Gift List That Your Kids Will Actually Use and Love!
Each year I want to give less and less gifts.
It’s not that I don’t care about people, or want to skip the holiday spirit. It’s quite the opposite. I care deeply about people and want to give them less stuff. Why add to all they are already juggling and dealing with?
There are so many amazing, loving and creative ideas to show how much we love people and are thinking of them.
With my own children, I am not a fan of the piles of gifts and then figuring out where they will keep them, let alone if they will play with it all! The past few years, I have tested to see what is a hit with consumable gifts.
These ideas are for kids of all ages. Here are the top clutter-free consumable gifts for kids!
IN A HURRY? >> Find Consumable Gift Ideas for Kids Here
Giving consumable gifts that are clutter-free to kids, may require a little more thought and creativity. To help you with this, I found unique non toy gift ideas for both boys and girls.
My husband is also creative and sometimes adds an extra element to the gift. He enjoys making a treasure hunt for the kids to find a gift. We usually do this as a team effort.
He comes up with the clues and creates them on slips of paper. I help hide the clues where they need to be, and sometimes the gift in the final location. I am not that clever to come up all the clues, but you may be!
We have placed clues all over our home, in our backyard, and our neighborhood park. This last year it was like the Amazing Race!
The pirate treasure hunt cards make it easy for you to create your scavenger hunt. Brainstorm where you would like to hide the clues, think of puns that are significant to your child about the location for each clue . . . keeping it fun!
The adventure of having to search for a gift, is also a gift in itself. We have learned after a few scavenger hunts, not to make the riddles too hard, and keep them relevant to the kiddos age.
Have fun with this!
If your kids enjoyed finding their gift with the treasure hunt, here is a game that can be played over and over! They can sharpen their scavenger hunting skills for next Christmas!
CRAFTS
Getting creative is relaxing, good for the mind, and FUN!
There are so many choices of types of crafts and for all ages, young and old!
MARKERS
Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable Broad Line Markers, 40-Count
Before buying more markers, I suggest going through any existing markers the kids have and testing them, throwing away ones that are dried or aren’t working well.
Craft supplies can really add up quickly when we don’t discard old supplies but keep buying new ones.
I get excited when I see these big packs of markers. Imagine all the amazing projects that will be created with all these beautiful color markers!
These markers are washable and the lid flips up so they don’t need to be dumped out. (Good luck with that!)
Crayola 5 Count Washable Triple Tip Markers
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CRAYONS
Crayola Ultimate Crayon Collection
Crayons are perfect for home or on the go! Hours and hours of entertainment for many ages with a supply of crayons.
This is the largest Crayola set and comes in an organized case with a sharpener. (Remember the cool kids that had the sharpeners in the crayon box at school!)
This set includes metallic colors, so it lives up it’s name as the ULTIMATE crayon collection!
400-Count Crayon
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PAINT
Crayola Bathtub Crayons with Crayola Color Bath Drops
Paint is one medium I was more nervous about letting my kids use in the house when they were younger.
My oldest would sit and paint on a drop cloth I would lay on the kitchen floor and be perfectly happy. My twins however, would not sit still. I found that markers and crayons were best for them when they were younger.
The only painting I remember them doing at home was in the bathtub. At least I knew I could clean it quickly, and the kids were already wet and near the soap! This set includes crayons to use in the tub and bath drops that give the water color.
The bath paints do not get great reviews on Amazon, so the Crayola bath set seems to be a better solution.
They do make washable paints for outside the tub, if that makes you feel better!
Crayola Washable Kid’s Paint
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PAPER
Assorted Colors – Construction Paper – 120 sheets
I LOVE paper!
This is one medium that I love to use and have a variety of. My kids love it too! It’s like going to the paper store in my art studio!
You don’t need to have the same supply I do, it does take up some space. But having some on hand will keep the kids busy getting creative and having fun!
Paper is perfect for making cards for friends and family, doing origami, and making paper airplanes.
Purchasing plain white paper, like a ream of paper for a printer, is inexpensive and great for drawing.
Sketchbooks are also nice too. The kids can take it in the car, and papers won’t be flying around the back seat!
Sketch Book, Wirebound
STAMPS
Stamps are are fun using different colors, extremely creative with design . . . and maybe a little messy!
Keep your stamp sets organized using plastic shoe boxes. They are easy to stack and keep clean!
Giant Christmas Stamps (10)
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COLORING BOOKS
Coloring books have always been popular with kids, but recent years the variety of coloring books has grown. The Melissa and Doug brand are always high quality and fun to look at!
It’s a fun activity for us parents to do with our kids since they have so many adult coloring books now!
Coloring books are perfect for car trips or for occasions where your child’s attention needs to be held for a long periods of time.
Melissa & Doug Jumbo Coloring Pad – Animals
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STICKERS
Melissa & Doug Sticker Book: Dinosaurs, Vehicles, Space
It is fun to watch kids who are mesmerized by stickers.
Peel and stick. Peel and stick.
Stickers can entertain for hours! A key to the kids having fun with stickers, is to have a good place for the stickers. I have seen walls covered, car windows covered, kids covered! Ugh.
Having paper or a notebook on hand for the kids to make their creation will spare you from the frustration of having to unpeel and unpeel and unpeel.
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SLIME MAKING SUPPLIES
Goo has become a very popular project for kids! You can find recipes online and make yourself, or you can purchase a kit.
This is a cool gift for kids to make for themselves, a little entertainment over Christmas break.
It’s also a nice gift for kids to make for others. Who doesn’t like playing with slime!
Before your child makes the slime, be sure to have an air-tight container or ziplock bag ready. My daughter set her goo on the table and it can leave a little bit of sticky/slimy residue.
Having the kids make and play with it on the kitchen counter is the easiest way to keep it clean.
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WASHI TAPE
There are endless uses for washi tape. The rolls are perfect for crafts, notebooks, scrapbooking and all sorts of decorating!
50 Rolls Glitter Washi Tape
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PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Craft products can be wrapped individually, or you can create a beautiful gift basket, or you can wrap with clear cellophane with ribbon.
You can also give an empty basket to your child to use while they are doing a scavenger hunt. Each spot they stop on the scavenger hunt adds a gift to their basket.
Rectangular Basket Lined with Handles
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SPECIAL TREATS
These are foods that we don’t keep in our house on a regular basis. I personally like to keep cookies and treats “special”.
Whether it’s a holiday or it’s been a while since we baked, it’s better for our family that we don’t keep them in the house on a regular basis.
This is more for me than the kids. I’m dangerous with special treats in the house!
COOKIES
You can bake your child’s favorite flavor of cookies, frosted cookies that are decorated with love, or even large cookies!
Kids LOVE to use cookie cutters. This can make baking and gift giving more fun and personal!
I would be cautious in purchasing too many cookie cutters unless you have a good storage system.
Using a small plastic shoe box to store cookie cutters in will keep them clean and easy to store. If we have more than that, chances are we will not use them. Especially the BIG sets I see offered.
Cookie gifting ideas:
- Create a sweet gift basket that includes all the supplies needed for your child to make their own cookies.
- Include handwritten recipes on recipes cards
- Include a gift certificate for groceries for recipe ingredients
- If you bake the cookies, decorate cookies with a fun theme
- Individually wrap them and decorate with pretty ribbon
- Attach special note to individually wrapped cookies
- Wrap the cookies separately, tape sticks to the back (shown below) to create a cookie bouquet.
They can be designated for specific times to eat, like after homework is completed or to take in lunchbox. Cookies freeze well too. They will last longer, and not be completely eaten over Christmas break!
Wooden Sticks, 5.5-Inch, 50-Pack
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POPCORN
Popcorn can be a special treat for a small snack at school, or to enjoy during movie night at home. Kids may get a kick out of helping you make popcorn in a pot, and trying recipes and seasonings!
Popcorn!: 100 Recipes
Creating pretend movie tickets to add to a popcorn gift basket will ensure that your family makes the time to have movie nights!
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GUM AND MINTS
My kiddos love gum!
Gum and mints are super easy to create a colorful and yummy-smelling gift basket! They are also perfect to stuff in the kiddo’s stocking. Buying a larger supply of gum and mints, like in bulk, will save time and money.
This is one of my personal favorites to give my kids.
I think this year they were set with their supply until spring break!
This is a simple treat, mostly sugar-free, and it’s fun!
Trident Variety Pack Sugarfree Gum
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CAKE POPS
Cake Pops: Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for More Than 40 Irresistible Mini Treats
I haven’t made cake pops before, but they look like they are fun to create, and I know my kids think they are fun to eat!
You can make these with your kids, give as a cake pop bouquet, or create a cake pop gift basket with all the supplies.
Kids may enjoy making them for their friends as gifts.
Cake pops can be very festive and special with decorations, wrapped with ribbon, and add a sweet note.
Silicone Mold for Cake Pop, Hard Candy, Lollipop
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CUPCAKES
American Girl Baking: Recipes for Cookies, Cupcakes & More
You can either make the cupcakes yourself and give as a gift, you can create a special baking day experience and give a cookbook as a gift, or you can do both!
Cupcakes are also special in that your child can make for themselves, the family, or a special gift for others and feel good!
Cupcake gift basket can include:
- Cupcake papers
- Tray
- Sprinkles
- Cookbook
- Frosting knife
- Create a special certificate for a baking day
Bakeware Silicone 12-Cup Muffin Pan
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ADVENTURES
Creating adventures and experiences can be super fun gifts to put together and give to the kids (especially if we get to be part of the experience!)
With the younger kiddos, you can create the gift as a family event. Maybe as the kids get older, you can create the gift for the kids to use with their friends. You can also leave it up to your child to decide who they would like to enjoy it with.
Making your own handmade gift certificates to give with a gift, gives that personal touch. (I LOVED it when my mom would write me sweet notes with a lipstick kiss!) Kids really enjoy seeing the thought and creativeness a parent can put into a note or certificate. You don’t need to be artistic, make it all your own!
Stickers are a great way to create cards and certificates that look festive!
You can also design a gift basket to include the gift certificate, as well as additional smaller items to go with the adventure. Make it fun!
IDEAS:
- Horseback riding
- Movie night, in or out, with treats
- Girls Spa Day at home or out (mother/daughter, aunt/niece, etc)
- Group Tea Party (friends, family)
- Ziplining
- Pool party
- Cooking lessons
- Hiking adventure and lunch
- Overnight staycation
- Musical or theatre night with dinner
- Make fleece blanket (choose their own fleece)
RELATED POST: Cool and Useful Clutter Free Gifts for Teens
What’s even more cool about these consumable gift ideas for kids is they are simple, easy, and creative!
Cheering you on to a more simple life!
Wow, some really great suggestions for the upcoming festive season!
Thank you Julie, hope it was helpful!