Excellent gifts for kids (that aren’t toys!)

If you open your kids’ bedroom doors, only to be greeted by piles of toys discarded on the floor, under the bed and stuck to the ceiling (who knows how they got up there), then it might be time to suggest some alternative gift ideas to those friends and relatives who query what your little ones want for birthdays and Christmas.

A child with too many toys can actually be missing out on playtime. Too many toys can be a problem, with children feeling overwhelmed by choice, unable to focus and missing out on being truly imaginative when they play.

When it comes to finding a gift for children, think outside the box instead of simply picking up that Ben 10 set or a My Little Pony doll off the shelf. Sure, they’ll get excited when they open it but after receiving 20 other similar presents, afterwards they won’t be enjoyed as they should be. Here are some great alternative gift ideas for the next time a birthday or Christmas rolls around:

What should I wear?

Clothes are a great alternative, they’re practical and can still tie in with the latest and greatest film or TV series the child is currently enjoying. Pick up a cartoon-themed T-shirt or a Disney-inspired onesie.

What’s the time?

Get the gift receiver comfortable with telling the time in a traditional way and wrap up a smart analogue watch. They’ll love being able to whip out their arm and give people the time when asked.

What did the postman bring?

Children love receiving post, so set up a magazine subscription for them that they will look forward to receiving. Find out what they like, whether it’s dinosaurs, dollhouses or Manchester United, and give them the first issue as a present, then tell them that more will come in the future. It’s a gift that keeps giving and will encourage their reading skills too.

What shall we do this weekend?

Memberships to a museum, zoo or leisure centre that the child particularly enjoys will go down well as a gift and can help save you, or the parents of the child you are buying the gift for, money. Knowing that they can visit their favourite place whenever they want to will surely bring a smile to their face.

What’s playing?

If there is a new film coming out that they’ve been looking forward to, or if they love ballet or football, pick up tickets to the next showing or event instead of wrapping up a doll or a new football that will just join the others they already own.

What’s cooking?

Children love getting messy in the kitchen, you could buy a recipe book for kids or get creative and fill a ring binder with pages of funny drawings and recipes for things you know they’ll enjoy eating – the recipes could be for dishes as simple as cheese on toast or a ham sandwich!

It’s a great gift idea for children who are fussy eaters. A study by Nestlé confirmed children who helped prepare their food are more likely to eat it. The kids who helped prepare their meals ate approximately 76 per cent more salad, 27 per cent more chicken and 25 per cent more calories than children who did not.

You could also include traditional family recipes and cooking tips that have been handed down throughout the generations. Be sure to laminate pages or place them in plastic wallets to keep them safe from food smudges while cooking.

So, the next time you are organising gifts for your children or someone else’s, try one of these great gift ideas and avoid the accumulation of toys that are played with once and then forgotten.

The editorial unit