (in different sizes!)
- Wipes
- Baby Formula
- Burp cloths
- Crib sheets
- Baby bottles
Useful Gifts For Toddlers
Here are some ideas to get you started on the best gifts for toddlers that are actually useful.
19. Kids table and chair set
A mini table and chairs are a must-have for kids because where else will they create that fantastic artwork that we love so much?!
This ergonomically designed activity table has seven height levels that you can adjust with a paintable and erasable tabletop! My daughter used to love sitting at her activity table, creating artwork, and pretending to have tea time!
20. Kid’s Couch
Provide a relaxing lounge area for your kid with a fold-out couch! This adorable 2-in-1 open sofa, complete with a fluffy star pillow, provides the ultimate comfort for kids during nap time, when reading a book, or watching their favorite shows. I also love that it has a holder on the side to keep their favorite book!
Want to splurge? A trendy gift item is this modular play couch for kids. It has 22 pieces and over 1000 ways to build the sofa for play.
21. Kitchen dinnerware set
I was always nervous about giving kids glass plates and silverware because if they were going to throw food on the ground, you could bet your glassware would be going down with it!
Instead, opt for BPA-free and eco-friendly toddler plates and bowls like these. They are easy to clean, dishwasher safe, and have compartments to separate food.
Don’t forget to include a bib that catches food for easier cleanup like this set.
Mom hack: Do you have a picky eater? Me too! This Dinner Winner Plate made for the fussy eater was a game changer for me at dinner time! The dinner tray takes your child on a food adventure, like a board game, ensuring they eat everything on their plate. We have the Enchanted Forest plate, but they also have other cute designs that involve dinosaurs, space, and pirates!
22. Books
A complete set of their favorite series would be an excellent gift for a child who loves to read. When my daughter was little, she loved the Pigeon series (you know, that little pesky pigeon wreaking havoc), so as a gift, we got her the complete Pigeon series set and this 250-page activity book. It became a staple book for bedtime.
Another perfect gift option for toddlers is these Freebear Busy Books that help your child with colors, shapes, alphabet, and numbers. They are Montessori Learning activities that are portable, educational, and fun to use!
23. Puzzles
Every holiday season, we buy a 1000+ piece puzzle that we complete as a family before the new year. We always look forward to the type of puzzle we will do, and it gives us quality time to achieve something together.
24. Learning Games
Anything educational is an excellent gift for a child because it stimulates their minds and helps them develop problem-solving, logic, and communication skills. I especially love educational board games because everyone gets to have fun playing while learning.
For older kids, look into classic games like Scrabble Junior and Monopoly Junior.
25. Backpack
Kids love collecting backpacks because they have so many gadgets and toys they want to bring on their adventures. Gift them a bag with a fun design, like this Buzz Lightyear bag with wings, their favorite character, or their favorite animal. Make sure to get it in a toddler size to fit them just right.
For the older girls, decorate their backpacks with cool customized patches like these that include smiley faces and letters to spell their names. Choose between self-adhesive or iron-on letters for your bag!
26. Customized stool
How cute are these stools! I wish I had gotten my daughter one when she was still too little to reach things. This would have been a cute addition to her room or bathroom whenever she needed that extra step to brush her teeth or wash her hands.
Getting it personalized adds a special touch, and they will love seeing their names on their step stool.
27. Scooter Luggage
Does your family travel a lot? Consider gifting The Scooter Luggage for kids. It will make traveling around the airport much more manageable and help kids keep up with the hustle of getting from one terminal to the other!
28. Hooded bathrobes
One of the best and most useful gifts for toddlers, which is often overlooked, is a hooded bathrobe. Kids can wear this every morning, keeping them warm and cozy, especially during the wintertime.
Just imagine them walking around the house with this plush dinosaur-hooded bathrobe or this colorful unicorn bathrobe. I love these because they also come as a complete spa set with slippers or washcloths!
29. Toothbrush
It’s never too early to teach your kids good oral hygiene. We love this electric toothbrush for kids because it treats brushing their teeth like a fun game! You connect it to the app, and it shows your child exactly where they need to brush and where they missed. When they are done, they are rewarded with a prize for the little animal they care for on the app.
My daughter likes brushing her teeth now. She brushes for the recommended amount of time and gets a reward at the end! It’s so fun!
Ideas For Children’s Presents
Are you looking for ideas for children’s presents that you can gift them for Christmas or birthdays? Here are some great examples of non toy gifts for kids:
30. Subscription boxes
Gift a subscription box catered to your child’s interests. I especially love the S.T.E.A.M. subscription boxes because they are so fun and can be used as an educational tool.
Here are other examples of great subscription boxes that you can order for as non-toy gift for kids:
- KiwiCo: KiwiCo delivers S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) kits, which provide kids with hands-on learning. My daughter’s favorite subscription box was the KiwiCo one, and we looked forward to a delivery every month.
- Book subscription: An easy non-toy gift for kids who love to read is a book subscription box! Shop the top subscription boxes for kid’s books like Highlights, Grabie Scrapbooking, and Mysteries in Time!
- Baketivity: Baketivity is an excellent gift for kids who love cooking, baking, and creating things in the kitchen! Fresh and delicious ingredients are sent to your house with easy-to-follow instructions! Set aside bonding time while making cake pops, red velvet cupcakes, and other tasty treats!
31. Piggy Bank
Start teaching kids the value of money, saving, and investing with an ATM Electronic Piggy Bank. It is password-safe, has an automatic money roll, and can store coins. It’s an excellent gift for Christmas (when they get all the Christmas money from relatives!) or their birthdays!
32. Clog sandals with charms
A trendy item I’ve been seeing lately that would make a great gift is the clog sandals with cute shoe charms! They are versatile, comfortable, and easy to slip on. I recommend these clog sandals because they are a Crocs dupe but with sturdier, thicker material!
Don’t forget the shoe charms to decorate your sandals!
33. Favorite snacks box
What kid wouldn’t love a whole box of their favorite snacks?
34. Alarm clock
Another great gift is an alarm clock for kids. There are many out on the market that are cat or dinosaur-themed, with nightlight, and great for sleep training.
35. BestSelf Co.
I love, love, love these conversation starter cards! Build a stronger connection with your kids and start the conversation with these Best Self Family Talk Deck of Cards. It’s the perfect gift for kids and the whole family. We use the Little Talk Cards from Best Self during dinner time as we go around answering the prompts on the card.
It makes for a memorable family dinner, creating memories and meaningful connections! You really get to know your kids by how they answer each card, and they get to know you on a deeper level as well!
36. Pet
Gifting the kids a pet teaches them responsibility for taking care of an animal! Fish, geckos, and turtles are easy pets to care for and are low-maintenance. Some high-maintenance pet ideas are hamsters, guinea pigs, cats, and puppies. Research before buying a pet suitable for your family’s lifestyle!
Creative Kid Gifts
Here are the gifts to inspire creativity, learning, and a love for STEAM:
37. Science Kits
- National Geographic Sets: Any National Geographic Set would make an excellent gift for a child who loves science and hands-on learning! This Science Lab kit with over 75 experiments is the mega bundle of messy science fun! It’s great value for the cost!
- Color Chemistry Lab Set: This Crayola Color Chemistry Lab Set has 50 Science experiments for kids ages 7-9. It makes for a great holiday gift for kids, is safe and non-toxic, and helps them learn the science of colors!
38. Craft Supplies
You can never go wrong with craft supplies! A great gift option is these Washable Dot Markers, which are non-toxic and fun for kids! The set also includes a bonus Dot Marker Activity Book.
39. Diary or kids journal
Help kids express themselves by writing in their diaries or journals. The Best Self Co. has a journal for kids called Little Hero’s Journal For Kids 7+ to help boost their confidence and encourage emotional growth and positive habits. This is a journal to help kids foster a growth mindset.
40. Paint By Number For Kids
We bought this Paint by Numbers for Kids last year and loved spending time together painting! After you are done painting, you can hand it up in their room for memories, making it cool room art!
There are also companies where you can upload your picture and create a painting! That would also make such a fabulous, fun gift!
Fun Gifts For Kids
We’ve discussed creative and educational gifts in this post, but sometimes, kids need to release some energy with gifts that keep them active and healthy!
Here are some fun gifts for kids who love playing outside:
41. Sports Equipment
Basketball hoops, baseball gloves, skateboards, and scooters are great for kids’ sports equipment. If they play sports, gifting them the equipment they need for their recreational activity would be an excellent option.
For example, a sports bag, high-quality gloves, or football practice equipment would be great options if they play Little League football. Find out what they need in their chosen sport and gift them something that would help them play better or easier or help them with training.
42. Signing up for a season of their favorite sport
Speaking of their favorite sports, sign them up to play for a season if they aren’t involved already. If they love soccer but have not joined a team, check out your town’s recreation centers to see if you can sign them up for soccer. This will keep them active by doing something they love and learning the ins and outs of their favorite sport.
43. Camping Gear
If they love to camp, get them something they can use outdoors. Camping gear includes sleeping bags, outdoor chairs, tents, and hiking shoes
44. Adjustable roller skates
My daughter loves her roller skates! Get them adjustable roller skates like these so that they grow with them. These also have cool light-up wheels for when they want to roller skate in the evening!
45. Butterfly Growing Kit
When my daughter was in preschool, she brought home a caterpillar that eventually turned into a butterfly. We named the butterfly Pilar and released it once it was ready. It was such a cool experience to watch it first be a caterpillar and transform into a beautiful butterfly.
I did not realize you could now buy Butterfly Garden Kits on Amazon to grow your own butterflies. A Butterfly Garden would be one of my favorite gifts to give!
Once you buy your kit, you will receive a voucher to redeem on InsectLore.com. They will then send you a cup of 5 caterpillars, their food, and a holding log. Care for the caterpillars, watch them grow into butterflies, and let them go! It’s so fun!
46. Bug Catcher
A bug catcher kit complete with binoculars, a magnifying glass, a critter case, and a compass is a perfect gift for the outdoor explorer! It’s great for their sense of adventure and imagination, which foster a love of nature!
47. Garden supplies or plants
This 14 Piece Gardening Tools with Tote Bag for Kids keeps little gardeners entertained for hours. These tools are made of high-quality metal and wood, unlike plastic toys and would be a great gift for outdoorsy kids who want to care for a garden.
Another gift I always like to give is mini-plants that kids can care for and watch grow. They plant the seeds, water them, and give the plant sunlight, and in a few days, it starts to sprout and grow into a little plant. Check out kid’s terrariums or this self-watering plant pet that is easy to grow!
Gifts for kids that aren’t toys: for tweens and older
Looking for a gift for your tweens and older can be daunting since their likes are always evolving. It is essential to find a gift that is age-appropriate but also something they will appreciate.
Here are some gifts for kids that aren’t toys that are for ages tween and above:
48. Manicures and Pedicures
Tweens are about the age when they want to start caring for themselves while showing some self-expression. Taking them to a nail salon for a manicure and pedicure would be a great gift for them to practice self-care, and they enjoy picking out colors and designs for their nails.
49. Small trip
Instead of gifting teens another electronic gadget, why not give them a small trip instead? A short trip to their desired location can provide valuable memories that will last a lifetime while they try new things and explore new places. It’s even better when you both create memories together!
50. Contributions to savings
Look into opening a UGMA or UTMA account for your teen. These custodial investment accounts help minors save and invest their money and watch the money grow from their investments. It’s a tremendous financial teaching opportunity for your kids.
If your teen is working, please consider contributing to a Roth IRA for triple tax savings and setting them up for retirement. They must have earned income to contribute to a Roth IRA, whether from a job that offers a W2 or a self-employment side gig like babysitting, washing cars, or dog sitting.
51. Speakers
A Bluetooth speaker is an excellent gift for teens who love listening to music. Look for one that is portable so they can take it anywhere.
52. Gift card to their favorite restaurant
Another non toy gift for teens is a gift card to their favorite restaurant. They can use the gift card when they go out with their friends. My daughter received a Dairy Queen gift card for one of her birthdays, and she loved going to Dairy Queen to get a treat using her gift card!
53. Winter or Summer essentials
The winter and summer weather can be harsh. Gift your teen some winter and summer essentials to stay prepared.
For example, if they love snowboarding, snowboarding goggles, a waterproof ski jacket, and snow boots are great gifts.
For the summer, two very popular gifts are the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag and the 40-oz Stanley Quencher, which help people stay hydrated during hot summer days at the beach.
54. Power Bank
A portable charger for their phones or electronic devices is a useful gift for teens. They can carry the power bank to ensure their devices never lose battery and always stay charged.
55. Camera
Digital cameras like this one are making a comeback! It can snap images and take 1080P resolution videos to upload online! It’s easy to use, mini-size, and a great gift for capturing memories!
56. Light Up Vanity
I had to add this as a bonus because of how cool this LED Light Up Makeup Vanity Desk for Teens is! It has 24 color dimmable lights, eight drawers for all your child’s things, and a cushioned stool! I would have loved this as a gift in my room when I was a tween!
This vanity desk with a sliding mirror, LED color-changing lights, and gold accents is also a must-have for teens to keep their makeup and items organized in such a fun way!
Non-Toy Kids Gifts
By providing experiences, educational materials, and opportunities for growth outside of traditional toys, parents and caregivers can help children develop into well-rounded individuals with diverse interests and abilities.
I encourage you to get creative and think outside the box when choosing your presents. Giving non-toy gifts not only benefits children in the short term but also sets them up for success in the future by instilling values of curiosity, exploration, and learning early on.
These are the best non toy gifts for kids!
Save this post for later or share it with your friends!