We've all been there. We pick out the perfect gift for our kids. We are giddy with their joy as they anxiously rip off the wrapping paper Christmas morning. We are overjoyed as they play with this prized toy they have asked for... and then two weeks later it's under the bed never to be played with again.
Don't get me wrong. I actually like toys. I don't have a problem with them. I just pushed a pile of Legos away from my desk to write this post. But, I have also come to see the value in nontoy gifts as well. So today I wanted to share a few of my favorites as well as YOUR ideas from the Facebook page.
1. Books
My husband and I are both readers and I feel like we're passing that on to our kids. Books make great gifts.
I recently purchased my kids The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home. Such cute and fun books for preschoolers (and young school aged children).
For my niece (age 8) I got Ramona Quimby and for my nephew (age 9) I got the Hatchet, a great adventure book.
2. Experience gifts
We took our kids to the zoo this past spring. It was so much fun. SO. MUCH. Zoo passes or even just a trip to the zoo as a family would make an awesome gift for both small and older children.
TIP: If you can't swing the funds for a pass or family tickets, many library systems offer one-day zoo passes with library card membership.
3. Classes and sports
We just signed Ryals up for basketball and I am so excited. He will be playing in the spring with practice right after Christmas.
Classes like art, ballet, karate, tumbling etc. are all great options as gifts. As well as community sports.
4. Magazines
Kids LOVE getting mail and magazine subscriptions are fantastic. Some of my favorites are Highlights, Ladybug and Ranger Rick.
Articles, poems, games, recipes. These educational magazines are packed FULL of great things.
5. Science kits
My mother-in-law got the coolest science kit for my boys and we have spent so much time playing with it! They were able to make their own snowman, which is such a thrill for Alabama boys who have never seen snow.
There are so many cute science kits out there like this cool called Magic Science for Wizards. I mean, I want to play with that.
These make excellent gifts and have a WIDE variety of ages.
6. Subscription boxes
Again, kids LOVE mail. Why not sign up for a subscription box? There is one for everyone. Art. Science. Music. Cooking. SO many options.
We personally love the Green Kid Crafts. It comes once a month and has around four crafts each month based on a theme.
7. Audiobooks and stories
We love audiobooks in this house. They make a rainy day or a long car ride FLY by. We also love stories and serials designed for kids and families.
My children LOVE Adventures in Odyssey, which is pure nostalgia for me because I listened to them as a kid. They teach Biblically-based concepts as well as social awareness. I love them.
Another GREAT audio option I just discovered is Around the World Stories. We love this show. It features stories from and about children around the world. It explores different cultures and talks about the day to day life of the children featured in each episode. It's like having 20 different pen pals.
GIVEAWAY: I am giving away a $15 gift certificate to Around the World Kids. One lucky winner will receive a gift certificate for a weekly story.
This is open to ALL my readers internationally so I am excited about this. SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO ENTER.
I got the gift certificate as part of the Very Merry Gift Certificate Bundle. This is an awesome sale; for just $15, you’ll get $180 in store credits from 12 online businesses that align- many mom owned.
You literally get $15 gift certificates to put towards whatever you like from a dozen participating stores. All you’ll pay are standard shipping rates (which varies by store).
With your bundle, you’ll be able to purchase well-made, meaningful and clutter-free gifts like:
- ethically-sourced coffees from around the world
- photo products including wall decor, canvas wraps, prints and albums
- classy custom-made bags, totes and camera straps
- eco-friendly reusable glass drinking straws
- healing tallow skin balms and lip love
- inspirational hand-lettered art prints
- Kombucha bottles, supplies, and brewing kits
As long as you use one gift certificate, you’ll come out even. Use two and you’ve already gotten a great deal, worth twice what you paid!
The more you use, the more you save, all the way up to $165 free shopping dollars, so you can spend less while gifting well this Christmas.
The only catch? It’s available for just 7 short days, so you need to grab yours quick (and then, get shopping)! Last day to get yours is Monday, December 5th.
This post contains affiliate links. Meaning if you make a purchase I will get a small commission at NO extra charge to you.
