My kids have a lot of toys. Definitely MORE toys than they play with. One day when my son was three years old he said, “I need this mama.” I replied to him, “You don’t NEED toys. Do you know that there are many kids that don’t have any toys? You have a lot of toys, so no, you don’t need new ones.”
As he gets older, I plan to keep explaining and drilling it in: You have plenty, and you should be grateful. Your parents work hard to give you all these things.
With Christmas rapidly approaching, I am cringing to think that there will soon be NEW toys in my house. MORE TOYS. (I just donated two bags of toys!)
I suspect many other parents have this problem as well…. So I compiled a list of awesome presents that are NOT toys, because really, years from now, our kids won’t remember exactly how many toys they had, but they will remember the special moments we shared with them, the lessons they learned, the fun things we did together.
So check it out and then share with grandma, grandpa, auntie, abuelos y madrinas!
HERE ARE 15 GIFTS THAT ARE NOT TOYS (BUT YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE!)
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ART SUPPLIES
Art supplies are great because they help parents keep kids entertained.
I love this art pack by Crayola, it is great for travel:
This is my absolute favorite art pack by Crayola, Santa brought it to our house a few years ago!
OUTDOOR FUN
Examples: A slide, a swing, jump ropes, a baseball ball and glove or a soccer goal. Enzo has this great one Little Tikes Easy Score Soccer Set.
CLASSES
There are so many great classes for kids starting very early on! The possibilities are endless: kid’s yoga, language classes, baby sign language, dance, chess, soccer… so many options!
SWIMMING LESSONS
Not only is swimming fun, it is necessary to learn to swim! Swimming lessons are a wonderful gift that gives kids a skill that will last a lifetime!
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BOX SUBSCRIPTIONS
Monthly box subscriptions have become popular, it gives kids something to look forward to each month!
One of my favorites is Little Passports which helps kids explore the world!
Another great way especially if you’re raising bilingual kids is Booklandia Box!
ROOM DECOR
As a busy parent, I sometimes don’t get around to spruce up my kid’s bedroom… things to give? Rugs, artwork, growth chart, magnetic boards, personalized art, book ends… so many options!
This rug is only $24!
MUSIC AND MUSIC PLAYER
I know what you’re thinking, music player? CDS? Isn’t that a little passé? But, there’s something that kids love about being able to put their own CDS in and pick their tunes. I like this Kids Portable Sing Along CD Player that comes with a USB and SD card option. Your kid can sing his/her little heart out.
Some CDs we have at home: All things 123Andrés, Alphabet Rocks, VIVAKIDs by Thalia, and Lucky Diaz!
MOVIE AND MOVIE TICKETS
Sure Netflix and other outlets do a pretty good job of having great movies, but maybe there is a movie your child really loves that Netflix doesn’t have… DVDs are great gifts, added bonus? Many have different language options! For older kids, movie tickets are a great gift as well.
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BOOKS
Age appropriate books can be great gifts, the possibilities are endless. If you’re raising bilingual kids, how about some classic books in Spanish?
READ RELATED: BOOKS FOR 8 YEAR OLDS
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MUSEUM MEMBERSHIPS OR TICKETS
There are some great museums for children, like the Children’s Museum of Manhattan where kids will always find something exciting to do or my son’s personal favorite, the NY Hall of Science in Queens!
READ RELATED: FREE MUSEUMS FOR KIDS IN NEW YORK CITY
GIFT CARDS
Gift cards are great for older kids, because they can get the concept of money, and how much they have and have some liberty to pick out what they want.
TICKETS TO A SHOW, CONCERT OR THE CIRCUS
Tickets to a special event like the circus or a concert. When I was younger, my aunt took me to a Broadway show and to a Luis Miguel concert. I’m sure she bought me toys but I don’t remember those, I do remember the special stuff we did together.
MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS
When I was little I dreamed of getting a Highlights subscription! Now, they even have a bilingual version High Five Bilingüe
COUPON BOOK
How about a coupon book for you child’s favorite things? Examples: “This coupon valid for one movie night at home.” or “This coupon valid for one baking session with mom.” You can personalize the options to suit each child’s interests.
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DONATE TO THE COLLEGE FUND!
It doesn’t have to be a huge amount… $20 today with compounded interest will be a lot more when the munchkin goes off to college!
Image credit: LendingMemo.com via Flicker
SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET YOUR KIDS MORE TOYS!
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