Gift ideas · No screens
Screen-free gifts that can compete with a tablet
A screen is fast, always ready and never runs out. A screen-free gift wins when it's quick to start, fun to do alone and gets better the more they do it. These ones pass that test in our house.
Skip: Screen-free gifts that need an adult to run them. Pick things they can start on their own.
Remind me beforeor
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Ages 4 to 6
- 1An audio player for kids, like Yoto or TonieboxOur pick: Yoto Player (4th gen)Stories and music they start themselves, with nothing to stare at. Find it
- 2Magnetic tilesOur pick: Magna-Tiles Clear Colors, 100 piecesOut of the bin and building in seconds. Find it
- 3Play-Doh and a few real toolsOur pick: Play-Doh 10-pack of colorsA rolling pin and cookie cutters beat the fancy sets. Find it
- 4A scooter and a helmetOur pick: Micro Kickboard MaxiThe best way to get the wiggles out. Find it
Ages 7 to 9
- 1A set of walkie-talkiesOur pick: Midland T10 two-way radios, pairSiblings and neighbor kids will run a whole mission on these. Find it
- 2Snap CircuitsOur pick: Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100Real circuits that click together, with no screen and no soldering. Find it
- 3A chapter book box setOur pick: Roald Dahl Magical Gift Set, 4 booksGet the whole series so the next book is already there. Find it
- 4A rock tumblerOur pick: Thames & Kosmos Rock TumblerIt takes weeks, which is the point. They keep checking on it. Find it
Ages 10 to 12
- 1A beginner woodworking kitOur pick: Stanley Jr. Build Your Own BirdhouseReal tools and a finished thing they made. Find it
- 2A ukuleleOur pick: Kala KA-15S soprano ukuleleFour strings, and a song in a weekend with a free video lesson. Find it
- 3A board game you'll actually replay, like Ticket to RideOur pick: Ticket to Ride (Days of Wonder)A family night that doesn't feel like a chore. Find it
- 4A skateboard and padsOur pick: Toy Machine Fists 7.75 completeHard to learn, so it keeps them busy for a long time. Find it
What makes these work
- It works without a grown-up. If it only happens when you're sitting there, the tablet wins.
- It starts in under a minute. No setup, no hunting for pieces.
- It gets better with practice. A skill keeps a kid coming back in a way a toy can't.
Find gifts that match how they play
The gifts that get used match how a kid already likes to play. The quiz takes two minutes. No account needed, and adding a name is optional.
More gift ideas
Stocking stuffers for kids that actually get usedHolidaysChristmas gifts for kids that last past New Year'sChristmasGifts for toddlers that aren't more noiseToddlersBirthday party gifts for a kid you barely knowBirthday partiesGifts for kids who have everythingHard to buy forAll gift ideasBy age and by how they play
Print it before the partyHalloween Party Games for Kids: picture bingo, a monster hunt and pin the face on the pumpkin. 11 pages, $5.Get the printable →
