The children in my family are overloaded with stuff. Each toy or game is good on it’s own, but overall it’s overwhelming for the parents and the kids. Many days, I am thankful for my small home because that forces us to choose carefully what we keep in our home. We are very careful when we choose gifts for my nieces and nephews. I don’t want to add to the clutter in their home, but I also want to see that happiness when they open their gifts. Over the years, we’ve had some gifts that were big hits with the kids. Here are some of my favorite fun minimalist gift ideas for kids, in case you are in the same situation!
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Experiences
Giving experiences is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. You can create memories with the kids, give them a new experience, and there is no clutter. Here are a few ideas that we have used for my nieces and nephew and for my own son. Bonus points if you choose an activity that they would not normally get to do with their family!
Children’s museum
I loved Children’s museums when I was young, and I could hardly wait until my niece was old enough to give her this as a gift. You can do a one-time visit or get annual memberships to many children’s museums. This could be for the child and their family, or a grandparent membership. In the US, children’s museums also often have reciprocity agreements with other science museums and children’s museums. That means that an annual membership to one museum will also get you in to potentially hundreds of other museums for free! Check out children’s museums participating in the ASTC Passport Program or the ACM Reciprocal Network for lists of museums with reciprocity agreements.
Zoo or aquarium
Even young children can appreciate a visit to the zoo or aquarium. Do you want to have a gift for the child to unwrap on their birthday or Christmas? Pair the tickets with a book about a favorite animal at the zoo. I like minimalism, but I still like to have new books for my son. A love of reading will serve him throughout his life, and the book can always be donated when he outgrows it.
Train ride
There are a lot of varieties of train rides out there, to suit every taste and interest. A scenic train ride may appeal more to older kids and teens. For the younger ones, check out a Polar Express or Santa themed train ride. Did you know there is even a train ride where the locomotive is Thomas the Tank Engine. I’m not kidding! Thomas is actually an operating locomotive that is pulling the train! That may be the perfect gift for a toddler who loves the Thomas & Friends TV show!
Deer Farm
There is a Red Deer Farm about an hour from our home, and it is worth the drive to go each year. They allow the children to feed the deer during the tour. It’s relatively cheap compared to zoos and aquariums, but the children love it! It’s also a pretty fun way to support local farmers. Find out what is in your local area, and when you call, ask about the best time of year to schedule tours. At certain times of year, you may see bigger antlers. At other times of the year, the deer may be moving in herds and you may get more deer right around your tour group.
Wolf Sanctuary
I have not been able to take my son to the Wolf Sanctuary yet, but it’s in the plans for this year. This is another fun animal experience, and can also teach the children about wildlife rescue and conservation.
Art Classes
Some children just prefer arts and crafts, so pay for art classes for them. Better yet, join them in something they love and schedule that art class together! There are many options, from painting to pottery to floral arranging. If you’re like me, your project may not turn out perfect. But you will have a lot of laughter and memories from the time you spent together. Totally worth it!
Fishing Trip
Go fish from land, hop in a boat, or even get a guide for the day. Depending on the children’s ages, this may take a lot of patience. However, it is definitely memorable for the kids! My son is only 2, but he remembers the fishing trip we took 6 months ago and he has been pretend fishing in the house ever since. My tip: make sure to bring plenty of drinks and snacks. Hungry kiddos have a hard time being patient. Now, go make some memories, and bring home some fish for supper!
Fun and Useful Gifts
If we’re going to give gifts of things, I would prefer those things to be both fun and used regularly. Here are a few of the useful gifts we’ve done recently that were big hits with the kids.
Suitcases
This gift is handy for sleepovers and for travel with family, but wonderfully fun and full of possibilities. Before the gift wrapping was even over, the children were packing their other gifts into their suitcases and running around the house with them! Children’s suitcases come in so many fabulous patterns and colors now. And of course, teenagers can also appreciate the gift of a luggage set.
Flashlight
My son is obsessed with flashlights. These are handy for camping or walking in the yard at night, as well as in case of power outages. They are also just plain fun for playing flashlight tag or making shadow puppets on the wall! You can buy a normal flashlight or find a specialty flashlight like this John Deere Johnny Tractor flashlight or this Mini Frog flashlight. For toddlers, you may want to consider a rechargeable flashlight. My son uses his flashlight so much, that we’d spend a fortune on batteries if it wasn’t rechargeable.
Car Seat Poncho
For the younger children, getting their coats on and off as they get in and out of the car seat can be frustrating. If you don’t already know, children should not wear bulky coats in their car seats for safety reasons. That means on a cold day, they might be wearing a thin coat to get to and from the car, and they are chilly. Or, they might wear their heavy coat, only to take it off at the door to the car in order to get in the seat. A car seat poncho was a request from my son, after he saw another child with one. It’s warm, it’s cozy, and best of all he doesn’t have to take it off to get in his car seat. The back of the poncho simply goes up at the headrest of the car seat and he can be strapped in safely.
Car Organizer
A car organizer that hangs on the back of the front seats can help keep all of a child’s things in order while on the road. These are great for a road trip, but also for everyday travel. These can hold snacks, books, toys, water bottles, charging cords, and prevent back seat clutter. If you plan on purchasing these, just take a look at the vehicle they will go in before you order. We made the mistake of ordering a car organizer with too short of a strap for our vehicle’s seats. We were able to make it work, but we definitely should have measured before ordering.
Toy Baskets or Totes
Help organize the playroom with toy baskets or fun cubes or totes! Toddlers really do love filling up a basket and emptying it back out again, so the basket itself is basically a toy. And it will help the child see and access their toys easier than a cluttered shelf or toy box.
Special Bedding or Curtain Set
I can’t take credit for this fabulous idea. This was actually something that my Grandma did for each of us grandchildren when we were growing up. If you’re not sure if they need new bedding or curtains, check in with their parents. If they do need them, it is more than a special gift for the children. It will also be a big blessing to parents. Replacing bedding and curtains in multiple children’s rooms all at once can get expensive.
New bedding or curtains can easily appeal to teenagers as well. I was one of the older grandchildren, and so I was a teen when my grandparents gave this gift. Truthfully, I was a great age for this gift. I wanted my room to be less childish and show my personal style. My grandma allowed me to pick my set out on a shopping trip together, and those kind of memories are special to this day. So don’t be worried if you don’t know what style they would like. Just make a special day together, give the child or teen a budget, and go shopping!
Sunglasses
Who doesn’t need new sunglasses? In our house, sunglasses are regularly lost, stepped on, or scratched. Younger children will undoubtedly have more fun, but people of any age can enjoy a good pair of sunglasses. You can even consider what the child might use the sunglasses for when purchasing. Shatterproof is important if they plan to wear the sunglasses for sports. Polarized glasses are great for fishing or for driving. And maybe you have a little fashionista on your hands who just needs a stylish pair of shades!
Consumable Gifts
Giving a gift that can be used up can be a great way to give a fun gift without adding to clutter. Take a look at these ideas and see if any of these match the interests of the children in your life.
Art Supplies
My family loves crafting, so we go through a lot of paper, paint, glue and more during a year. I will always be happy with a gift of craft supplies for my son. Here are a few ideas of consumable craft supplies that the children in our family enjoy:
- Modeling clay
- Sketchpads
- Water colors or other paints
- Pipe cleaners, pom poms, foam and googly eyes
- Cake decorating supplies
This could also be an opportunity to start a child with a craft that you enjoy. I remember receiving knitting needles and paper quilling supplies from my Grandma as gifts. My mom had never learned either of these crafts, but I was curious and my Grandma taught me. She was sweet enough to never laugh as the headband I was knitting got wider and wider – I still don’t know how I picked up those extra stitches! And as I was knitting this evening I was thinking of her. While you shouldn’t try to force it, if the child has an interest, this could be one of the most memorable gifts you give them.
Highlights Magazine
There are many great magazines out there geared towards kids. Highlights Magazine just happens to be the one we’ve purchased as a gift subscription. Highlights magazines have short stories, crafts, and puzzles, and they are colorful and fun! And when they’re done enjoying the magazine, they can recycle it knowing that the next issue will be coming.
Activity books
Dot-to-dot puzzles were always a big hit in our house, but there are a huge variety of activity and puzzle books out there. I’m actually a fan of the wipe clean workbooks. They are dry erase so favorite puzzles can be done over and over again. This wipe clean workbook from Highlights includes dot-to-dot puzzles and mazes. Plus, my son just enjoys dry erase markers and getting to erase everything.
Bubble bath, bath crayons, and loofahs
Sometimes it’s easy to get kids to take a bath, other times it’s a struggle. Having something special for bath time can make it extra fun. Bath crayons, bubble bath, and bath color drops can add to the fun. Just make sure to check with parent’s about any skin sensitivities to dyes first.
Did you know that there are lots of different animal loofahs for kids? It’s such a simple thing, and yet a loofah or bath sponge of their favorite animal can be a big hit!
Sports gear for the next season
Depending on the sport the child plays, they may need new equipment every season. They may need new cleats, a new bat or racket, thermal athletic wear for cold games, or even a new duffle bag. This might be just the thing for a teenager who is getting harder to shop for each year. Equipment wears out and clothing and shoes are outgrown. Just make sure to ask, if you’re not familiar with league rules regarding equipment, before you buy. It would be a shame to get a beautiful new baseball bat only to find out it doesn’t meet league requirements. Here’s some ideas of equipment that might be needed for some common youth sports:
Field Hockey
Hockey stick, cleats, mouth guard, shin guards, stick bags, practice balls
Ice or Roller hockey
Hockey stick, skates, mouth guard, shin guards, stick bags, practice balls/pucks, helmet and cage, elbow pads, gloves, neck guards, skate guards, hockey pants
Volleyball
Knee pads, mouth guards, arm sleeves or elbow pads, volleyball bag, volleyball, ball pump, volleyball shoes
Tennis
Court shoes, headband, bandana, or visor, tennis bag, racket
Soccer
Soccer ball, ball pump, shin guards, soccer bag, cleats, soccer socks
Basketball
Basketball shoes, basketball, ball pump, basketball bag, basketball socks, shorts, and headbands
Swimming
Swim caps, goggles, swimming headphones or ear plugs, mesh bag, towels, bathing suits, swimming lap counter
Track and Field or Cross Country
Spikes, spandex, hammer throw gloves
Baseball or Softball
Glove, new bat, cleats, or batting gloves.
I hope some of these ideas gave you the inspiration you needed for the perfect gift, and that you’re ready for gift shopping now! Do you have any other favorite minimalist gift ideas for kids that were a big hit? Share with us! Comment below or email me at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you!
