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Looking for low clutter gift ideas for kids? Check out these no clutter gift ideas that are still lots of fun (yes, gifts for kids that aren’t toys can still be big hits!).
One of the easiest ways to do clutter control is limit what comes through the front door. Which admittedly is a tall order when you have kids.
Especially around gift-giving occasions like birthdays and Christmas. If multiple family members give a gift, it adds up quick. This is where low clutter Christmas gifts and no clutter birthday gifts really come in clutch.
Personally, our best strategy to limit gift clutter is us giving our kids non-clutter gifts and leaving the physical toys to grandparents and family. This helps us ensure that at least some of their gifts don’t have to fit on a toy shelf.
Let’s dive into these clutter-free gifts for all occasions and ages.
1. Experience gifts
Number one of the list has to be experience gifts. Experience gifts are just so much better than regular gifts.
They’re more memorable, they encourage family-time, they are clutter-free gifts (and they’re often cheaper too!).
Don’t worry, I have a whole list of awesome experience gifts for families to get you started.
2. Annual passes
Annual passes to a favorite museum, zoo or farm is forever a winning gift. It is the gift that keeps on giving and often isn’t much more expensive than a tickets for a trip or two.
Then you always have an activity at the ready when you can’t think of something to do. Pull out the annual pass and you’ve got yourself a Saturday activity without any extra costs.
3. Special foods or snacks
I love consumables as gifts. Everyone loves a treat and at the end of the day, there’s nothing to store after you eat the present.
Special foods and snacks can also be a fun way to introduce your kids to new food experiences. Go out for chocolate fondue or gift them a dessert they’ve never tried.
4. Digital downloads
Digital downloads are a great no clutter gift, especially for older kids. They get the joy of a new video game and you get the joy of nothing new coming into the house.
5. Bath products
Bath bombs, soap finger paint, bath water dye tabs and more all add a lot of novelty to bath time. This is a win win, especially if you have a kid who doesn’t love a bath.
I like the restock on these type of gifts at Dollar Tree (they make my list of favorite Dollar Tree stocking stuffers for kids too)
6. Activity-focused gift cards
Don’t just give any gift card, pick ones that are for an activity or an outing. For example, a gift card to a favorite ice cream shop, movie theater or mini-golf place.
These make for a fun activity, give kids the opportunity to feel like they have “money” (with bonus budgeting practice!), and doesn’t bring a thing into your house.
7. Pet toys for donation
If you’d like to wrap some physical items, consider gifting some pet items for donation. You can then go as a family to a local shelter and deliver the donations in person, with the bonus of visiting the animals during your trip.
8. Gardening supplies
Gardening supplies fall into a low-clutter loop hole because they’re things that stay outside your house.
But gardening is a great kid activity so hear me out. It gets them outside and playing in dirt, and if you plant vegetables they can learn about growing food too.
9. Craft supplies
Craft supplies are a no brainer low clutter gift. You use up art supplies fast with kids so use a gift-giving occasion as an opportunity to replenish them.
10. Bubble wrap
Who doesn’t have fun playing with bubble wrap? It’s a hit no matter the age.
Plus, bubble wrap is a unique gift that’s kids won’t be expecting. And when they’re done, out it goes so it doesn’t stick around the house.
11. Glow sticks
Glow sticks are another one-use gift that get thrown away when you’re done. Generally, I don’t love one-use products but I also want my kids to have some special childhood moments like playing with glow sticks.
Glow sticks we also use as a safety feature during times like trick-or-treating, walking Christmas lights or when we’re out at a theme park at night. It makes my kids more visible and they love it.
Bonus idea: glow sticks in the bath is never not a hit.
12. Fashion bandaids
My two-year-old is obsessed with covering her body in bandaids. And from talking to other mom friends, she’s not alone in her bandaid habit. Get some fun kid bandaids and let them go nuts.
13. Temporary tattoos
Temporary tattoos are forever fun. Kids definitely love them and even adults love them. And once they’re used, they’re gone so they won’t add clutter.
Pro tip: Get a big pack to share if you’re gifting them at a family holiday or party.
14. Hotel night
Getting to spend a night at a hotel is such a thrill for my kids (and I remember loving it as a child too). A night at a hotel is a special family memory and it’s totally clutter-free.
15. Stickers
I did not realize the power of stickers until I had kids. I’m still surprised and thankful for the number places that give kids stickers when you’re out in the world (bless you, Athleta girls who pulled out stickers when my kids were feral as I tried to buy a pair of shorts).
Kids love stickers and burn through them quick, take a gift occasion as an opportunity to replenish them.
16. Disney+ subscription
Give the gift that keeps on giving….Bluey. A new streaming subscription can be a fun way to mix things up for a month, especially if you haven’t rotated them in awhile. We personally like to only have one subscription going at once as a budget hack.
17. Car wash monthly pass
What kid doesn’t love going through a car wash? Around us, many car wash places now sell unlimited monthly passes. Pick up a month pass and give a month of childhood delight.
18. Potion kit
As a child, I absolutely loved making potions. Making potions is similar to the sensory bin as it encourages independent and creative play. And all the materials get used up so they won’t add long-term clutter.
Grab a variety of soaps, lotions, and travel size samples and you have everything you need for a potions kit gift.
19. Disposable camera
Yes, you can still get disposable cameras (like these fun underwater ones)! There’s something special about kids getting to take a photo and having a tangible picture they can hold in their hands.
Tip: break open the camera at the end to get the battery out before you drop the film off.
20. Scratch off tickets
Disclaimer: Technically kids can’t gamble. Buuutt even my toddlers love doing a scratch off. Of course they do, everyone loves a scratch off every once in awhile. They’re such a treat.
21. Nail art
Nail art can take lots of forms and they all are consumables. You can get nail stickers, polish or even gift getting nails done at a salon.
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Looking for more gift ideas? Check out these fun family-friendly white elephant gift ideas.
