kids presents that are not toys?

[my4girls]

what have your kids received that you loved that wasn't toys? for any age range- maybe there are other crazies like me already planning for Christmas who can use some inspiration as well
 
I am trying think of things for my girls for Christmas as well as things to buy for other kids are my list and would like to stay away from more toys. Have your kids received anything you thought was cute or clever or out of the box?

things my kids have received that we loved-

personalized beach bag/ towel
personalized toiletry bag and pjs
I see me book
Rainbow in my room projector

[MadamePresident]

I like books. I feel like you can never have too many.

[Brie]

Magazine subscriptions. I'm planning on getting kid magazine subscriptions for my nephew. He loves getting mail.

[justjen]

We got this awesome overnight bag. It has all these different bags inside, that say things like "clean," "sleepy," "shoes," "stinky," "yummy" "ouch." It really helps keep things organized when packing for her. It's cute, with a little puppy on it.

The same friend also got us a snow globe, which DD LOVES.

[pierogigirl]

sports equipment - for his birthday DS1 is getting skates and lessons from my dad.
books

[arch01]

books, memberships to a kid's museum or play place, magazines

[my4girls]

oh magazines is a great one. DD1 would love that

[Ashley&Scott]

What about "experience" gifts. Zoo or museum passes, movie tickets for older kids, etc.

[dragonfly08]

Books, magazine subscriptions, movie gift cards, Target gift cards, age appropriate jewelry, art supplies.

[DarcyLongfellow]

Books
Magazine subscriptions -- Animal Baby (for little ones), Highlights, National Geographic Kids
Pajamas (character ones)
Art supplies -- those Melissa and Doug kits are awesome
My 4 year old is starting to get excited about new clothes
Board games

[hocus2]

Clothing, passes to stuff like the zoo, kids museum, music classes, event tickets like the Disney on Ice

My kid may not get a birthday toy from us this year. I might just a book or special day with just her and mom. Her birthday falls in the middle of Hanukkah and she's having a class party. So between the 2 she'll get that 20 things. 

[elocrates]

There are some good suggestions in this thread.

I'll add:
- neck pillow for car trips
- wall decals or art for their bedrooms
- sports equipment (or is that actually a toy??) (kick ball, baseball glove, soccer ball, etc.)
- a piggy bank
- placemats (they really like the Melissa & Doug map and alphabet ones)
- their own aprons for when they help me cook
- their own lawn equipment (rake, shovel, etc. (but not the toy kind, just smaller versions of the ones we use))
- kids' recipe book

[pierogigirl]

piggy bank

My kids are too little to really understand money, but they love putting coins in their piggies. Unfortunately, they've also turned into little beggars - they hit up both grandmas for "pee-nees" <-- DS2 calls all coins pennies.

[tcu2003]

DS got a personalized hooded beach towel from PB for his first birthday that is awesome. Perfect for swim lessons and pool time.

My MIL got him one of the Thermos straw cups for kids, which is nice for keeping his milk or water cold on car trips. Someone else got him a bowl/plate/cup set.

[winecheery]

I love to give books, art supplies, and seasonally appropriate outdoor activities. So like one time I got a friends' kids Snowman In a Box, where it came with wooden nose, eyes, a knit scarf and a felt hat (all reusable) to adorn a snowman. And summer related gifts can be pool gear: diving sticks, goggles, etc.

[lizrd7579]

Books. Even personalized books that have their name in the story.
membership to a zoo, children's museum
tickets to a children's play (or even season tickets)
kids luggage
sleeping bag

[Deleted]

When In elementary school we had a microscope and a chemistry set that were awesome.

Books and art supplies are always good.

[Deleted]

When I was loved the children's museum and going to plays as well.

[pierogigirl]

fishing pole

[BAMFMrsB]

memberships are brilliant. I like that, a lot.

[xokell2]

GC to a good shoe store. (My fav is Clark's) or a Gift certificate to the picture place we go. 

[polarberry]

I would love if someone paid for a session of a sport for them... that would be an awesome gift!

Also, every year I drool over the super cute sleeping bags in the pottery barn catalog. A kid would have to love those cute sleeping bags with bears as pillows!

[tcu2003]

I've given swim lessons as a gift for DH's niece before. We paid for the cost of swim lessons, and gave her a new swimsuit and flip flops so she had something to open as well.