You probably know it:
Your child has a birthday, or you are invited to a children's birthday party and have received an endlessly long wish list – only with toys…
Toys are of course always a hit – but for how long? The child might play with it for a couple of weeks, after which it ends up in the pile of discarded toys.
What about giving the child a gift that stands out from the 20 pieces of toys that they will inevitably receive from other family members and family friends, and that the child can enjoy for a long time?
Now you might be thinking: “How do you give a long-lasting gift to a little person who has not yet developed the ability to concentrate on one thing for more than 5 minutes at a time?”
We have made it easy for you and found 14 good ideas for gifts that are not toys for children:
1. Give a child a hobby
You cannot force the child to develop an interest or a hobby – but you can give the child the opportunity! For example, let your child try their hand at dance, visual arts, soccer, horseback riding, etc. by paying for one or more courses. Here we can talk about a gift that has the potential to bring joy for a long time.
2. Memberships
Give the child an annual pass to the Zoo, Legoland, Tivoli, sign the child up for a book club, etc. A membership to a club, a museum, or an amusement park is not just a good gift for the child but for the whole family. Many parents would like to give their children memberships and take them on several outings throughout the year, but it can be quite an expensive pleasure.
3. Events
Give the child or the whole family a trip to the movies, tickets to a concert, a sports event, a play, etc. Choose the event based on the child's interests so that the child is the focus when you or the family go to the event.
4. Activities and outings
Go bowling, play a game of mini-golf, go to an ice skating rink, swimming pool, etc. There are countless activity options. Give the child a super fun day in your or the whole family's company.
5. Recipes
Most children find it incredibly fun to cook with their parents – especially if the recipes and dishes are particularly child-friendly. Give the child a cookbook or find a specific dish that you think you should make together, buy all the ingredients, and plan with the child when you will cook together.
6. Creativity time
Children love to be creative, for example, playing with clay, making chestnut animals, making jewelry, or drawing – and they love it when parents or family members want to join in. Arrange a creativity date with the child, buy what you need for what you are going to make, and agree with the child when you will go to the creative corner.
7. A trip to a restaurant
Give the child a gift card to a restaurant (or let the child choose the restaurant) and let the child invite 1-2 people along. The child finds it fun to be able to decide for themselves, and you might be surprised by who the child wants to invite.
8. Dress-up clothes
Buy a carnival costume or go exploring in your own wardrobe and give the child – you will be surprised by what a child can make out of an old t-shirt and a pair of sandals.
9. Classic children's books
It may well be that the child is not old enough to read the books themselves, but a good children's book provides many wonderful cozy moments for you and your child. For example, give the child classic children's books such as Karius and Baktus, Halfdan's ABC, Emil from Lönneberg, Alfons Åberg, and – for the slightly older children – Harry Potter. The classic books are allowed to stand in the children's room for many, many years and can even be passed down when the child grows up. There is also just something incredibly cool about being able to read the same books to your child that you read when you were little. For example, tell the child about the time you were little and your mother or father recited Halfdan's ABC rhymes with you or taught you how to take care of your teeth with Karius and Baktus.
10. Clothes
Okay, most children might not be wildly enthusiastic if you give them a soft package – because soft packages equal boring, practical clothes. But they don't have to be. Buy clothes that reflect the child's style and personality – because even small children think it's cool when their clothes reflect who they are. It can be as simple as buying a sweater with the child's favorite character from a movie, pants with secret pockets, or a dress in the child's favorite color.
11. A watch
Today, children learn to tell time by looking at the digital clock on their phone and therefore have no idea how to read an analog clock. However, you can find many nice analog watches for children. Give the child their very own watch and teach them to read the time the old school way.
12. Board games or puzzles
Instead of giving the child gaming consoles and computer games, buy board games and puzzles and set aside time to play or do puzzles with the child. It is much more fun and far more rewarding than sitting and staring at a screen.
13. A calendar
Children like to keep track of what is happening – “when is my birthday,” “when are we visiting grandma and grandpa,” “how many days until we go on vacation,” “what are we doing in two days,” etc. Give the child the opportunity to keep track of the family's plans – and let the child plan some of their time themselves. The child will find it super fun, and it is a really smart way to teach the child to structure their time and keep appointments.
14. Equipment for hobbies/interests
If the child participates in a sport or has an interest, buy, for example, sports equipment or other gear for the child's hobbies. This can also be a great help for the child's parents, as it can be an expensive affair to keep the child supplied with the right gear for activities such as riding, soccer, dance, etc.
Baptism gifts
If you need inspiration for choosing a gift for a child's baptism - take a look at this guide that helps you choose baptism gifts for the little newborn.
