Non toy gifts

[jennistarr1]

I totally understand grandparents 2anting to buy gifts...but we literally have untouched tots from last year and it's exhausting me to the one to constantly purge

Way too many clothes too

Trying to come up with other suggestions for 6 and 1 year old girls but all I've got is footwear

Rain boots
Snow boots
Tights, practical and fun
Fun socks, fuzzy socks
Mittens/gloves

Sports bag
Sled

[katespade]

Annual membership to a zoo/aquarium/museum/etc.
Book/magazine subscription.

[Poeticxpassion]

Tickets to something they can do together?

[abs]

At that age? Books and things like art supplies that always need updating. The Melissa and Doug reusable sticker books are great. Gift cards to places they like to go?

[noodleoo]

Definitely art supplies. Someone posted this in another thread and I kind of want it.

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

Other ideas:
Bubbles, sidewalk chalk
Outdoor toys? I love the Micro Mini scooters. We bought one for DD2 at 18 months because she kept stealing her sister's.
Winter jackets
Nice pajamas, like the HA Disney princess ones
Princess dresses (my kids wear these all the time)
Ice skates or other sporting stuff
Books (buying nice hardcover picture books gets expensive but are really nice to have)
Subscription activity boxes?  Like Raddish for cooking or Kiwicrate

[abs]

noodleoo, it's definitely worth it. I got that for DD when she was 5 or 6 I think? She will be 11 in a month and still uses it from time to time.

[hermione]

Things we've received:

Kiwi Crate subscriptions
Books
Zoo membership
Urban Air membership
Movie Theater gift cards
Sleeping bag
Basketball Lessons
Gymboree Classes
Piggy Bank
Wall Calendar (mine has loved having one in her room since she was 4)
Kid Cooking stuff - apron, kid friendly knives, fun cookbook
Kid tools (Lakeshore Learning has a nice set)
A good Carry on size suitcase with wheels.

[gerberdaisy]

So many good thing have already been mentioned. We're in the same boat, first because my 7 year old DD doesn't really like toys and we have so many.

Sports gear: skates, skis, bags...
Basketball hoop for outside/soccer nets
Overnight duffle or suitcase
purse
Jewelry
Art classes
yoga class
lots of book
room decor
google home for bedroom

[felicity]

Our Switch helped solve the tons of toys for gifts problem, but I'm guessing that's not what you're looking for lol. The games make great grandparent gifts and no toy clutter.

DS always loves arts and crafts supplies and board games. 

Are the grandparents local? My parents buy DS gifts that are for their house sometimes. 

[ellipses84]

Is there some activity you want to do as the kids get older that you need equipment for? For example, we need a bigger tent for camping. You could also do some kid accessories like a cute camp chair, marshmallow roasting stick, sleeping bag, lantern, etc. A paddle board or 2 person kayak. Roller skates / roller blades for the whole family…new equipment for other sports they play.

Decor to redecorate a kids room.

Yearly passes to a local attraction or gift cards to a fun kids place like an arcade or mini golf.

My family’s love language is gift giving so it’s hard to convince them to do these things. A couple times my parents got kids zoo passes when we weren’t seeing them in person for a holiday or bday. I’ve also got them to cut down on adult gift giving. I get the kids more stuff like that because at least it cuts down on the total amount of toys.

Considering it’s post pandemic and mine missed Christmas with them last year, I’m letting them do what I want. If I end up giving new or practically new toys to someone in my neighborhood Buy Nothing group it will make someone’s day!

It’s also better for me to guide them on what to get rather than say don’t get anything.

[quesyrah]

My kids really love gift cards to places like Starbucks, the ice cream shop, etc.

Craft supplies are always in demand here.

Tickets to museums, zoo, movies, etc.

[ilikedonuts]

Our families won’t do experience gifts but I can usually get my mom to do shoes and clothes that I pick out that they need.

New Sleds, snow tubes, snow shoes, cross country skis are all ideas I’ve thrown out to my parents too

[mbcdefg]

I wondered the same thing in another thread, and cricketwife started a post for suggestions: pandce.proboards.com/thread/629299/consumable-gifts-kids

I’m trying to find stuff that can be used and then it’s done, like art kits or baking kits. I also don’t want to rely on ordering things and then having them back ordered because of all this stuff that’s going on. And I’d like to throw some money at independent sellers, Etsy vendors, and local stores to support them, especially considering COVID has hurt a lot of small businesses.

[cricketwife]

Oct 19, 2021 9:38:47 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

It’s also better for me to guide them on what to get rather than say don’t get anything.

So much this!

I have fought this "we have too many toys" battle for years and had varying degrees of success.  I feel like this is a battle I can only half-win, at best.  So I've had some success with the following --  

I let the "glory gifts" be from the grands.  They are the ones that have given the bikes, scooters, train sets, massive Lego sets, "that one thing" the kid wants, etc over the years.  Then we give the zoo membership, winter boots, etc.  For us, it is unrealistic (and for me undesirable) to have a Christmas with absolutely no toys, so I let the grands have fun that way.  Usually they are thrilled if I ask them to buy something big, so it lets me "dictate" the gift which in turn lessens the number of random gifts they give. 

My brother is the "cool, rich, uncle" and this year I made a list of subscriptions and experience gifts for him. I also made the traditional Amazon list because I accept that people want to give toys to kids.  I asked him to limit himself to two toys/physical gifts and not to clear the list, which is what he has done every past year (OMG, so much stuff!)  From his response, I think he's respecting that. 

The kids are getting duffle bags, cinch bags, books and some Switch games from us. 

My final strategy, which ties in with the quote above is to do an Amazon list for anybody who asks about gifts.  So while you may not want them to give ANY toys, it's way better for you to get toys that you like/don't mind in your house than having them buy whatever random things they found at Sam's, Kohls', Walgreens, whatever.  And in that vein, I like "more of the same."  So we put on the list, and got magnatiles for 3 years straight.  I didn't mind because they loved them and could always use more.  Currently it's LEGO, I like them less because there are so many tiny pieces, but the kids love them and more LEGO is better than some random science kit (OMG) or whatever else.  You can also put some of the non-toy gifts on there.  Last year I also made a list of books and included a note "We LOVE reading and are requesting that you consider including a book with whatever gift you choose"  (or something like that.  I had it worded nicely, but it was also just for immediate family) and they all gave a book as well, which I was thrilled with.  I also like asking for board games because I we get bored playing the same ones, so I rotate/purge them every now and then. 

If we had a grandparent who would be willing, I'd love to ask for the "adventure box"  / "year of family outings" idea, but we don't.  I will probably do that myself this year or next. 

[sent]

In a few weeks, the Amazon shuffle will happen at our house. My husband's relatives will all send something over from Amazon, and I will have to collect, pursue return codes and labels using the chat function (because 80% ship directly from wherever and don't have the little gift receipts), and then return 90% of what they send. I try to keep what they send, I really do, but I can't contribute to more junk. Sometimes they send things from Kohl's or Macy's and usually I return that stuff too and buy something we really need, like last year it was underwear for DS.

Sorry, not helpful, but I can't get these people to give us anything other than what they choose so I've given up trying and just try to send back or return whatever I can.

[noodleoo]

Agreed with cricketwife. I've started having my mom either contribute to or buy bigger gifts for the kids that I would buy anyway. H's sister is awesome too in that I can send her a link and she will buy it. The rest of the family, not so much.

[jinkies]

Both my parents and my inlaws always resisted getting family passes/ experience gifts because they wanted a big "thing" for the kids to open (that they frequently never looked at again....)

For the 6 year old maybe roller skates? Scooter?

Pretty hair accessories or dress up clothes?

A necklace with her initial or something she loves on it?

Art supplies are a perennial favorite here. Do a dot sets might still be fun at your kids ages.

I am too far removed from 1 year olds to have any meaningful suggestions there.

[noodleoo]

I thought of another one! DD1 (6) has been asking for a real jewelry box like the one I have. She'd be thrilled to get that and it would really help with the mess of jewelry in her room. I keep meaning to look for one that isn't crazy expensive.

She'd also love some real(ish) jewelry. She'd probably lose it, but that might be a good grandparent gift.

[ohgillian]

Hair stuff
Slippers

[IndiaInk]

A kindle for kids. DD (7) is a voracious reader and loves to read in bed with a flashlight for a little while before falling asleep. She keeps stealing my Kindle too, so I just settled on the new Kindle Paperwhite for Kids as her big Christmas present from me. I am hoping the softer light will be more sleep inducing than a bright flashlight, too, as she often has trouble falling asleep.

[jewel]

I am trying my best to stay away from toys as much as possible. Most of my ideas echo other posters, but this is what I do:

Amazon wish list, so if someone is set on toys, at least I can choose what I’d most like to have in the house. Their current Amazon lists are mostly non-toys, but I do have some on there:

Star Wars umbrella
Shoes and boots in the next size up
Sunglasses
Disney crocs
Gift cards for kid food places
Ninja course (for the yard)
Flannel sheets
Footed sweatpants
Star Wars string lights
Ball storage for the garage
Connect the dot books
Fun markers
Kinetic sand
Quick fill water balloons
Matching PJs
Books
Board games
Bath toys (we constantly throw out, so this is really a consumable toy)
Link to their 529s

In general, I try to ask for fancier versions of things I’d already buy, so they think it’s fun but it’s still useful - like a cool Star Wars umbrella instead of a plain color, or Disney crocs instead of regular. I also return or give away a lot of stuff, especially from my inlaws. I no longer have guilt about this.

[bcv513]

My parents gave C this craft box subscription last year. It’s amazing! Beautiful and different things to make, easy instructions, and they send everything you need. Like down to paper clips and tape. I don’t need to add anything.

www.kidsartbox.com/mommy-and-me-art-box?utm_term=kids%20art%20box&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&gclid=CjwKCAjw2bmLBhBREiwAZ6ugo1lR3jqXUklHRnNdf1tbP60qiPnHnFxcWss8bTb_HEHAPmgTHjPnERoCEKsQAvD_BwE

[jenna]

My mom has purchased these items for our 10 year old son:
- a bike
- new tennis shoes
- books
- Lego
- magazine subscription
- Switch games
- jigsaw puzzles

in the past
- zoo or children's museum memberships

[ohgillian]

Fun umbrella and rainboots

[partyinmytummy]

I’ve never posted on this board, but I know this is the place to lurk for gift ideas!

Anyway I didn’t see this here…I took my 5 year old to get a pedicure for her birthday this year. They had the little teddy bear and princess chairs for kids. She’s been begging to go back ever since. I think I’m getting her and her sister a spa day gift card in their stockings this year.