The Gift Of Less Toys

​Just recently we celebrated my niece’s birthday and I asked her what she wanted.  Most of the items were toys but I was able to tweak one of her wish list items into a fun aunt-niece day.  This got me thinking… our home is already littered with tons of toys, and we really don’t need more.  Hubby and I are pretty conscious about not getting the girls too many toys and finding ways to make what we have seem new but there is no shortage of family and friends who dote on them on Christmas, birthdays, and just because!

Gifts in themselves are not bad – to receive gifts is to be blessed.  It means that you are loved.  What I am saying is that when there are too many toys, they may not be valued as much and only be played with once or twice before they are discarded in the black hole of forgotten toys.  Plus, I feel that it’s hard to find a good toy these days.  My ultimate goal: is to provide my children with gifts that are practical, have a longer life-span than the 2-minute fad, and create long-lasting memories.  If they do involve toys, so be it but at least I want to explore other options.

Here are some non-toy options that I think are great or that I have suggested/tried.  Some of my suggestions, you may still consider toys and that’s ok, it’s really about opening up the options.

​My niece asked for a cookie-making set for her birthday.  She’s at an age where she is exploring what she likes/dislikes and I did think about getting her an Easy Bake oven.  I didn’t in the end because I’m not sure how serious she is about wanting it and if she is not serious, I’m pretty sure my brother will not thank me for adding more clutter to his home.  Instead, I invited her to my home for a special baking day.  I looked up a cookie recipe and picked up some decorative elements at the local bulk food store.

On the day of, we baked together along with her cousin and brother.  She was the head baker with two assistants and a peon (me) to do the hard or dangerous parts.  We made the dough, shaped and baked it, and then each child got to decorate the cookies the way they wanted.  I think the decorating was the most fun and they kept licking their fingers more than decorating!  We took lots of pictures over the course of the day and of course, the cookies were a take-home gift.  I also printed up the recipe and packed up the rest of the decorative elements for her in case she wanted to do a baking day at home with her parents.  The picture above is the cookies of her labor!

This is just one idea for a special activity specific to a child but hopefully, this will inspire you to come up with activities that match their interests and wishes.

​K really loves to read and I think in this aspect she takes after me.  I love to curl up on the sofa and she has a rocking chair that she cozies up to read.  There are some books in my personal collection that I’ve had for many years and read numerous times out there.  The pages are worn and the spine is broken and the cover was also torn but I do my best to patch it up and keep on reading them.  They bring me such joy.
Books in general are a great gift for children at any age and there are so many fun options out there.

​I came across these personalized books that you can buy online (https://www.wonderbly.com/ca) where the story is based on your child’s name and/or their birthday.  Attach a gift card to the local bookstore to inspire them to keep on reading!

This is a nice option because when your child grows tired of these books if they are in good shape, you can donate them to the local library.  You can also share them with your child’s classroom if it fits with the theme that they are covering.  For infant books, again if in good condition, you could pass them onto a new mama with some other goods as a way of passing on good fortune and health to the new life.

There’s something about going to the mailbox and knowing that there is something for you.  When I had a pen pal in my younger years, I looked forward to receiving the next letter.  I’m not so thrilled as an adult for the mail because they’re mostly ads and bills but K loves to go and check for the mail.

You can do a monthly subscription to a kid’s magazine that they are into.  I’m also considering signing up for the little passports subscription.  Your little ones receive a little suitcase and then each month, your child is introduced to a new country with activities to do.  In addition to travel kits, there are also other kits that you can check out.  For more information check out: https://www.littlepassports.com/little-passports-world-edition
Another subscription that might be interesting is through Kiwi Co. where they send “crates” with cool STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) projects every month.  There are different lines for different age groups and you can switch lines as needed.  For more information check out:  https://www.kiwico.com/?country=CA

​If you have a large family like mine (5 total), going to places such as zoos, aquariums, amusement parts museums, science centre etc. can quickly add up cost-wise.  Consider getting a family pass to one of these sites since going twice or more will already make up the cost of membership versus paying each time or for a family day pass.  It’s a great way to spend time together and you don’t have to worry about rushing.  Since you can always come back, you can focus on one area and explore it and then pick another area to explore in depth the next time.  Many of these places may also have seasonal or holiday-related activities or exhibits so your child will enjoy going regularly.  We are certainly considering the zoo as an option in our family!

Along the lines of a season pass, you could consider giving a one-time pass for an event.  It could be movie tickets, tickets to a show such as Disney on Ice or Paw Patrol (my kids are crazy over this show as I’m sure tons of kids are), a sporting event, to dinner and a show (Medieval times is a fun one), or a concert, or play.  Knowing that they have something to look forward to makes things exciting for kids!

​This will depend on the age of their child and their ability to understand these concepts, but I work for a charity and I am also a firm believer in teaching my child the joys of servicing others amongst other values.  In fact, I plan to take K with me when we do our large annual fundraiser event so that she can help out.  You could introduce a number of charities that are: a) close to home b) important to family or c) things that interest your child and ask your child to select a charity to gift to.  If possible, deliver the gift in person, and often charities will also give a token gift back as appreciation so rather than having tons and tons of presents, they still get one and they get to feel good that they are making a difference (win-win situation in my books!).

​Technically, I know that these can be lumped into the category of toys, but I left it out because I think they are so much more.  These are great things to have to do on a rainy day and can provide many hours of joy and laughter with friends and family.  Depending on the game, the outcome will be different and can bring an element of surprise.

I remember when I was young, we used to as a family sit down and work on a big puzzle (I think it was a 1000-piece puzzle).  We would pick a section to work on and I would complain when it was time to go to bed and make my parents and brothers promise that they wouldn’t work on the puzzle without me.  When we finally finished the puzzle, we framed it.  We have three of these puzzles at home and currently, in my home, I have a 1000-piece puzzle waiting for when the girls are older.

Game-wise, K’s current favorite is Hoot Owl Hoot and Snowflakes and Icicles (aka snakes and ladders) and she loves that she never knows who’s going to win!

​Arts and craft materials never go out of style, they just evolve as children evolve.  If you notice your craft supplies are low, pick up those items and throw in a new item that they have never used before.  Crafts are a great way to spark imagination and the results can be very awesome.  Another idea is to present them with a mystery craft box with various craft supplies (pipe cleaners, pom poms, buttons, fun scissors or hole punches, and so on) and see what they come up with.  You may need a plan for containing the mess through J.

The playroom and the bedroom are a child’s space and where a lot of the fun happens and it doesn’t hurt that this gift is practical and helpful to parents as well.  You can get some fun bedding or furniture to furnish their space, or pick up some fun organizational or decorative items.  This is also a way to get your child involved and let them pick out a few things that they really like.

If you are really handy, head over to the fabric store and allow your child to pick out a pattern and even some embellishments to sew some sheets, cushions, and whatever you can come up with.  I’m not very handy but my mom is and she sewed some really cute animal sheets for K, which matches the theme of her room right now :). There was even enough fabric for a super squishy body pillow cover.

If you have an older child, you may even give them a budget and let them pick whatever they like for their room to truly make it their own!

Along the lines of kid furnishings, consider organizational items that are fun and whimsical as a gift.  It seems that when it comes to kids, and I’m using the term “kids” loosely, their stuff just keeps growing and growing.  Organization items can keep things easy to find and parents’ sanity intact.

MiniOwls has a bean bag cover (pictured above) that would be very useful for children no matter their age. For younger children, you could stuff it with the never-ending plushies and stuffies that they receive for birthdays and other holidays. Older children could stuff it with extra comforters, camping gear, pillows, and maybe plush toys that they still keep around but don’t want anyone to know about.  Here’s the best part, after stuffing with whatever you wish, the cover adds extra value by providing a place for your children to lounge about and just hang out.  To check out how much you can hide in these babies, visit MiniOwls shop.

​K received a new backpack with a lunch bag and her own rolling suitcase over Christmas and she was over the moon.  At home, she loves to take them and pretend that she’s going on some adventure and when we do go somewhere, whether it is grandma’s house for a sleepover or for a family getaway, she’s the first one to get her bags and start packing.  I just tell her what she needs and she grabs them.  This is one item that will last for years to come.  Now, I have to get one for E!  For an extra bonus, add a personalized and fun luggage tag!

​If there is something, in particular, your child is interested in, a gift idea may be to give them a block of classes so that they may get an introduction to it or further hone their skills.  It’s also a great way to show children that you are paying attention to them and supportive of their interests.

As an additional thought, instead of just providing your child a block of classes in something, consider arranging a class that you can participate in together.  It provides you with time to connect with one another and helps model that everyone can still learn regardless of age.

​Monkey see monkey do.  Young children like to emulate their parents. They want their own version of their parents’ stuff whether it is the kitchen, workshop tools, or outdoor items.  It’s a great opportunity to build some life skills and help your children navigate the world around them. They don’t have to be toy versions of your stuff but make sure whatever it is, it is simple and sturdy and appropriate for their age and skills. Having bright colors also helps. I have a set of colorful measuring spoons with large writing that K loves to use.  Most recently, K told me she wished for a vacuum machine and a broom.  While a vacuum is a pretty big ticket item, I did get her a hand broom 🙂 She loves it and dutifully uses it to sweep under her chair after meals!  (I’m definitely enjoying it now because I know this won’t last :P)

“K” sees me taking pictures all the time. Whether it’s selfies of us, things for my blog or our adventures and she wants to do it too. Children see the world differently and this gift gives us an opportunity to see through their eyes. While there are cameras built specifically for kids, many cameras these days are very accessible.

What other ideas for toyless gifts do you have?  I’m always looking for ideas so I’d love to hear from you!
May your household have less toys and an abundance of joy and memories! Julie