Last Christmas, as I loaded up some of the toys my son was no longer playing with to get rid of, I finally stepped on the LEGO that broke the camel’s back… With toys tucked in every corner, I simply couldn’t take adding another one to the house at Christmas time. Zach has a tendency to get toys throughout the year, of course, and our over-stuffed toy bins were clear indicators that he wasn’t exactly hurting for toys. So, I made a decision: No. More. Toys. We weren’t getting rid of the toys he loved, and we certainly weren’t eliminating toys from the house, but instead, my entire family agreed that we would make a conscious effort to purchase a little more creatively for Christmas, and that meant not buying any new toys.
At first it was tough: what do you buy a 3 year old for Christmas if you’re not buying toys? But after some creative thought, Zach got the best gifts ever, and after a conversation with him this year, it was very clear that the same plan was in place again this year– no more toys. The exception, of course, was Santa. Santa could bring whatever he wanted to, and if Zach did ask Santa for a toy, well, that might end up in the stocking, of course. The same rule applies this year– Santa can bring a toy, but for everyone else… it’s off limits. If you’re in the same place we were last year, here’s a list of 10 ideas of Christmas gifts you can get for kids that aren’t just another toy.
Annual Passes- Last year, this was by far one of Zach’s favorite gifts. He received annual passes to the Science Center, Planetarium, Aquarium, LEGOland Discovery Center, and the Zoo. This meant we could make unlimited visits to those special places, and since we chose some passes that were reciprocal, it meant we could even explore museums in other nearby cities. Buying annual passes is a great way to spend intentional time together, and it is a really good gift for getting something that matches your child’s interests. Zach can be incredibly science-minded at times, so a pass to the Science museum allowed him to explore the exhibits for as long as he wanted to, without limits. If you’re in the Kansas City area, you can check out this list of annual memberships you’ll want to get for your family.
Subscription Boxes- Another gift Zach loved last year was a subscription to KoalaCrate, which is part of the KiwiCrate family of gifts. Monthly subscription boxes come in a variety of themes, so you can definitely find one that meets your child’s needs. From dress up to crafts to books to science and more, there’s a subscription box out there for your family. KoalaCrate specifically delivers about 3 monthly projects, centered around a specific theme, with all of the items inside that you need to complete the 3 projects. KoalaCrate is largely science-and-art based, with lots of STEAM learning, and they grow with you– the youngest kids start with KoalaCrate, with older kids graduating to KiwiCrate. Tweens and teens will love DoodleCrate if they’re crafty and TinkerCrate if they are scientific (or both for those with diverse interests!) We also had, for quite some time, a subscription to KidStir, which is great for kids who love to cook. Subscription boxes are the perfect non-toy way to spend time together being creative, and if you get a 3, 6, or 12 month subscription, the fun doesn’t stop at Christmas, but instead is a monthly gift that your child can enjoy as it arrives again and again with a new theme.
Tickets for an Event- Is there a show, concert, ballet, or other great event coming to your area that you know your child would love? Tickets to that special event makes for a great Christmas gift! Think season passes to the local theatre company’s performances, tickets to something like Disney On Ice, or concert tickets to see a favorite band perform. Tickets are a great experience. gift that allow your child the opportunity to go to something new and exciting.
An Instrument or Lessons- Is your child really musically gifted, or wants to try something new? An instrument is a great Christmas gift, especially if it’s one they’ve been longing for. Growing up, one of my friends played just about every string instrument he could get his hands on, so when his parents got him a banjo for Christmas, he was overjoyed! This is especially the time to upgrade your child’s music game… maybe they’ve proven to you that they’ll take great care of the instrument by practicing and caring for a rental– Christmas is a great time to purchase one of their very own! Or maybe they’ve just expressed a lot of interest in an instrument but have never owned one… instead of spending money on a few toys that they’ll play with and then grow out of, try an instrument that can bring them joy for years.
Items for their Interests and Hobbies- Tying into musical instruments, what about your child’s other hobbies? Perhaps a child who loves to bake could use a mixer or some child-friendly bakeware and kitchen tools. Maybe your child is the next David Beckham and could use a great soccer goal or a special edition ball. Perhaps you’ve got a filmmaker or photographer on your hands that could use a camera, or if they have a camera, lights, tripods, and other equipment to help them on their journey. One of the most exciting things a kid can know is that their parent supports them in a hobby, dream, or goal they have, and helping give them gifts to further that goal or dream is a great way to show you care and support their passions.
A Stack of Books- Does your child always have their nose in a book? Why not buy their book wishlist, or a stack of sequels to the books they’re reading now, or even books by their favorite authors. A stack of books can take your child to entirely new worlds. Perhaps your bookworm has gone digital and could use a bunch of digital copies of classic favorites, or maybe you haven’t made the leap to digital and want to pick up one of the super affordable Kindles that Amazon has to offer at the moment. Or, of course, if your reader is reading too fast for you to keep up, a gift card to their favorite bookstore or online book retailer can help them make the choices on their own.
Gift Cards- I don’t mean just any impersonal gift cards. I mean a mini stack of gift cards tailored to your child’s interests. Perhaps they have some favorite restaurants or a cinema they love, or maybe they are a fashionista wanting to update their wardrobe at a specific store. When giving the gift cards, you can either offer to set aside time for a one-on-one shopping spree to go use the cards, or you could encourage them to use these as their fun money for the season (which is especially great for tweens and teens who go out with friends, but aren’t old enough for a steady part time income to cover going and getting sodas or seeing a movie with their friends). Also a great idea? A piggy bank full of money to help them save up for a purchase they’ve been dreaming of.
Favorite Movies- All year long, Zach and I love to see movies together. From the cinema to the drive in, we love checking out great movies together. A lot of times, after seeing a movie we absolutely love, I’ll go ahead and pre-order it, then stash it away when it arrives. The result is a nice gift of movies purchased throughout the year, a collection of all of the great movies we saw together that year, plus maybe some popcorn and favorite movie snacks (so all we need is a blanket and a day to marathon the new flicks). It helps him remember the fun we had seeing the movies, and it helps us build new memories by watching them again, plus gives him that one-on-one time and attention. Looking to see more movies together in the next year? Tuck a little movie gift card in with a note of all of the movies you can’t wait to see together next!
A tree sapling- If it’s too cold to plant a tree where you live, consider a small plant you can grow indoors, then transplant outside come spring. A plant is perfect, especially for nature-minded kids, because it’s something tangible and living that they can feel a sense of pride in as it grows. Today’s small plant can become tomorrow’s climbing tree, and it’s a lasting memory of the time spent tending it to grow.
Stock in a favorite company- When I was young, my grandparents gave me a few shares of the Disney company’s stock. I loved Disney movies, and it was so much fun to tell my friends that I “owned” a little bit of the Disney company (and I even had the certificate to back it up!) Over the years, my small shares split, and ended up being a nice annual perk every year when my dividends arrived, but the thrill I had in knowing I owned a little bit of Disney was mind-blowing as a kid.
There are so many different gifts you can get kids that are really fun but don’t involve toys. So often, we get caught up in the clutter of giving toys, that we lose the time together to enjoy it. Like I said, Zach will still keep getting toys from Santa, but the idea that he might have a new instrument to play, or a subscription box so he can cook a new recipe or make a new craft, or the thought that we can go someplace he loves again and again are great gifts that he loves receiving. And the best part is, when you get the family involved, you can get some really great gifts that last the whole year through (and trust me, none of these need any batteries! I can’t promise that they don’t make noise, though– have you ever heard a kid with a drum set?!)
In the end, for me, Christmas was less about what I got and more about the memories I made. I can’t tell you the gift that I got when I was 5 years old, but I can tell you about each year my mom took me to Disney on Ice growing up. I couldn’t tell you which must-have Barbie was released when I was 6, but I can tell you about the time spent going to Theatre In the Park with my grandma and mom. Studies have shown that the happiest adults got the chance to receive experiences rather than stuff, and because of that, I love the idea of giving my child something he’ll remember for life, instead of something he will outgrow or lose track of before the next Christmas comes around.
What’s your favorite non-toy gift for Christmas? Let me know in the comments below!
