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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Vinegar
Vinegar pairs magnificently with baking soda. Sizzling, bubbling, popping, and fizzing is a delight for kids and adults of all ages.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch mixed with only water makes an awesome science experiment called “oobleck.” Kids go crazy for this stuff!
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.
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.)
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.)
Food Coloring
Add a splash of color to the experiment ingredients in the kit.
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.
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!
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).
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.
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!
Set of Paintbrushes
A new set of paintbrushes is the best! Providing kids with differently sized brushes allows for extra creative freedom and exploration.
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.
We have a free downloadable letter to gift with your kit so the lucky recipient knows exactly what to do!
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).
Alphabet Beads
Kids can use these alphabet beads to create their name, the names of friends and family, and so much more.
Star Pony Beads
Who doesn’t love an adorable star bead? These are a fun spin on classic pony beads.
Glitter Pony Beads
GLITTER BEADS? Sign me up! These are absolutely beautiful and will dazzle kids of all ages.
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.
Jewelry Lacing Cord
Lacing cords allows kids to customize what they’re making, whether it’s a necklace, anklet, bracelet, belt, or something new.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Collection – Pink
This collection featured stickers of princesses, animals, flowers, fairies, tea parties, and more. Adorable.
Melissa and Doug Sticker Collection – Blue
This collection features stickers of dinosaurs, construction vehicles, space, outer space, and more. Also adorable.
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!
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.
Crayola Markers
These are an absolute staple. Crayola makes the best markers and this classic color set is everything.
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.
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!
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 (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
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
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
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:
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!
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.
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!
All About Air Kit – Giant Air Noodles
You have to check these out! How cool would these be outside on a beautiful day?
Non-toy gifts for kids FAQs
That’s the magic about non-toy gifts: they’re spectacular for kids who are little AND kids who are big!
We have FREE downloadable letters to accompany the DIY Science Kit, DIY Art Kit, and DIY Bead Kit.
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
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