I feel strongly about this and I don’t know why. Probably because I’m an accumulator that doesn’t attach too strongly to my stuff. I frequently cycle out toys, clothes, items, what-have-you, to make room for what’s new. About every 2 months I get unreasonably pissed at the toy clutter in my home. How did all of this get here, anyway?

Study after study has shown that having fewer toys helps kids play more and play better. So why do I keep bringing home toys? Why do we keep giving toys as gifts? Because it’s easy and exciting for like 48 hours. There are some things that have lasting power. The little plastic figurines from the Disney store are my girls’ favorites, and they hold up well. A prized stuffed animal. Dress up accessories. But for the most part it’s a box of plastic and stuffed crap that I drop to D.I. every few months.

And it feels so gross! Isn’t that so wasteful?! Terrible for the environment? Entitled and spoiled? It’s still a daily battle. We still come home with Happy Meal toys. I still find myself bribing Reese with dumb little mystery packs at the checkout. Still gonna give them cute Easter junk they don’t need. Marie Kondo is helping me be less millennial trashy, and I’m working on it. But there’s still SO MUCH.

I don’t want to give another mom just one more toy that will break by next week, or make her want to scream because they just upended the toy box AGAIN. (Oh just my kids do that?) I love gift-giving and I’m trying to get better at it with everyone in my life. Luckily, when you have little kids you get a lot of opportunities to practice. I want to get better at giving presents that are cool, useful, thoughtful, and go beyond the colorful, plastic stuff that fill every toy aisle.

Reese had two birthday parties last Saturday, so I asked in my Insta stories for your best gift suggestions and came up with a hefty and useful list!

BONUS: Most of these suggestions were cheaper than the $20 Avengers/Barbie/Lego set you were planning on, anyway!

Awesome Gift Ideas

Art Supplies

• Crayons & coloring books
• Stickers
• Crafting sets like jewelry, spirographs, friendship bracelets, paint-by-numbers, etc.
• Magic pen books
• A nice set of colored pencils or markers
• Kiwi Crates
• Sidewalk chalk
• Paint + a painting apron or poncho
• A canvas or roll of butcher paper
• Stamps & ink pads

Useful Gifts

• Bubbles, bath bombs, bath coloring drops
• A new beach towel
• Goggles
• Kid’s headphones
• Umbrellas
• Sunglasses
• A fun pillow (literally one of Reese’s favorite gifts of all time, used daily)
• A camera – film or a cheap digital camera for older kids
• Books
• Nail polish & manicure tools (if age appropriate)
• A night light
• Cups & water bottles
• A watch
• Hair ties, bows, headbands, clips etc.
• A wall calendar to count down to their favorite things
• Sleeping bag
• Backpacks & suitcases

Activity Gifts

• Yard toys
• Sports gear
• Bubbles/bubble wands
• Tickets to the Zoo, a play, a show or event
• Gift cards to the movies, Cold Stone, etc. Kids LOVE having their own cards/money!
• iTunes gift cards/new apps or games on an iPad
• Disposable camera
• Puzzles
• Board Games
• Movies – don’t take up much/any room, bless our lives every day
• A class, lesson, or camp (Thanksgiving Point, libraries, dance studios, art galleries, and Rec Centers do all kinds of fun stuff for kids!)
• A recipe + the ingredients to make it
• A kite

Outside the Box

• Balloons – option to put a dollar inside each one!
• A plant or flower
• A book + coordinating activity e.g. If You Give a Mouse a Muffin with muffin mix
• Glow in the dark stars
• Take a little girl to get a manicure, pedicure, or her hair done all fancy!
• Piggy bank + coins so they can start saving!
• Artwork for their room
• A journal or photo album for them to fill
• Fun shoes – little heels, cowboy boots, rain boots, snowboots, slippers, etc. Something they wouldn’t normally have but would love!
• Personalized stationary – like a notepad or sticky notes
• Magnets – with a whiteboard or to put on a door, fridge, etc.

I got so many great suggestions from you guys on my Insta stories that had never even occurred to me. I love that there are so many ideas that you can personalize to each individual child without adding yet another toy to their toy box. Gonna come back to reference this list over and over again! Thanks fam!