Preview: Gift ideas for the kids who have everything!
Do you have a kid on your gift list that already has every toy in the store? And what gifts do you buy for older kids who don’t really play with toys anymore?
If you are looking for gift ideas for kids who have everything or are hard to buy for, don’t worry! There are gifts that are far more valuable than any plastic toy or mind-numbing electronic device. Here is a list for when you want a unique gift idea for kids, run out of gift ideas, or have to buy for a kid who already has everything!
What do you buy kids who have everything?
Every year on New Year’s Eve I go to Ikea.
That may seem like a strange tradition but I bet the reason will make a lot of sense if you have a house full of kids like me: I’m looking for toy organizers.
It happened by accident that I was there every year. As I was leaving on year 2, I thought “weren’t we here last New Year’s Eve?” and, in fact, we were there- also buying toy storage. “How do we need MORE toy storage already?”.
You know why- Santa. And Aunt Santa and Grandma Santa and Obscure relative Santa. If everyone buys your child one toy, it adds up to a pile in your living room, they are so overwhelmed they don’t even know what they have, and in a week you have to find a place to put it.
Do you feel like your kids already have “all the toys”? Me too. But everyone still asks me what they want for Christmas (even though they have seen my playroom and garage…)
And I bet they ask you too. So here are a few ideas that are more valuable than toys and, BONUS, you won’t have to buy storage shelves… 😉
Oh, and before I start, I’ll also share a link to the article “15 Places to Donate or Sell Used Toys“… just in case you might need it!
(This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn on qualifying purchases)
Non-toy gift idea for kids: Experiences
What could be more incredible than giving kids the gift of memories! There is actually science to support giving kids experiences instead of gifts and this is a great way to do that! Oliver James, Britain’s best-selling author and child psychologist notes that
“… family holidays are definitely valued by children, both in the moment and for long afterwards in their memory. So if you’re going to spend money on something, it’s pretty clear which option makes more sense.”
James suggests that giving kids experiences instead of toys. He says that laughing with Mom and Dad over ice cream will mean more than any toys over will. Hard to argue with that!
Some non-toy gift ideas for experiences:
- Museum memberships- We get a membership to the children’s museum every year! It is pretty affordable, fun, and educational! This is a gift they can enjoy all year! Think museums, science, centers, or children’s theatre
- Movie Theater Gift Cards (and don’t forget the drive-in!)- Gift it in a popcorn tin with some microwave popcorn and a box of snacks!
- Overnight stays at theme hotels– If you are near an indoor water park such as Great Wolf Lodge or Kalahari Reports, gifting a night or a weekend getaway is the ultimate gift idea! (You can also get a gift card of course)
- Indoor bounce houses- Indoor trampoline parks, bounce houses, or “fun parks” such as Urban Air or BounceU often sell passes or gift cards. No kid would turn down a chance to run wild!
- Arcades– Indoor arcade and dining places such as Dave & Busters are great for hours of fun! You can often buy points or passes online.
- Amusement Park passes– Tickets, gift cards, or annual passes to any theme park in driving distance is fun for the whole family (and a unique gift idea).
- Art Studios– Make-your-own-craft or pottery places are super trendy right now. What a fun gift to get creative and make memories!
- Classes– If the kid on your gift list loves hockey, you could gift him skating lessons. Maybe your little Picaso would enjoy some painting classes. This gift will require an okay from Mom and Dad first but it is certainly a gift that will have a lasting impact!
Subscription Box Gift Ideas for kids:
Subscription boxes are the gift that keeps giving!
Prime Book Box– This is an Amazon subscription that delivers hand-picked children’s books every 1, 2, or 3 months! It saves you 40% off retail and comes in different age ranges from birth to 12 years old (wouldn’t this be the BEST baby or shower gift ever?!)
STEM Box– This is a STEM subscription box service for kids 3-12 years old (there are different options for 3 age ranges) .If you have a kid who loves to tinker or are looking for a learning activity, this is a great way to go (good gift idea for grandma!)
Kiwi Crate – We love Kiwi Crate! This is a subscription box that delivers month STEAM projects for kids. There are 7 different age ranges to choose from starting with Tadpole (0-2 years old) all the way to Eureka (ages 14-104 years). Each crate delivers age-appropriate projects and has everything you need to complete the project. You can pause or cancel anytime but they are so much fun I bet you won’t need to. My kids get so excited when they see me carry that yellow box in from the mail. They also ask to “do it right now”! I love that they are having learning and I think this is a great way to spend some Mommy-and-Me (or Daddy or Grandma!) time. Find out more here!
Epic!– Not a subscription box exactly but the Epic! app is the Netflix of Children’s books. We use this app every single day. They can read books, listen to audiobooks, watch educational videos (all ad-free), take book quizzes, learn Spanish, read classics or their favorite character books (Elmo, Minecraft, Star Wars, Thomas, just to name a few!). We listen to audiobooks in the car often and anytime the kids have a question (i.e. How can squirrels climb trees), we open the Epic! app and look for the answer. The kids think they’re playing, I know they are learning, everyone is happy 😉 This is a great gift!
Remember to Pin this for when you need a gift idea!
At the end of the day, kids aren’t going to remember who bought them what every Christmas for their entire childhood. They will, however, remember the time they spend building robots with Mom when the STEAM crate came or cruising waterslides with their little brother at Great Wolf Lodge. We only have 18 years to give kids a childhood to remember. Experiences are a gift that will last a lifetime.
Now you can be done shopping and get back to your Family Christmas Bucket List since you found gift ideas for kids who have everything!
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