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What are the best non-toy gifts for 4-year-olds? And should you even consider non-toy gifts for a 4-year-old? The short answer is yes! Non-toy gifts, such as experiences or even things your child can use every day, are a great alternative to toys, which are often quickly forgotten.
Does this mean that you should get rid of all toys and only suggest useful non-toy gifts for your four-year-old? Absolutely not!
Toys are important for teaching children many important skills. They teach them about different concepts, help them learn or perfect their social skills, teach them about teamwork, resilience, perseverance and critical thinking, and so on.
However, including some non-toy gifts for 4-year-olds can help them develop different types of skills and give them the opportunity to discover something new. They can be a great alternative to toys, allowing for a healthy balance in their development.
Why choose non-toy gifts for a 4-year-old?
Many benefits are associated with non-toy gifts for 4-year-olds. First, these types of toys are great at encouraging creativity and imagination.
Second, non-toys gifts help reduce clutter and materialism and are therefore an easy way for your family to practice minimalism. They can help promote your child’s environmental consciousness and teach them the importance of sustainable choices.
Non-toy gifts for 4-year olds are a great choice because they get used longer, or have a much more lasting impact, than toys and serve their purpose for an extended period. In other words, non-toys gifts typically have longer-lasting value compared to toys, which children may outgrow or lose interest in quickly.
Researchers[1] who have taken an interest in toys versus experiences also say that people tend to remember experiences more than they remember gifts. They say that we are more likely to remember the special midnight ice-cream treats than the fifth doll we received as a gift. They also say that we tend to remember non-material gifts more fondly.
The best non-toy gifts for 4-year-olds
There are hundreds of great non-toy gifts that your 4-year-old will absolutely love! And the best part is that many of these gifts are pocket-friendly or, better still, completely free.
Here are five non-toy gifts for 4-year-olds that you’ll both love.
1) An alarm clock
An alarm clock is a great non-toy gift for 4-year-olds. Not only can it reduce power struggles in your home, it can also help to improve your child’s autonomy. For instance, it can help them to know when it’s time to go to bed, get up from bed, take their shower, stop their videogame and so on.
The secret lies in choosing an alarm clock that they won’t be able to resist, such as this one.
2) Coupon books.
Coupons are a great hit in our family and are almost always included in our gifts to our kids. The kids love receiving them and they get to use them throughout the year.
The trick is in choosing the things that you know that they will appreciate (staying up later than usual, double scoop of ice-cream, extra time to play videogames, choosing a game/movie night, getting out of doing a chore of their choice, choosing the dessert of their choice, etc.).
Here is a free coupon book that you can download and use with your kids.
3) Something cool to wear
Fun clothes with characters that your kid loves are great non-toy gifts for 4-year-olds. The great thing about clothes is that there are so many from which to choose:
- Funky socks – Boys will love these monster pattern crew socks and girls will love these ones.
- Cool underwear – The only way your child will think receiving underwear as a gift is cool is if you choose only the coolest models. At age four, they’ll love underwear with their favorite characters – think Super Mario or Spiderman briefs, or colorful panties for girls.
- Cute pajamas – I love it when my kids get pajamas as gifts because they are practical and necessary. I love ALL of Burt’s Bees Pajamas which are affordable, comfortable, and made of quality material.
4) A tent
Honestly, is there a kid who doesn’t like tents? A tent is a great non-toy gift for a 4-year-old, and it can give them a sense of having their very own private space, for example for reading. This one is foldable and machine washable.
5) Real kitchen tools
Real age-appropriate kitchen tools such as knives are a good non-toy gift for a 4-year-old and can help them develop their sense of autonomy. Given the right tools, children this young can participate more fully in everyday family life.
Your child will love using their real knives to help slice soft fruit and vegetables, or help making cookies with their non-stick rolling pin. Curious chef has all the kid-friendly kitchen tools that you need.
Additional non-toy gifts for 4-year-olds
Here are a few additional non-toy gifts that a 4-year-old might like (or need 😉):
- An electric toothbrush.
- Hair accessories.
- Cool sheets – you’ll love the cool microfiber bed sheets that JSD proposes.
- Spill proof, dishwater safe reusable water bottles that you can find here.
- A nightlight or flashlight.
- Fun umbrellas or raingear such as the amazing Stephen Joseph collection.
- Lessons, for example swimming lessons.
When deciding on the best non-toy gifts for 4-year-olds, thinking about what your child likes and needs can help you find ideas about an appropriate gift. What did we leave off the list? Let us know in the comments section below.
[1]Waiting for Merlot: Anticipatory Consumption of Experiential and Material Purchases
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