8 Non-Toy Christmas Gift Ideas

Hey guys! Today I wanted to share with you a list of a few non toy Christmas gift ideas that I put together. My daughters love toys and the full house of toys is beginning to overwhelm me, I cannot wait for spring cleaning, so I knew I had to think outside of the box. I sat down and made a list of gifts ideas that are NOT toys, but will still be fun and appreciated for kids to receive on Christmas.

1. Camera

A camera can be a great choice for a big age range. The first camera we gave Jane on her 6th birthday was a Polaroid camera. They are easy to use and of course very fun. It's awesome to see the results of your children's photography and the photos also look super cute strung up on the wall.

This summer we bought the girls Vtech battery operated cameras and they were also a hit! These cameras allow you to record videos, take pictures, and include video games. Just be careful the video games can be addicting at first. Not to mention there are so many different filters and the camera is made very well to protect it from breaking easily. My girls also enjoy "vlogging" with their camera occasionally, and it's sweet to look back on the memories. You can purchase a memory card for more storage and you can also upload them to your computer and print or save them. This may be close to a toy, but you can encourage your child to practice photography during trips or nature walks.

Here are the two types we have at home.

2. Comfy Lounge Wear

Most kids would love cute new pjs, slippers, fuzzy socks, and/or a robe. Maybe even a personalized robe. Especially with cold weather outside, some cozy lounge wear will be great to have during those cold days in. If you don't mind paying a little more Pottery Barn Kids offers super cute personalized items. I'll list some of my Amazon favorites below.

I love this white, classic, and fancy nightgown which I plan on ordering for my girls. They also carry it in pink. (You can click on the photos to direct you to Amazon.)

Fuzzy socks are fun to wear around the house. My girls are obsessed with them.

Boy and girl slipper/robe option

3. A membership Or Lessons

Whether it's a membership to Disneyland, the zoo, or a kids museum, children will appreciate being able to visit these places on a weekly basis, for example. Another great option is enrolling them in lessons in a subject that they have been showing interest in. A few options may be sining, piano, dance, art, or horse riding lessons. We recently enrolled the girls in horse riding and they are extremely happy and motivated to become great horseback riders one day.

4. A Trip

A fun trip would make a great gift. A stay in a cabin surrounded with snow and the option of winter sports, like ice skating and skiing, would make a awesome family trip and also a great new tradition. Alternatively, a place where there are warm beaches sounds just as lovely. Jane really wants to go on a trip to a place that is warm, she misses our beach days.

5. Bicycle, Scooter, or Trampoline

It's still important for children to spend time outdoors during winter months. Taking a break from indoors, bundle up, and heading out for some jumping or riding will surely be fun. My girls are loving their trampoline in our backyard (even on very cold days), five minutes of jumping really helps warm you up and even break a bit of a sweat. I know because I often join in. Additionally, its nice to take a stroll around a park or neighborhood with their bikes and scooters. We purchased our large trampoline second hand as well as Janes Jamis miss daisy bike.

These Micro Kickboard Mini Scooters are one of the best purchase I've made for my girls. They are easy to ride and I've seen tiny 2 year olds riding them confidently. My 4 year old has the micro mini which is good for ages 2-5. My 6 year old has the Micro Kickboard Maxi for ages 5-12. They are the same except the Micro Kickboard has a wider board to support more weight.

6. Memory Keepsake Book

Creating an online or paper craft book will make a wonderful gift. The personalized keepsake will make your child feel extra special. I have been creating these books on Shutterfly.com ever since my first daughter, Jane, was a baby! She loves looking through the books still especially before bed. It's a great addition to our bedtime routine. I haven't been great about keeping up with the book creations for Juliet, because after two kids it was more difficult to work on, however I plan to catch up and create some for her. I've made some for my pregnancy, the first 6 months, and other special occasions like our first trip to Disneyland, to give you some ideas.

7. Bedroom Decor

If your kids are anything like mine, then they appreciate bedroom decor. Whether it's a cute alarm clock, new bedding, or fun wallpaper stickers, it will definitely be a fun gift to work on after Christmas. My girls love unicorns, if you haven't already noticed, and they always love new unicorn additions to their room. This year we plan to buy our girls a vanity, because most little girls love makeup vanities. Whatever theme your kids are into these day, you're surely able to find some awesome bedroom decor. I'll list a few of my favorites.

We bought our girls these smaller hanging racks that are great for hanging their dresses and playing dress up. It's made at their perfect height.

Here's a super cute dream catcher

Here is a nice rug and comfy to play on, it comes in many different colors.

Removable sticker decor

String lights give any space a cozy feel. It will fit perfect in a reading nook.

8. A pet

Take this last gift idea with a grain of salt, pets are a huge responsibility and it's important to make sure the entire family is ready for a new member. A dog, bunny, or kitten can make a great Christmas surprise. Just make sure you know what you're getting yourself into (insert crying eyes emoji). *Fairly new pet owner here with a mischievous 1 year old dog.*

Thank you so much for reading! I hope my post has helped give you some new gift ideas. I love questions or comments, you can leave them below.

Melissa