Gifts for Kids That Aren't Toys (and Won't Become Clutter)
The toy bin is already full, the birthday party bags are still under the couch, and the grandparents are asking what to buy. If you are hunting for gifts for kids that aren't toys, you are not alone. The good news is that some of the best gifts take up almost no space and get used for years.
Fewer things, more of the good stuff.
Here are non toy gift ideas that kids actually love, sorted by the kind of kid you are shopping for, plus a few ideas for toddlers and for Christmas morning.
What makes a good gift that isn't a toy?
The gifts that last tend to do one of three things: they give a child time with someone they love, they give them something to make, or they become a keepsake. A quick test before you buy: will this still matter in six months, and where will it live in the house? If the honest answer is "in a bin," keep looking.
Experience gifts kids remember
A day out together is a gift with zero clutter.
Experiences are the classic answer to "gifts for kids that aren't clutter," and for good reason. Kids remember the day, not the box. A few ideas that work at almost any age:
- A family pass to a local zoo, aquarium, children's museum, or science center.
- A "date" with a grandparent or aunt: lunch, a matinee, and an ice cream stop.
- A few lessons in something they are curious about, like swimming, pottery, or dance.
- A homemade coupon book: one bedtime story of their choice, one pancake breakfast, one fort night in the living room.
Tip for gift givers: put a small, wrappable item in the box (a ticket printed out, a drawing of the place) so there is still something to open.
Gifts they can make and create
Supplies get used up, which is exactly the point.
Art and craft supplies are the best kind of "stuff" because they turn into something new and then they are gone. Good picks:
- A real watercolor set and thick paper instead of a coloring book.
- A blank sketchbook with their name on the front.
- Air dry clay, a roll of kraft paper, or a box of chunky crayons.
- Free printable book pages. Our free drawing pages let kids draw a whole story, page by page.
A book they wrote themselves
Real books by young authors, published under pen names.
Most kids have a story they tell over and over. Turning it into a real printed picture book is a gift that does not become clutter, because it goes on the bookshelf and gets read at bedtime. KidLore started at home when our founder's kids saw their own stories become real books and reread them again and again.
There are a few ways to do it. Your child can tell the story while a grown up writes it down and we create original illustrations, keeping their characters looking the way they imagined. Or your child can draw every page and we publish it exactly as they made it. Either way, every book comes with a Certificate of Authorship, and the story and its ideas belong to your family.
Not sure what to choose for someone else's child? Gift a Book arrives by email right away, never expires, and lets the family make the book together. You can add a free printable gift certificate to tuck into a card.
Turn their art pile into a storybook
The drawings piling up on the fridge already hold a story.
If your problem is not toys but paper, this one is for you. With Art Tales, you snap photos of 8 to 12 drawings your child already made. We pick a star character from their art, cut it out of their own drawing, and send it on a little adventure through their other pictures, with a goal, a small worry, and a happy ending.
Kate the Cat's Party, pictures by Cori Cartwheel.
Every picture is your child's own art. We never redraw, add, or generate pictures, and the cover says "Pictures by" with your child's name. It works with original hand drawn art only, so skip coloring pages and characters from shows or games. The art pile shrinks and you get a 12 page book in its place.
Gifts that grow a reader
A reading corner is a gift they use every night.
Books count as a non toy gift, and so does everything that makes reading feel special:
- A clip on book light for reading under the covers.
- A cozy reading corner: a floor cushion, a soft blanket, and a small basket for library books.
- A trip to get their very own library card.
- Picture books by other kids. Every book on The Bookshelf is written by a young author, and each one also comes as a printable PDF.
Kids who see other kids publishing books often start asking, "Can I make one too?"
Gifts for toddlers that aren't toys or clothes
Simple, useful, and easy to put away.
Toddlers are the hardest to shop for without adding toys. A few ideas that get used up or used every day:
- Sturdy board books, which survive chewing and dropping.
- Bath crayons, bubbles, and a small watering can for the garden.
- A membership to a local play space or children's museum.
- A photo book of family members they love, so they learn names and faces.
- A Gift a Book card saved for later. It never expires, so the family can make a book when the little one is ready to tell a story. Our books are made for ages 4 to 10, and younger kids simply tell the story out loud.
Christmas gifts for kids that aren't toys
The best Christmas gifts still have something to unwrap.
At Christmas, non toy gifts work best when they still feel like a big moment under the tree. Wrap a ticket inside a box, tuck a gift certificate into a card, or wrap a printed picture book made from their own story.
Timing matters. To have a new printed book in hand by Christmas, order by December 1, since printing and shipping usually take 1 to 2 weeks after you approve the proof. Gift a Book, printable PDFs, and the Art Tales Digital Sing-Along arrive by email, so they work right up to Christmas Eve.
Common questions
What can I get my child instead of toys?
Think in three groups: something to do (an outing, lessons, a membership), something to make (art supplies, drawing pages, a book of their own story), and something to keep (a keepsake book or a photo album). Pick one from each group and you have a full, clutter free gift list.
How do I ask family for no toys without sounding rude?
Give them a short list instead of a rule. "She would love a zoo day with you, a watercolor set, or a book of her own story" is easier for a grandparent to say yes to than "no toys please."
What are good birthday gifts for kids that aren't toys?
Experiences with the birthday child, a craft kit they can do that day, or a gift they open now and enjoy later, like a book they get to write themselves.
Is a custom picture book a good gift for a reluctant reader?
Often, yes. Kids reread books they made, and a story in their own words feels familiar from the very first page. We wrote more about that in our reluctant reader tips.
A gift that ends up on the bookshelf, not in the bin
If you want one gift that is part experience, part creative project, and all keepsake, give them the chance to make their own book.
More ideas: Unique Christmas Gifts for Kids Who Love Stories and A Keepsake Gift Grandparents Can Give Their Grandkids.