Consumable gifts for kids

[cricketwife]

mbcdefg asked about this in the gifts thread and I think it's worth its own thread.  I know I'd love to know everyone's ideas.  

What are your consumable, and/or non "stuff" gift ideas for kids?

Here are mine -  

Mag subscriptions (I'm asking for:)
Sports Illustrated Kids
Ranger Rick
Highlights 
Nat Geo Kids (we have and recommend)

Subscription boxes (anyone have feedback on any of these?)
Think Outside the Boxes 
Green Kids Craft 
Little Global Citizens 

Memberships/Season passes
Local amusement park

We used to have one to the children's museum but I'm not sure how much/when we will use it again, so I'm skipping that. We also have a zoo membership.

Family "date" night  
Sort of Like this  

I'm thinking of doing this for my kiddos.  Mine will be some really simple things, like mini golf or an ice cream place, mixed with more expensive places and possibly an overnight trip.   If you don't want to do the whole box thing, you could ask for gift cards to entertainment type places for your kids.  For example, my kids LOVE the arcade, but I cringe at dropping money on those games.  They are the perfect gift from grandparents, etc.  I've already dropped that hint to my dad. 

We only have a couple of people who buy presents for my kids, and I'm curious if anyone will actually go with one of these ideas.  I put them on an Amazon list so that when they ask for our Amazon list, I can be all like 'here ya go!" lol.

Add yours! 

[jinkies]

Last year we gave DS a subscription to Universal Yums. It was a big hit.

For years I gave my nephews passes to a local play place for Christmas. They went regularly anyway, and they already had so much stuff (both have birthdays near xmas). I think SIL appreciated not having to make space for (yet another) toy car.

My kids have received kiwi crates/tinker crates. They are OK. Honestly the novelty usual wore off after 1 or 2 boxes.

[al dente]

I know not all kids are like this, but mine loves art stuff so I always do that as the consumable because she flies through it. Paints (water color, glitter, little bottles), markers, crayons, construction paper, glue sticks, post it notes, pipe cleaners, gems/things to glue down, pack of paper, dot stickers, fancy stickers... She'll sit and do art for a solid amount of time, and then we throw it away the next day.

Plus it's a "thing" so if someone has a hang up about them having something to open it fills that.

[gerberdaisy]

agreed with PP, for us its craft supplies. Clay, craft kits, play dough, sketch pads, canvas's, perle beads...I try to find things that are more special than the typical markers and paints, but all stuff that will be used and tossed.

[wildrice]

I have paid for a Disney+ subscription for my sister's kids the last 2 years. I will probably continue doing that forever unless it turns out they aren't really using it anymore. It's kind of a lame holiday celebration gift (nothing to wrap and surprise them with!) so I usually get them a couple of other things, too.

[ssmjlm]

I agree, arts & crafts stuff gets used here and that's been steady for years.

I saw this on IG, but there are some coloring sheets that are a bit bigger than a coloring book and could be sort of a one and done based on holiday: www.etsy.com/shop/TinyExpressionsStore

[VillainV]

Consumables: bubbles, sidewalk chalk, pla-doh or kinetic sand, paints or markers, coloring books or other activity books

Experience gifts: Streaming subscription, museum or zoo membership, season tickets to minor league sports team or single tickets to a premium event like a sports game or concert

[mccallister84]

For magazines our girls love the Cricket ones. They are currently getting Ladybug.

[starburst604]

I asked my sister to buy DD a gift card to the arcade she’s obsessed with, she’ll go nuts. Going to ask my SIL for a gift card to the local trampoline park with a date to bring her over the school break with her cousins. She’ll love that also.

I’m thinking of doing an experience gift of a day skating on the Frog Pond in Boston, just trying to find a cute way to present it.

[ellipses84]

My 5 year old loves bath bombs (some with a tiny toy so not fully consumable). Bubbles / paint / art supplies. Also outdoor toys/ bath toys need replacing more often than other things, so while they aren’t consumable they don’t take up more space in our house.

I love experience gifts for the kids - zoo, museums, amusement parks, gift cards for souvenirs or activities.

[Susie]

My 2 yo loves the Highlights Hello magazines.  He calls them his "ines" and we read them over and over and over and over.

My 5 yo doesn't have the patience and focus for most art stuff, so that isn't a big hit with her.  She did a zoom cooking class over the summer though (through DS's daycare) and she really liked it.  So for Christmas I'm thinking of a kids cooking related class/subscription.

[aspentosh]

Agree with craft items all kinds
Experience gifts are also a hit. Not as much in the last 2 years because we haven't done much, but normally they are big here.
Magazines- DD loves Ask and Nat Geo Kids

[turkletsmom]

I don't think this one was mentioned, but DS (8.5) has a subscription to This Week Jr. and really likes it.

[mbcdefg]

Thanks for posting this cricketwife

My sister asked for Christmas gifts for my DD (age 4). We’ve got way too many toys and even books around the house. I suggested something like a baking kit since she likes to cook with me.

We also have a zoo near our home so a zoo membership is another idea I may offer if someone suggests.

I’m debating getting her a Nugget couch or a beanbag chair so she has her own place to sit in the living room … but we’re short on space and I’m unsure she’d use it so I’m thinking it over.

[gastro]

OYLA science magazine is great for 9+ kids.

Gift cards to local ice cream or bookstore my kids also like.

[georgeglass]

Seconding the Universal Yums!

[twinmomma]

My sister got my kids their own wallets filled with little gift cards for their birthday last year and they were obsessed. $5 to Wendy's, Five Below, Target, the ice cream shop, etc... Basically all their favorite places where a couple bucks can let them pick out something they "desperately need/want" when we're out shopping. Plus, having their own wallet made them feel very grown up and it gave it more of a "gift" to open.

[dochas]

The Week Jr. Is a great magazine. Outschool has a lot of fun classes, from book clubs to cocoa bomb making. My sister often gets my son a gift card to our local movie theater. A thing, but literally consumable - a rootbeer making kit.

[kath16]

Oct 14, 2021 14:40:11 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I have paid for a Disney+ subscription for my sister's kids the last 2 years. I will probably continue doing that forever unless it turns out they aren't really using it anymore. It's kind of a lame holiday celebration gift (nothing to wrap and surprise them with!) so I usually get them a couple of other things, too.

aw i love this

maybe you could wrap up a disney-related thing, depending on what they're into at the time (star wars, mickey, princesses, whatever)? not that you have to, but just a thought

[jaycee]

We currently have subscription to universal yums. Was good the first two boxes and then everything is a repeat. Every box has a hazelnut chocolate bar, fruit gummies, lemon hard candies, onion truffle chips, ketchup chips. No matter which country, it's the same box every time. Do not recommend.

[wildrice]

Oct 15, 2021 8:11:13 GMT -5 kath16 said:

Oct 14, 2021 14:40:11 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I have paid for a Disney+ subscription for my sister's kids the last 2 years. I will probably continue doing that forever unless it turns out they aren't really using it anymore. It's kind of a lame holiday celebration gift (nothing to wrap and surprise them with!) so I usually get them a couple of other things, too.

aw i love this

maybe you could wrap up a disney-related thing, depending on what they're into at the time (star wars, mickey, princesses, whatever)? not that you have to, but just a thought

Great idea! I may do this this year, thanks!

[dochas]

Oct 15, 2021 7:38:33 GMT -5 twinmomma said:

My sister got my kids their own wallets filled with little gift cards for their birthday last year and they were obsessed. $5 to Wendy's, Five Below, Target, the ice cream shop, etc... Basically all their favorite places where a couple bucks can let them pick out something they "desperately need/want" when we're out shopping. Plus, having their own wallet made them feel very grown up and it gave it more of a "gift" to open.

This is such a cute idea! My husband needs a new wallet for Christmas and I'm going to do that for him.

[arehopsveggies]

My 6.5 year old DS wants Amazon music unlimited for Christmas.
More than I’d normally spend, but he listens to music alll the time on his Alexa so I know he will enjoy it all year and it won’t ever be a mess on my floor!

[jewel]

My mom likes to give my kids food that I normally wouldn’t buy. My youngest recently got a case of Cheeto bags, case of easy mac, and juice boxes and he nearly lost his mind. I’m just happy it’s not more stuff clogging up my house.

[niq]

Sticker mosaics have been the winning craft project in our house. Way less messy than, like, fuse beads.

You can also get a craft book and some supplies to go with it. We like "Low Mess Crafts for Kids"

[loira]

My DD has done a couple of the Green Kids Craft boxes and really loved them. Warning that depending on your kid's hoarding tendencies you'll be stuck with the product of these craft kits until they forget about them and you can hopefully throw them out. 😂

[luv2rn4fun]

Ditto paint/craft supplies, bubbles, coloring books, play doh.

The best experience gift we did pre COVID was annual passes to Disneyland from my parents. We used to go all the time but have t been since end of February 2020. Not sure when we will go back (I daydream for my 40th at end of June and we talk about how to handle future pass/Disneyland trips now that both boys are in school).

[quesyrah]

I got this for my daughter. She loves crafts.

www.lakeshorelearning.com/products/arts-crafts/craft-kits/arts-crafts-supply-center/p/PP319

I also got each kid one of these

www.lakeshorelearning.com/products/blocks-manipulatives/building-sets/build-it-yourself-woodworking-kit/p/HH866

[mbcdefg]

I’ve been looking at organizations where you can symbolically adopt a zoo animal, or a wild animal or bird. Some will send a plush doll or a certificate or other little keepsakes.

I did want to ask if anyone has seen anything in the $25 range. Most I’m finding are at least $50, and there are multiple kids I’m interested in doing this for.

[quesyrah]

Oct 18, 2021 22:16:25 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

I’ve been looking at organizations where you can symbolically adopt a zoo animal, or a wild animal or bird. Some will send a plush doll or a certificate or other little keepsakes.

I did want to ask if anyone has seen anything in the $25 range. Most I’m finding are at least $50, and there are multiple kids I’m interested in doing this for.

I have had my eye on this one
myfahlo.com/products/the-journey-bracelet