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Friends Art Lab / Blog / 10+ of the BEST Non-Toy Gifts for Kids Under $30

10+ of the BEST Non-Toy Gifts for Kids Under $30

By Kristian Klebofski  ·  Published: May 4, 2023Updated: May 19, 2023

Instead of giving just another toy that could land in a pile, try one of these kid-tested and family-approved non-toy gifts for kids under $30. This list is fantastic, from DIY kits assembled from Target supplies to GIANT 10-foot coloring banners.

Text reads "10-Non-toy gifts for kids under $30" in the center of the image. Around the text are photos of various non-toy gifts, including a DIY science kit, a giant bug coloring banner being held by a young girl, the book "An Elephant and Piggie BIGGIE!" two sticker collection books from Melissa and Doug (one blue theme, one pink theme), a pack of insta-snow powder, and a DIY art kit.

Why we love non-toy gifts for kids

Toys can be great. They can be educational, passed down through siblings, and lead to hours and hours of joy. We can all think of our favorite toys as a kid!

BUT, many toys also end up lost, broken, and somehow worse: forgotten about and stacked in a pile in the closet.

Enter: non-toy gifts. These gifts are designed to be extra engaging, hands-on, and out-of-the-box.

Kids go crazy for the items on our list of 10 non-toy gifts for kids, and they won’t end up in a pile in the closet.

Text reads "10 gifts for kids under $30 - giant 10-foot coloring banners - under $30 - 20+ different themes!" Photo 1: A young girl smiles at the camera holding a painted in giant bug coloring banner. Photo 2: The ocean coloring banner painted in with color. Photo 3: Screenshots of the ends of 15 giant coloring banners in three stacks of 5.

GIANT 10-Foot Coloring Banners

We first started making these larger-than-life, can-you-even-believe-they’re-real coloring banners a few years ago, and they are the absolute best things in the world.

Picture a coloring page, BUT IT’S 10 FEET LONG.

We have 20+ themes to choose from including

10-Foot Birthday Theme Coloring Banner

The perfect banner to gift to the birthday kid OR to use as an activity at birthday parties! All birthday banners also come with a pinch of confetti in the tube for extra birthday fun.

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10-Foot Ocean Theme Coloring Banner

One of our most popular banners all throughout the year. The sharks on this banner are one of my favorite things I have ever drawn. And look at the crab’s cute little teeth!

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10-Foot Bug Theme Coloring Banner

Bugs, but made adorable. From caterpillars and butterflies to a fly holding a sign saying “GO BUGS!” and a giant grasshopper, this bug banner is a delight.

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Outer Space Theme Coloring Banner

This banner not only has the sun and all of the planets, but it also has aliens, constellations, rockets, astronauts, stars, meteors, and more! It’s truly out of this world.

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You’ll be the talk of the town when you gift one of these!

We have a free downloadable letter to gift with your kit so the lucky recipient knows exactly how to use their beautiful new banner.

Text reads "10 gifts for kids under $30 - DIY Science Kit = $27.92 - price includes storage bin." Photo 1 shows the materials from the kit (5 bottles of vinegar, a large bag of baking soda, a box of spoons, three boxes of cornstarch, a box of food dye, a pack of clear plastic cups, a roll of paper towels, and a clear plastic container sitting on a brown wooden table. Photo 2 shows the materials in the plastic bin with the kid on, the roll of paper towels laying on the lid, tied together with twine. Confetti sits on the table next to the bin and a balloon spelling "birthday" is in the background. Photo 3 - a photo of the free downloadable letter to accompany the kit.

DIY Science Kit (with FREE Printable Letter)

When I bring non-toy gifts for kids to parties, I usually bring a giant coloring banner and I make a science kit.

Science kits are simple to make, and often you get a big bang for your buck.

All of the materials below (3.5 pound bag of baking soda, box of food coloring, 5 bottles of vinegar, 3 boxes of cornstarch, 1 roll of paper towels, 1 box of spoons, 1 pack of plastic cups, and the plastic storage bin comes to less than $30 from Target and is similarly priced from Amazon).

A bag of arm and hammer baking soda.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of my most favorite science materials of all time. I love that it’s inexpensive and can go a loooong way in science experiments for kids.

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Bottle of white vinegar.

Vinegar

Vinegar pairs magnificently with baking soda. Sizzling, bubbling, popping, and fizzing is a delight for kids and adults of all ages.

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Box of cornstarch

Cornstarch

Cornstarch mixed with only water makes an awesome science experiment called “oobleck.” Kids go crazy for this stuff!

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Roll of paper towels

Roll of Paper Towels

The paper towels are dual purpose with being a tool for cleaning AND the base for a tie-dye art and science project. We love a two-for-one.

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Box of clear plastic spoons - text on box reads "premium spoons."

Plastic Spoons

Plastic spoons are wonderful for all three experiments in the kit: baking soda and vinegar science, tie-dye towels, and oobleck. (You could gift the whole box, or split the box between several science kits.)

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A pack of clear plastic cups.

Clear Plastic Cups

Similar to the spoons, these plastic cups are wonderful for all three experiments in the kit: baking soda and vinegar science, tie-dye towels, and oobleck. (You could gift the whole pack, or split the pack between several science kits.)

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Four bottles of food coloring in red, yellow, green, and blue.

Food Coloring

Add a splash of color to the experiment ingredients in the kit.

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A clear storage bin with a white plastic container.

Storage Bin

We love that the box serves three purposes: (1) the perfect vessel for giving the gift, (2) the perfect base for science experiments, and (3) the perfect storage space when materials are not in use.

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At the bottom of the post, we have a link where you can download a FREE letter to go along with your kit, explaining what it is and three experiments to try with the materials!

Text reads "10 gifts for kids under $30 - DIY art kit = $29.90." Photo 1: the materials of the art kit sitting on a table (pack of canvases, 10 bottles of paint, pack of paintbrushes, and a wooden tabletop easel. Photo 2: the free letter to accompany the kit + several bottles of colorful paint. Photo 3: All of the materials in a black wire basket with a white gift bow attached to the canvases. Confetti sits on the table next to the basket and balloons spelling "birthday" are in the background. Photo 4: A zoomed in photo of the package of canvases.

DIY Art Kit (with FREE Printable Letter)

If I had a dollar for every time I have gifted a painting kit, I would have exactly $854895424589. This kit is under $30, but it feels FANCY with canvases and an easel. An art kit is at the top of my favorite list of favorite non-toy gifts for kids for its open-ended possibilities.

All of the materials below (pack of canvases, 10 bottles of paint, pack of paintbrushes, and mini easel comes to less than $30 from Target and is similar priced from Amazon).

A pack of 8 white stretched canvases.

Canvases

Kids don’t paint on canvas daily, and when they do, it feels like a big deal. And know what makes it even fancier? Painting on that canvas on an easel. Fancy schmancy.

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A small bottle of pink acrylic paint.

Acrylic Paints

The paints pictured here were 99 cents each at Target, so you could get fewer colors for less $, too. The brand from Amazon is the brand I usually use and they’re about 50 cents for the same size!

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A box of seven wooden paintbrushes, each with a differently colored handle.

Set of Paintbrushes

A new set of paintbrushes is the best! Providing kids with differently sized brushes allows for extra creative freedom and exploration.

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A wooden tabletop easel.

Wooden Tabletop Easel

Kids will feel like fancy artists when painting on their real wooden easel. You can use this indoors or outdoors and it will last for years and years.

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We have a free downloadable letter to gift with your kit so the lucky recipient knows exactly what to do!

Text reads: "10 gifts for kids under $30 - DIY bead kit = $28.99 = price includes storage bin." Photo 1: a clear plastic storage bin has 5 boxes of beads, one pack of pipe cleaners, and a package of lacing cord visible. They all sit on a wooden table with confetti on it. Photo 2: a picture of the free letter to accompany the kit. Photo 3: the clear plastic container with the pipe cleaners, beads, and a blue bottle of bubbles.

DIY Bead Kit (with FREE Printable Letter)

Does anyone remember going to parties as a kid where the bead lady would come and she’d bring millions and billions of beads, and you could keep whatever you made in an hour?

I have never worked faster in my life than I did at those parties!

All of the materials below (five packs of beads, lacing cord, pipe cleaners, and a bottle of bubbles comes to less than $30 from Target and is similar priced from Amazon).

Box of alphabet beads.

Alphabet Beads

Kids can use these alphabet beads to create their name, the names of friends and family, and so much more.

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Box of star pony beads.

Star Pony Beads

Who doesn’t love an adorable star bead? These are a fun spin on classic pony beads.

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Box of glitter pony beads.

Glitter Pony Beads

GLITTER BEADS? Sign me up! These are absolutely beautiful and will dazzle kids of all ages.

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Box of pony beads.

Pony Beads

Beautiful, classic pony beads are a staple in a beading kit. Pony beads have wide holes making them perfect for various types of lacing materials.

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5 pack of colorful jewelry lacing cords in red, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

Jewelry Lacing Cord

Lacing cords allows kids to customize what they’re making, whether it’s a necklace, anklet, bracelet, belt, or something new.

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Pack of colorful pipe cleaners in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink.

Pipe Cleaners

Pipe cleaners are excellent for jewelry making, especially for younger hands. Kids can also use these to build three-dimensional art with beaded accents.

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Small, blue, plastic bottle of bubbles.

Bubbles

Use the pipe cleaners to make DIY bubble wands and then blow millions and billions of bubbles. An art and science kit in one.

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clear plastic bin.

Storage Bin

We love that the box serves two purposes: (1) the perfect vessel for giving the gift and (2) the perfect storage space when materials are not in use.

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We have a free downloadable letter to gift with your kit so the lucky recipient knows exactly what to do!

Learning Resources People Counters

I am smiling while typing this because I love, love, love these counters with my whole heart.

Plastic container with small colorful people and animal counters

People Counters – Set of 72

Kids can use these in sensory tables, water tables, the bathtub, with blocks, indoors, outdoors…anything and everything. They’re small, bright, and SO open-ended.

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The Big 40 Set of Crayola Markers

Can you image getting to chose from FORTY colors when drawing? I have this pack myself and it’s divine.

A box of crayola markers with all of the markers fanned out in front of the box.

The Big 40 Set of Crayola Markers

With colors like kiwi (my favorite), primrose, and raspberry, they’re perfect for any little artist you love. I have two sets, and I buy a new one whenever mine run out.

Once you have eight shades of green to choose from, you can’t go back.

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Melissa and Doug Sticker Books

500+ stickers for $8? Yes, please!

You could also gift them with an inexpensive pack of white construction paper, and for $12 you have an AWESOME gift.

melissa and doug sticker book with pink accents and several dozen sample stickers on the front cover.

Melissa and Doug Sticker Collection – Pink

This collection featured stickers of princesses, animals, flowers, fairies, tea parties, and more. Adorable.

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melissa and doug sticker book with blue accents and several dozen sample stickers on the front cover.

Melissa and Doug Sticker Collection – Blue

This collection features stickers of dinosaurs, construction vehicles, space, outer space, and more. Also adorable.

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75 Foot Rolls of Paper + Markers

The amount that I love this combination has no limits. It has everything: something oversized (kids love), something open-ended (kids love), and something super easy to store (adults love).

Coloring on standard copy paper is always fun. But, coloring on a gigantic piece of paper that never seems to end? Off the charts!

Two rolls of white paper.

2 Giant 75-Foot Rolls of Paper

Kids love, love, love coloring on plain, white, ENORMOUS paper. There’s something magical about a huge, blank canvas to create on.

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Box of crayola markers.

Crayola Markers

These are an absolute staple. Crayola makes the best markers and this classic color set is everything.

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Box of Mr. Shetch smelly markers.

Mr. Sketch Markers

A CLASSIC. I had these when I was a kid, and you might have had them, too! With scents like cherry, apple, watermelon, and fruit punch, these are a blast and totally kid-approved.

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Box of twistable crayola crayons.

Crayola Twistable Crayons

These are far more kid-friendly than regular crayons because these are much tricker to break. They remind me of a lipstick how you get to twist the color out. So much fun!

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The paper + all of the drawing supplies listed comes to less than $30, but you could also choose less drawing supplies for a smaller budget, too.

Elephant and Piggie “Biggie” Books

Whenever people ask me, “What’s your favorite kid book?” I always reply, “The entire collection of Elephant and Piggie books.” I could never choose just one. There are 25 books in the collection, and every child deserves them.

Instead of purchasing five books separately, let’s say for $8 each, the “biggie” book collections combine 5 books into one volume for between $8-12. I was beside myself when I first learned about these.

They contain 5 FULL books. The first Biggie book is 320 pages long.

Elephant and Piggie Biggie Book 1

Elephant and Piggie Biggie (Volume 1)

Contains five full-length books in one

  • Today I Will Fly
  • Watch Me Throw the Ball
  • Can I Play, Too?
  • Let’s Go for a Drive
  • I Really Like Slop
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Elephant and Piggie Biggie Biggie Book 2

Elephant and Piggie Biggie Biggie (Volume 2)

Contains five full-length books in one

  • I am Going
  • We Are in a Book
  • I Broke My Trunk
  • Listen to My Trumpet
  • I’m a Frog
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Elephant and Piggie Biggie Biggie Biggie Book 3

Elephant and Piggie Biggie Biggie Biggie (Volume 3)

Contains five full-length books in one

  • There is a Bird on Your Head
  • Are You Ready to Play Outside?
  • Elephants Cannot Dance
  • Should I Share My Ice Cream?
  • I Will Take a Nap
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There are also Volume 4 and Volume 5. (Volume 3 is my favorite, but they’re all 10/10 collections.)

The fact that you can get FIVE BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE is unbelievable, and I couldn’t be more thankful that it happened to these books.

Steve Spangler Science

Steve Spangler is everyone’s science teacher. I have had the pleasure of meeting him in real life once and I was starstruck. He is MAGNIFICENT.

Steve has a line of incredible science products for kids! Some of my favorites:

Pack of Steve Spangler insta-snow

Insta-Snow Powder

This bag of white powder expands up to 100x its size when mixed with water. It’s a dazzling science experiment, and it makes for a fun sensory table!

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Container of blue magic sand.

Magic Sand

It really is magic. This colorful sand is dry to the touch, even when you lift it up straight out of the water. So cool.

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A box with text "string slime deluxe kit." On the cover of the box, a girl has a surprised expression and holds a handful of colorful string slime.

String Slime Kit

I bought this for a friend’s kid once, and it was a hit. It’s like a cross between silly string and slime, and I have never seen anything like it!

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Two kids each hold two large, colorful air noodles in different colors. (they're long, cylindrical, taller than the kids, and filled with air.)

All About Air Kit – Giant Air Noodles

You have to check these out! How cool would these be outside on a beautiful day?

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Non-toy gifts for kids FAQs

What ages are these items recommended for?

That’s the magic about non-toy gifts: they’re spectacular for kids who are little AND kids who are big!

How do I explain the DIY kits to the recipient?

We have FREE downloadable letters to accompany the DIY Science Kit, DIY Art Kit, and DIY Bead Kit.

How do you know whether you should give a toy or a non-toy?

It all depends on the child and what makes their heart sing. Though, from experience, I can confidently say that I haven’t met a child who wouldn’t love ANY of the gifts mentioned above.

Don’t forget to download the FREE letters for the non-toy gifts for kids DIY kits + coloring banners

FREE Letters for Non-Toy DIY Kits

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    Kristian

    Hi, I’m Kristian!

    I love all things early childhood. Having earned a master's degree in education, I love sharing my passion and knowledge both as a classroom preschool teacher and college professor. Friends Art Lab is my heart and I'm excited to share with you! LEARN MORE

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