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For the children who have everything or if, like me, you don’t value adding more “stuff” in your children’s lives (and living room floor!!), there are many gift alternatives to toys this Holiday season or when it comes to birthdays.
Without further ado, here are 50 ideas for alternative gifts for kids – for all budgets and all children:
Active
- Unusual sports outing (i.e., ice-skating, fishing, rock-climbing)
- Local attraction park annual pass or day pass
- Sports class (has your child been wanting to start soccer? ski?)
- Ticket to a sporting event
- Entrance to the local trampoline center
- Sports equipment (i.e., tennis racket, snorkeling set, golf balls)
- Sport clothing (i.e., leotard, basketball shorts)
- Children gardening tools and seed packs
- New sports shoes
- Pool toys (i.e., diving rings, floaters)
- Bicycle
Culture
- Local museum annual pass or day pass
- Kid’s magazine subscription (i.e., National Geographic for kids)
- Cooking class
- Night at the theater or opera
- Age-appropriate books
- Audiobooks (i.e., Amazon Audible – Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks HERE
)
- Travel guide for kids for your next trip
- Recipe book
- Old iPod pre-loaded with their favorite songs
)Arts
- Musical instrument
- Music subscription (i.e., Amazon Music – Click HERE for Free Trial
- Art supplies (i.e., canvas, paint, glitter)
- Reusable sticker book (i.e., our favorite are Melissa and Doug
)
- Magic water paint book (i.e., Melissa and Doug
)
- Water doodle
- Coloring books
- Old digital camera
- Craft table
)
)It’s The Little Pleasures
- Water-proof watch
- Hair pieces
- Dress-up clothes
- Photo album of the year in review
- Bedroom decoration
- Sunglasses
- Gift card to their favorite store or ice-cream shop
- Fantasy jewelry (i.e., Go Girl Designs bracelet with integrated hair tie)
- Rain coat, rain boots, umbrella
- New bedding (i.e., sheets, comforter, pillows)
- Alarm clock
- Fun nail polishes (i.e., 5 and below has the cutest assortment for girls)
- Bath time fun (i.e., bubble bath, bath crayons
- Hand luggage
- School backpack
Family
- Coupon for a 1-on-1 day with Mom or Dad
- Family trip (i.e., surprise them with a booked trip)
- Kid’s pick at movie night
- Boardgames
- Family bowling night
- Camping equipment (even if you’ll only camp in the backyard!)
Over the years and with three children, we have pretty much exhausted this entire list over birthdays and Christmases. Yet, we get back to it every year and love getting our kids experiences, rather than toys they won’t play with. It is fun to see them enjoy themselves and make memories. And we love being able to share quality time with them as well. Believe me, those are some of the best gifts you can give your child, whatever the occasion may be!
Happy gifting!
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