Are you like me, and totally overwhelmed at the thought of coming up with Christmas gift ideas for kids with too many toys already?!
Even though my own children are now grown, I still have a number of young relatives to buy for at Christmas.
Whatever happened to the Teletubbies?!
I’m finding it more of a challenge these days – now my own kids are grown, I’m no longer up on the latest trends. (Can somebody please tell me what happened to the Teletubbies? And who is Dora the Explorer?!)
And I’ve got to be honest – most of the children on my list already have so many toys it seems crazy to just add to the pile!
Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids with Too Many Toys Already!
So I like to try and think outside the box and get them something a little different at Christmas time. Here’s some inspiration, if you too struggle with the whole gift giving thing when it comes to the spoilt brats little darlings in your life:
- pyjamas and/or slippers;
- swimsuits or rash vests;
- pool toys (yes, I know that technically these are toys but I also have it on good authority – my sister 😉 – that they have a VERY hard life and rarely last a whole summer season);
- DVDs of popular kids’ movies or TV shows;
- books or CDs;
- electric/battery operated toothbrushes (these often come with cute characters on them, and hopefully will help them do a better job of brushing their teeth!)
- socks and jocks with their favourite character on it;
- something to decorate their bedroom – a lava lamp, quilt cover, something to hang on the wall;
- stationery / craft items – metallic pens and pencils, black paper etc, scrapbooking supplies or similar;
- a “pet” of some kind with minimal care requirements – think a hermit crab, gold fish, ant farm, or sea monkeys.
If you have any other Christmas gift ideas for kids with too many toys, please leave a comment and let us all know – just think how much you will help out other stressed mamas at this crazy time of year!
All great gift suggestions for young kids. Anything that they can play with outside or keep them entertained with a craft set are the best for younger kids. My girls will get a lot of toys from relatives so I buy them what others wont like craft and clothes and things they need. 🙂
I love the craft idea too but I have also heard that some parents aren’t keen – too much fuss and bother (and mess to clean up!)
Money so i can pay off my debt. Or jeans, they work too providing i pick them out. 🙂
Mr 19!!!! Your first comment here on my blog – I’m touched xxx
AND BIBBONS FOR SOPHIEEEEEEEEEEEEE
For those who are wondering who Sophie is, this might explain it … LOL
My hubby’s nieces & nephew are into the beach & surfing so I wait until the surf shops have their sales or go to a surf warehouse for the deals. Another thing I have started doing is giving experiences. Eg zoo yearly passes, outdoor cinema or movie tickets, or put money towards something they really want with another family member if they want a bigger more expensive item. Goodluck with the gift shopping x
Experiences are a great idea for older kids, we’ve done the movie tickets and theme park passes for our own kids in years gone by.
We could always do with my books, craft materials and pjs! Or family passes to a local theme park :p
I’ve always felt the same about books and PJs – you can never have too many!
Books and PJ’s – we can never have enough of either in our house! Although my boys would argue that you can never have enough Lego, we may just have to agree to disagree on that one 😉
I agree Josefa on the books and PJs, and we never seem to have enough tea towels either, but that’s more a gift for me than the kids I’m thinking 😉
My go to gifts for kids are always books. I just don’t think you can ever have too many, must be the teacher in me 🙂
Karrine I used to be a teacher too and I agree, I wonder if non-teachers think that about books?!
All great gifts! I would add books as well… much better than toys.
My kids have too many toys so they are getting books and craft items this year as well as some outdoor activities. Great list Janet!
well thats easy Master 19 would like a job (or lots more hours) so he can get money to pay off his debt and buy his Mummy a really really nice present that she’ll love forever and take her to a really nice meal just him and his Mummmy. Cos all Mummy really wants is some special just Mummy and her special Boy time x
Ha ha ha yeah that’ll happen 😉
Great post, I’m going to share this! Don’t my girls, but I was talking to Santa earlier and he told me he’s bringing them some baking stuff – their own scales, mixing bowl, cups and spoons, cupcake stand and some boxes of cake mix – as he knows their mum is over all the clutter of toys. And my parents tend to buy ‘experiences’ rather than tangible gifts, last year it was an annual family pass to the zoo, this year it’ll be gymnastics lessons for the middle 3 and hiphop lessons for Miss 10 🙂
Be thankful you missed out on Dora the Explorer. So obnoxious!!! She repeated everything over and over and over again ….I mean, seriously, I think she is a 8-10 year old character with dementia.
LOL at least the Wiggles were cute and a bit of eye candy back in the day 😉
Fat Mum Slim had something on her FB page a little while ago that gave really good advice for what to give young kids for Christmas:
Something they want
Something they need
Something they’ll wear
Something they’ll read
I’ll be sticking to it this year (and years to follow) for the twinions.
Yes we did much the same when our kids were little too 🙂
I will second your sister on the pool toys and their limited shelf life!!!!
Great ideas there Janet. I find it hard enough with my own kids who just have so much stuff!
Beach towels! Love beach towels and you can never have enough
Didn’t think of that one – good one!
The teletubbies were taken off the air because one of them had a gay symbol on their head…seriously.
I think experience presents are the best. Board games are good too!
Seriously??! That’s as bad as when they got rid of Fat Cat – we used to joke and say at least he had pants on – Humphrey B Bear didn’t!!!
I’m fortunate as I only have one child to buy for. (A friend’s son!) He’s two and at that age where he’s into Thomas the Tank Engine and Toy Story etc but he DOES have heaps of toys, so I’m buying some some clothes with Thomas and Buzz on them. He’s young enough to be excited by ‘character’ clothes!
Deb
And little enough to not care that it’s not a toy!
The toothbrushes are a brilliant idea Janet!
LOL I have to thank my sister for that one, it’s something she gave my kids when they were small and it was a real hit 🙂
Great idea, so sick of plastic toys and my boys are only 3 and 8 months. Books are usually my go to gift. Thank you for sharing 🙂
These are great ideas, we’ve got the kids a few pool tools but other than what Santa gets them we are giving them a big outside play cubby with slide, covered play area, swings sand pit etc. I can’t wait, we got money from our parents to help but i want them to spend more time using their imagination outside. Now all the hubby has to do is make it – UGH! x
All in one night too – I remember hubster and I struggling to build a trampoline late into the night several years ago – have fun 😉
The pool stuff is a good one because they really don’t last. In our backyard (pool-less) we buy a little blow up pool every Summer for water play. Last Summer, the rabbit shredded it, this last one, the dog had a go at! #teamIBOT
LOL darn animals! We have a kitty cat that quite likes sprinklers and showers – haven’t tried her near a bath or pool yet though!