Non-toy gifts for 3.5 year old?

[VillainV]

We have SO MANY toys! I’m trying to come up with some non-toy gifts for C for Christmas. So far we have:

- Craft table/easel and art supplies (crayons, paper, etc).

- Kids cooking set (fun bowls, utensils, apron, etc) from Costco

- Maybe a couple of kid games. We have Candy Land, so maybe Chutes & Ladders, or a memory game? Would love suggestions.

- Books and clothes. Probably fun character stuff.

We will do maybe 1-2 actual toys (likely something to expand sets he already has like hot wheels and paw patrol). I would love some other suggestions on non-toy items!!!!

[abs]

For games I would recommend Zingo, Busytown, and Sequence for Kids. We got so many years of play out of those!

[redpenmama]

My kids love Zingo.

Dress-up clothes are another non-toy idea.

[fortnightlily]

Gift cards to favorite restaurants or frozen yogurt shops.

Other experience gifts like a 'ticket' to go ice skating, or the zoo, a museum, the movie theater, etc.

Jewelry

DVDs

[fortnightlily]

If you live somewhere it snows, a sled.

[Jalapeñomel]

Zoo memberships
Indoor play ground membership
Museum membership
Book of the month club

[cricketwife]

I have a 3 yo old (nearing 4) game loving kid.

We love:
Zingo
Busy town (takes A LOT of floor space to play)
Hoot owl hoot
Sneaky snacks squirrel

Snug as a bug in a rug is also good

On our list:
Race for the treasure - was highly recommended to me

Purchased for Xmas:
Matching/memory game (not sure this will be a hit)
Stack up
I can’t think of the name, but’s it’s a cooperative game related to emotional intelligence. This and stack up will be half price for Black Friday at target. I picked them up on Monday at target because I happened to be there.
Melissa and Doug anteater antics
These purchases were all based on deals I found, coupled with good reviews. We haven’t tried them yet.

FWIW, We have, and I HATE candy land and chutes and ladders. Even my son doesn’t like them. I try to avoid games that are 100% luck. I like there needs to be some strategy involved in playing.

Other “non-toy” gifts (to me, toy/not toy is a blurry line - I consider games toys)
Bath toys (if you count them. I basically use Xmas as a time to replace them with new ones each year)
Sleeping bag
Memberships (I know, my family never wants to gift us memberships either)
Bubble bath
Special snacks - box of sugary cereal is xmas treat here
Fun rain boots
Dress up capes
Kids table and chairs
Outdoor toys are another strategy to avoid the deluge in the house


Also, DS got the kids cooking/chef stuff last Xmas and LOVES it. We never use the apron, but I think all the sets usually come with an apron.

[smock]

My 3.5 year old is obsessed with National Geographic Kids Sticker Activity Books. She already declared that she's asking Santa for more. 😜

[dcn]

Zingo
Memory
Go Fish
Trouble

DVDs - a movie or compilation of his favorite show

Ds has a big floor puzzle of the United States that gets a lot of use. We talk about where we’ve lived and visited, where family and friends live etc.

If you hike, hiking poles were a big hit

Kids digital camera

Paint pens!

Scooter and helmet

Ds loves mazes, he has a wipe off book that is great

[felicity]

DS will have just turned 3 at Christmas. Stuff I'm thinking about:
-Magazine subscription (DS loves mail)
-M&D Activity Cones: www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Activity-Cones-Set/dp/B007CEK53E
-M&D kids rake and other outdoor gardening/cleanup stuff so he can "help"
-Spot it Jr
-Kids umbrella (he LOVES playing in the rain)
-Add on pieces for his train set
-Puzzles - I like that these are in a storage tray: www.amazon.com/dp/B00HEZ0AP4/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=IX7JY4DQBVP7L&colid=2UGFQFBZZ6WNM
-Water Wow books
-Art supplies
-I was debating about getting him a 3 wheel scooter, but he already has a trike and balance bike so may skip this for now

[usm]

Games we started at 3.5 that are still played at 7:

Hape Topsy Tower
Zingo (we also have zingo sight words)
Connect 4

What about puzzles?
We always add movies to our stash


Room decor( posters, special pillow)
Fun slippers

[VillainV]

Nov 11, 2017 9:16:00 GMT -5 usm said:

Games we started at 3.5 that are still played at 7:

Hape Topsy Tower
Zingo (we also have zingo sight words)
Connect 4

What about puzzles?
We always add movies to our stash


Room decor( posters, special pillow)
Fun slippers

Oh yeah, puzzles are a great idea! Target has some foam puzzles that are about 12x24, and have roughly 25 pieces (so each piece is maybe 3”x3”). They aren’t expensive, maybe $10 each?

[macmars45]

Bubbles
Bubble bath
Coloring/sticker books

[tarajane]

DS is 4 and he's getting a watch, sunglasses, Alex Busy box, books, slippers, electric toothbrush, bug game, terrarium. He got the Koala Crate for his birthday and liked that.

[noodleoo]

dcn, cricketwife, which Memory game are you getting or have? I’ve been looking for the original Memory and I can’t seem to find it anywhere. I see lots of Disney or other themed ones, but I just want one with regular pictures for DD.

VillainV, my first thought was art supplies. crayons, paint, Play Doh. I got my sister’s kids Play Doh sets one year and they loved them. I think one was ice cream and the other made neat swirled colored marbles.

[jeaniebueller]

My DD loves Don't Break the Ice, Operation, and Perfection (the jr version).

[cricketwife]

noodleoo, I found a memory game in pristine condition at a consignment shop. It has a parent’s choice award sticker and was beautiful nature pictures. But, IMO, the pictures are not simple, so I’m not sure if he will like it/if it will be easy enough to recognize and match them. I liked it because it wasn’t characters, though. I’d love the original version too!

[sillygoosegirl]

On our list for our 3 year old:
- bike (and accessories)
- chutes and ladders
- art supplies
- hair clips
- books
- flashlight
- maybe more toy and book storage

[nicolewi]

I didn't read all the responses.
Books?
Ee-Boo brand matching games are really great matching games. Don't get Chutes & Ladders! WE got it and I hate it. I think all the kids kind of hate it. It takes forever--way longer than I remember from when I was little!
Zingo
Dress up clothes
I know you said not toys, but if he gets into dinosaurs, some good quality dino figures usually get a lot of play
Outdoor play items, like scooter, trike, helmet, snow sled, sand toys
SUITCASE? My kids each have a little suitcase and they love them.
Wagon?
And/or personalized tote? We got Lands' End totes for each kid and had them personalized when they were on a sale. I love having them.

[dcn]

Nov 11, 2017 14:12:53 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

dcn, cricketwife, which Memory game are you getting or have? I’ve been looking for the original Memory and I can’t seem to find it anywhere. I see lots of Disney or other themed ones, but I just want one with regular pictures for DD.

VillainV, my first thought was art supplies. crayons, paint, Play Doh. I got my sister’s kids Play Doh sets one year and they loved them. I think one was ice cream and the other made neat swirled colored marbles.

I got it at a consignment sale too!

[tarajane]

Nov 11, 2017 14:12:53 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

dcn, cricketwife, which Memory game are you getting or have? I’ve been looking for the original Memory and I can’t seem to find it anywhere. I see lots of Disney or other themed ones, but I just want one with regular pictures for DD.

I made one on shutterfly with family pictures and it's really cute.

[vmars]

A portable writing tablet. DS loves the one on display at Barnes and Noble. A great way to practice his writing.

A robe and slippers. He loves being comfy cozy

Snow pants and snow boots or other related gear

Extra sheets for his bed

New lunch box or back pack

[mbcdefg]

A pocketbook or a wallet?

[cricketwife]

Nov 11, 2017 18:31:31 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

I didn't read all the responses.
Books?
Ee-Boo brand matching games are really great matching games. Don't get Chutes & Ladders! WE got it and I hate it. I think all the kids kind of hate it. It takes forever--way longer than I remember from when I was little!
Zingo
Dress up clothes
I know you said not toys, but if he gets into dinosaurs, some good quality dino figures usually get a lot of play
Outdoor play items, like scooter, trike, helmet, snow sled, sand toys
SUITCASE? My kids each have a little suitcase and they love them.
Wagon?
And/or personalized tote? We got Lands' End totes for each kid and had them personalized when they were on a sale. I love having them.

noodleoo, I just looked it up and ee-boo is the brand of memory game I got. Mine is “life on earth.” But this one looks Simple and wonderful. 

[redheadbaker]

For kids around age 8 and up who love to cook, my friend recently published a new cookbook for kids called Kid Chef Bakes. amzn.to/2znJ25e

[ohgillian]

Nov 11, 2017 9:35:12 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

Bubbles
Bubble bath
Coloring/sticker books

Also bath fizzies. My kids love these.

[cricketwife]

Nov 25, 2017 14:11:11 GMT -5 ohgillian said:

Nov 11, 2017 9:35:12 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

Bubbles
Bubble bath
Coloring/sticker books

Also bath fizzies. My kids love these.

Do you mean like the bath bombs? I never considered that. I’m sure my kids would love that too. 

[ohgillian]

Nov 25, 2017 15:43:47 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

Nov 25, 2017 14:11:11 GMT -5 ohgillian said:

Also bath fizzies. My kids love these.

Do you mean like the bath bombs? I never considered that. I’m sure my kids would love that too. 

I do! I used to get the MeToo brand from Target but they were too pricey to waste on my kids, lol. I ordered this a few months ago and they were great. Actually this post reminds me to go order more, which I'll do right now.

rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F252700546829

[rbp]

M is the same age and I would LOVE some advice on this. My best advice is memberships to local museums. My mom got us a zoo membership for M's birthday, which is fun. 

Also, Play-Doh. He loves the stuff and it only lasts so long before it dries out. 

ETA: I need to update the Amazon wish list after reading this thread. These are great ideas!

[nicolewi]

3 more things that may or may not have been mentioned: cute rain boots/umbrella
sleeping bag
plastic picnic table. Our picnic table gets a lot of use both inside and out, is easy to move around, can be used as an art table or for lunch with friends, etc.