The Ultimate List of 100+ Non-Toy Gift Ideas – 2017 Edition
If you are overwhelmed by the growing collection of toys in your home, then you may find this list helpful as you start your holiday shopping.
Yearly Passes
Palm Beach Zoo
Schoolhouse Children’s Museum & Learning Center
South Florida Science Center & Aquarium
Lion Country Safari
Local Indoor Play Places such as Cool Beans Indoor Playground and Cafe and Joey’s Outback Adventures
One-Time Passes
Movies
Bowling
Swimming at local water parks
Performances in theatres and venues such as Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center, Kravis Center, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Duncan Theatre, Old School Square and Sol Children’s Theatre
Sporting Events
Playmobil FunPark in Palm Beach Gardens
Roller or Ice Skating
Concert
Experiences for Kids
Horseback Riding
Train Ride
Ice Cream Vouchers
Special dinner out
A Trip to the Fire Station
Coupon book with “time” gifts (ie. an afternoon making cookies with mom)
Tickets to South Florida Fair
Airboat Ride
Mini-golf
Older Kids or Grown-Ups
Gift Card to a favorite store
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Wine Tasting Experience
Tickets to Beer Festival
Zip Lining
Trapeze
Helicopter Ride
Trip to the Spa (Mani/Pedi, Massage, Facial, etc.)
Rock Climbing
Trip to Arcade
Give the gift of Zen at Family Yoga
Zen Zone
A Class or Season of Lessons
Swim Lessons at Small Fish Big Fish Swim School
Sports & Gymnastics (Check out programs such as Kids Choice, Genie’s Gymnastics, Family Yoga Zen Zone and Johan Kriek Tennis Academy)
Dance (Boynton Beach School of Music and Dance and Southern Dance Theatre)
Pottery Class or paint your own pottery (Craft Haus)
Art Class (Kids Need More Art)
Craft class (ie knitting, sewing, beading)
Horseback riding lessons
Family Experiences
A holiday vacation to Legoland or Disney World
Tickets to see The Nutcracker with Ballet Palm Beach
A hotel with a water park
Camping (depends where you live & how much you love camping)
Day at the Beach
Trip to a Nature Center such as Loggerhead, McCarthy’s Wildlife, Sandoway House, Busch Wildlife or Gumbo Limbo
Road trip
Give them travel/camping gear needed for the experience you’ll be gifting so that they have a physical item to unwrap
If you have more than one child, one-on-one outings. Do an activity together of the child’s choosing.
Physical Gifts that aren’t Toys
Your favorite books from your childhood
Games
DVD’s
CD’s of fun kids music
Craft kit
Science kit
New art supplies
Magazine Subscription
Monthly Craft Kit Subscription
Fun Bath Supplies (color-changing water, crayons that write on walls, foamy soap, etc.)
A wagon to pull kids in when you go on walks
Personalized Anywhere Chair
Stationary
Special Christmas Tree Ornament
Wrist watch
Piggy bank
Memory/Photo Book
A digital camera. See the world through your child’s eyes
Journal
Fun “Needs”
New bedding that they really like
Bedroom décor
New hat, mitts, etc.
Bike or Scooter
Roller skates/blades
Basketball hoop
Trampoline
Swing set (for big ticket items like this, grandparents can pitch in)
An item they need, but they want a more expensive version than you would normally buy (ie. shoes/clothes)
Colorful band aids
Pool floats, snorkeling or beach gear
Sleeping bag
Flashlight
Toy box
Jewelry box
New Pajamas or sleeping bags
Learning Tools
Telescope
Magnifying glass
Science Kit
Magic Kit
Cookbook & Apron/Chef Hat
Easel /Chalkboard
Gardening tools
Bug-catching tools
Binoculars
Globe
Other
Frame a Family Photo! Check out Lynn Studios Photography or Warner-Prokos Photography
Educational App they can play on your phone/ipod/tablet
Computer Game
Items they need for lessons (costume/instrument/etc.)
A new game for a game console
A refill for an easy bake oven or other toy requiring refills
Pet Accessories/supplies
iTunes gift card
Heather Lynne is a freelance writer and mom to two girls. She also blogs at www.raisingmemories.com. Felonice Merriman & Jennifer Preville (Publisher and Associate Publisher of PB Parenting) are local moms on a mission this holiday season not to add any more toys to their houses that already have too many!