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If you’re here, you’re probably looking for the best gifts for kids that aren’t toys. I’ve got you covered! In this article you’ll find gifts that your child will love. The gifts are divided into different categories depending on their age.
50 gifts for kids that aren’t toys
What non-toy gifts should you give your child according to their age? Here is a list with some popular options. If they love a non-toy gift that is not on the list, please add it in the comments so that other readers can check it out.
Heads-up! I thought that coming up with a list of unique non-toy gifts for children would be easy. I was wrong! The thing is, one month old babies and nine month old babies do not necessarily need the same things, and many gifts for kids that aren’t toys that are great for three-year-olds could also be great for eight-, nine- or even ten-year-olds. So look through all the categories and don’t just focus on the suggested age group – I’m sure you’ll find a non-toy gift idea that will totally blow your kid away! So, let’s get to it.
Best gifts for kids that aren’t toys for babies
Getting gifts for kids that aren’t toys for babies can be hard, especially because we all know that the gifts we give newborns are rarely just for them! Here are some of the best non-toy gifts for the toddlers in your life.
Diapers. Kids go through diapers at a rate you wouldn’t believe so giving diapers is a great non-toy gift idea any parent would appreciate. I am a big fan of diaper cakes myself and the good news is that you can make one yourself if your feel up to it or if you don’t want to buy the ready-made ones!
Pajamas. I would never have thought about offering pajamas until a friend gave some really funky ones to my third born daughter on her first birthday. This is a great non-toy idea even for younger kids because babies spend like all their time sleeping, especially those first months, so a cute pajama is likely to be very appreciated. There are some really cool designs here.
Baby boots. All kids need baby boots, and there are unisex baby boots that can make a really great gift. If boots aren’t your thing, why not get them baby sleepers instead?
Baby bath. If you’re short of a great non-toy idea to give a one-year old, why not give them something for bath time? There are some great options here or you can check out this gift guide which has great ideas for baby showers or birthdays.
Sheets. Who wouldn’t appreciate cute sheets for a baby bed? There are so many funky designs now, the hard part will be choosing which sheets to take. If you don’t feel like getting sheets as a gift, why not get something related like a baby blanket or an organic baby quilt?
A mobile. A mobile is a great non-toy gift idea for babies. Baby mobiles can help babies develop their motor skills. Be sure to get one that meets the current safety standards!
Utensils. Sip and straw cups, plates, cutlery for toddlers, etc. are all great non-gift ideas. Remember to choose child-safe utensils designed to encourage independent eating, like these ones.
Cuddly toy. Everyone likes cuddly toys – babies love them! The cuter they are, the better gifts they’ll make!
Play gym. Both babies and their parents will appreciate a play gym. What’s more, good play gyms help kids develop their motor skills and so much more! This play gym, which has been specially designed by child development experts and crafted with safe materials for babies from age zero, is guaranteed to give your child a whole year of play.
Photo album. There’s something with photos the first year. I think that’s the year I took the most photos for each of my kids. If you are looking for a special gift idea, then a baby album is a great choice!
A baby chair. There are baby chairs in all shapes and sizes so you should be able to get exactly what you need to offer a one year old!
A baby growth chart. Baby growth charts are a lovely gift idea – and they’re also cute and useful!
Board books. Books are great gifts for babies. Here are just three that are quite popular: Open the Barn Door, Is Your Mama a Llama? Peek-a Who? Or you can join Bookroo’s Board Book Club.
Swim diapers. Getting swim diapers as a gift is a unique gift idea for toddlers. Better still, get them reusable swim diapers that will last and last.
Gifts for kids that aren’t toys (ages two to three)
Okay, now that we’re done with gifts for babies, here are a few ideas of great non-toy gifts for children ages two to three. Some gift ideas in this category would be great even for older kids!
A bathrobe. Any kid will appreciate a cool bathrobe and you have so many to choose from! If you don’t think your child will love a bathrobe, how about a bath towel they can’t resist?
Funky name tags. Kids need name tags to keep track of all their stuff in the day care center or even at school. Why not get them a funky name tag they’ll love?
A potty. A potty is a great non-gift idea for children, and the good news is that there are now so many options for potty training, from potty seats to step tool ladders, and designs you wouldn’t believe! Check out some of the best sellers out there and be sure to read what others are saying.
An alarm clock. If I had known how great alarm clocks are for kids, I would have gotten all my kids alarm clocks earlier! They make children feel like they are grown up and they are guaranteed to make any parents life easier: “you can get out of bed when the alarm rings”, “when the alarm rings, it’s time for your shower”… The options are endless!
Hair accessories. Hair accessories are a great and often overlooked non-gift idea that kids would appreciate… and there are so many great accessories to choose from: head bands, hair bands, barrettes, claw clips, and so on.
Outdoor kits. Is your child into exploring and discovering stuff? Then the JVJQ Outdoor Explorer Kit is the perfect gift for any occasion. The Nature Bound Bug Catcher is another popular kit for little explorers. These kits will help your child connect with nature!
An umbrella. Who would have thought of an umbrella as great non-toy gift idea, right? Umbrellas are a great and practical gift idea for kids, and you have so many designs to choose from!
So what non-toy gift do you get a kid aged between four and six? Honestly, I think most of the gifts proposed in the two- to three-year-old category would make great gifts for this age group as well but here are a few other great gift ideas for four- to six-year-olds.
Gifts for kids that aren’t toys for children between ages four and six
An apron. There are so many cute aprons out there, and you can even get a personalized one if you think your child would enjoy this as a gift.
A Butterfly growing kit. This amazing educational gift is a popular gift your child is sure to love!
A Fitness tracker watch for kid. When it comes to fitness, it’s never too early to start, right? And there are great fitness tracker watches specially designed for kids.
A camera. Cameras are among the gifts my kids have appreciated most (and still use three years later)! A camera is not only a good gift, it also helps your kids change how they look at the world. My kids have spent hours looking for insects to photograph and analyze and had fun making videos of themselves “performing”. Here are a few great options to check out if you think this is a gift your child would appreciate.
A suitcase. A suitcase will make your child feel all grown up and independent! And there are such cute suitcases to choose from now!
A chemistry set. Is your child the scientific type? This National geographic chemistry set will make a perfect non-toy gift!
A piggy bank. A piggy bank is a great non-toy gift idea and it is also an easy way to start sharpening your child’s financial skills!
Moving on, here are a few non-toy gift ideas if your kid is between ages seven and nine
Gifts for kids that aren’t toys for seven- to nine-year-olds
Like I said earlier, many of the non-toy gifts in the previous categories would make perfect gifts for kids of all ages. But, here are a few other ideas if you still haven’t found something you think would be a perfect fit.
A watch. A watch is a great gift idea, but when is the right age to get your child one? While there is no consistent answer, getting your child a watch when they start learning to read time makes sense.
The good news is that today you have child-friendly designs (such as Timex Kids Watches which come with a great replacement plan) to make it easier for kids to read time (clear dials, clear numbers, etc).
You can also get your child a spywatch which has multiple functions including GPS tracking which is good for kids’ protection. Here are just three popular spywatches for kids that you can check out:
A telescope. Your child will spend hours getting a closer look at the moon and discovering constellations if you get them a telescope as a gift.
Monthly subscription boxes. There are so many great subscription boxes today, which is great because you can choose a box depending on your child’s interests and preferences. Here are different boxes to get started.
A book to learn magic tricks. Is your child into magic tricks? There are very many magic tricks your child can learn by themselves. Resources such as Fifty Amazing Magic Tricks or The amazing treasure chest of magic has all you need to turn your child into a magician!
A microscope. A microscope is a great non-toy gift that can help sharpen your child’s observation skills.
A flashlight. Not sure what gift to get your seven- to nine-year-old child? Why not get them a flashlight? They are sure to love one that belongs to them alone!
A Science kit. Are you looking for a gift to help them develop their STEM skills? Why not get them a kit such as the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Science Magic Kit ? Or a Volcano Making Kit?
An aquarium. An aquarium is not only a great gift, it is also great for teaching your child about accountability. Remember to make them responsible at least for feeding their fish!
And now to the last category of our non-toy gift ideas for children. What do you get for a ten- to twelve-year old when you don’t want to get toys? Here are just a few ideas of some of the things that could make great gifts for this age group.
Gifts for kids that aren’t toys for ten- to twelve-year-old boys and girls
A wallet. Now that your child is getting older, a wallet will make them feel all grown up. Remember to incorporate some financial skills to teach them about saving and spending.
A backpack. A funky backpack is a perfect non-gift idea for children above the age of ten.
Camping gear. If you’re a camping family, getting your child camping material just for them can be a great non-gift idea. That could be a tent, a lantern, a sleeping bag… the options are endless!
Headphones. Desperately seeking gifts for kids that arent toys? Why not get them headphones? You just know they’ll love them! Here are a few ideas to choose from.
Posters. You already know their favorite singer or their favorite videogame. Posters would make a lovely non-toy gift they’ll appreciate.
Okay, that’s it. I hope you’ve found at least one thing your kid will totally enjoy! If you’re still having doubts (seriously?), here are 10 non-toy gifts kids of all ages will enjoy.
Gifts for kids that aren’t toys for kids of all ages
- Clothes. Clothes are a great non-toy gift for all kids of all ages – and there are so many things to choose from – shoes, pants, t-shirts, dresses, swimming costumes, etc. The only thing to remember is that good quality clothing lasts longer!
- Subscription boxes. Good subscription boxes are great gifts for kids that arent toys. They can help your child develop skills such as creativity, independence and even critical-thinking skills. Cratejoy has the best monthly subscriptions for every age group, and both the Bookroo box and the Reading Bug Box are great subscription boxes if you’re looking to turn your kid into a reader!
3. Custom-made towels and blankets.
4. Craft supplies
5. Board games
6. Musical instruments
7. Custom-made mugs
8. A bedside lamp or night lights
9. Gardening tools
10. Costumes
What are your best gifts for kids that aren’t toys? Let us know in the comments section below
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