Top 5 Christmas Gifts for Boys and Girls that are NOT electronic!

At the end of September (yes, September) my mom sent me an email that read this:


Hi Family,

You know I like to start early on Christmas gift ideas.


Please have your kids email me links to things they’d like...otherwise they will get coal in their stocking.


Love,

Mom

All to say, it was the first time I began to think WHAT IN THE WORLD my kids might want for gifts this Christmas.  

Christmas gifts for kids non electronic active



I was completely overwhelmed looking on Amazon, but while I was searching I had the idea that it might be really helpful if I did a post on some gifts my kids have LOVED over the years.   I could list gifts or toys that have lasted.....lets say for more than 6 months, OH and was NOT an electronic!  (These are my amazon affiliate links.)

The ages of my kids right now are 5, 9 and 11. 
These gifts were given them over the past 3 years.

Top 5 Christmas Gift Idea List:



My #1 gift my kids has received - it's lasted FOREVER and has had a ton of use!


Quadrilla Basic Set 

My kids have loved this gift, and I am always so happy they pull it out instead of going downstairs to watch TV.  


Quadrilla Basic Set marble run kid gift

quadrilla basic set gift idea post


Pros: Made of real wood, will last forever and is something you could even pass down.  Educational and gets kids minds thinking (instead of the grand ol Video Games!)




# 2.Cuisenaire Rods Kit for Fractions, Wood
               (a math learning tool that can be used for fun!)


cuisenaire rods kit kid gift idea post


These fun WOODEN pieces have been around forever.

My in-laws might have first purchased these with the hopes of my kids becoming math scholars but my kids and ALL the grand kids (my in laws bought a set for their house too) love playing with the them. 

They make unique towers, shapes, patterns. I would buy a set that comes with trays for each color and not just one jumbled container for all the pieces.  (read amazon reviews....)

Obviously the Cons would be the small pieces not being suitable for babies.  Oh, and yes, you'll find missing pieces in your couch and under chairs.  Part of the FUN package!


calvin and hobbes box set gift idea post



Oh my word - my children ADORE this collection (it has three large hardbound books in one case) and has entertained them for HOURS.  They never tired of it and sit by the fire and just laugh and laugh.  They quote me entire comic stripes and will tell me how Calvin would have reacted had HE been in a similar family situation  This is such a classic gift to get a child.  They are all hardbound and definitely something that could be passed down. I can't think of any cons for this gift. :-)


Ideas for THIS Christmas!

#4. Small Jumparoo Boing! I Pogo Stick 
pogo gift idea post christmas kids


I think this could be a huge hit.  My 5 year old has wanted a Small Jumparoo Boing! I Pogo Stick  since last year. I think my older kids would be the ones to really enjoy it though.  I would buy two since who wants to jump alone - right?

#5. EZ Steppers - Fun Feet!  (it says an "educational toy" I would say good hand-eye coordination for sure!)
Christmas gift idea fun feet steppers

From what I read from the reviews these are tons of fun and an instant winner with kids of all ages!   Most people mentioned they would buy more than one set because it is twice as much fun with a cousin or sibling!

Actually, after I wrote this post, my youngest (5 year old) told me all about these "stompers" that were at her school that everyone wanted to use but they didn't have a lot of them so it was VERY special if you got to use them.  Won't she be excited to have a pair all to herself!!!



Inflatable 'Rody Horse' Children's Ride-On Rocking Horse: 

Toddler christmas gift rody horse



 I  have to add this gift that was left in the comments because it sounds like a ton of fun and is for a younger child (ages 2-4ish).  She said her son plays with it all the time and discribes it as "a rocking horse mets a giant bouncy ball" !  It's all about collecting good ideas at this point isn't it :-)



Lasty get your child a pet. :-)

"I PROMISE to take care of it mom and dad, you won't even know it's there!" Is there any parent that has not heard that yet???  Yes, we gave in and got my eldest pet lovin daughter a hamster last Christmas and she said nothing has ever come close to "her best gift in the world"  hee, hee.  She worked her dad HARD to get that gift!





That's it!!  Please leave me a comment if you have other fun ideas to add to this list!  AND if you get one of the above as a gift, tell me how the kids liked them. :-) 

We have some very excited children in our house awaiting Christmas Morning!







 

Popular posts from this blog

Make Large Canvas Wall Art Out of An Old Map

Image
One of my favorite things about thrift store decorating is finding something unexpected and giving it a new life. When I came across an old vintage map, I immediately saw the potential for unique wall art. Instead of leaving it tucked away, I cut it into sections and mounted it onto canvases to create a custom piece full of character and history. If you love decorating with vintage finds and creating budget-friendly home decor, this simple DIY project might inspire your next thrift store makeover. I had previously picked up an old slightly laminated MAP from the same thrift store for a few dollars. I began to wonder what I could do with my map???? Tick tock, tick tock, my creative juices were coming……. Ah Ha!  My son needed something on his wall in his room and since that is where I put the globe how about matching wall art!  I went to Michaels and picked up a bunch of canvases at 40% off.  I traced around the canvas and cut out each rectangle.  The ov...
THERE'S MORE! Click to read this full post :) »

French Furniture Painting w/ Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Blue

Image
Do you guys like entering giveaways?  I try to enter them because wouldn’t it be fun to win?? Well I DID win some chalk paint from Southern Hospitality’s Blog by Stylish Patina the other day.  (super cool, I checked and I was 1 out of 250 – wow!)  Anne Sloan Chalk Paint So I get this chalk paint and wax in the mail and to be honest with you I had NO IDEA what this stuff even was???  I totally had to research on the internet and hope to find other blogs that have used it.  I did – actually a LOT of bloggers have written posts on it, one of my favorites was Perfectly Imperfect .  I guess this stuff is the HOT product on the market. Want to know why????? There is NO need for SANDING OR PRIMING your furniture piece before you start!!! Yep you heard me right – you get to completely skip those LONG tedious steps!  I always felt so scared of painting furniture because I always thought I wouldn’t do it “correctly”.  I have spray paint...
THERE'S MORE! Click to read this full post :) »

Pottery Barn Knockoff–Distressed Clock Decor

Image
Ahhhhhh Pottery Barn.  The gorgeous pictures, the GIANT price tags.  If only we could re-create for less everything we see in that magazine.  Well today’s post will give that a try  – Pottery Barn for under $10.00.  Yep, that’s right, this next project cost me around 6 bucks.  When I was at the thrift store I spotted this lonely round board.  It was almost 2 feet around, insanely heavy and covered in laminate but I thought hummmm……this has some CLOCK potential!  So I bought it for a whopping $1.50. Here is the lovely BEFORE picture: And here is the AFTER: Now how I got there.  :-) First I distressed the plastic and wood by sawing the edges, hammering the center, and quickly sanding the entire circle.  I didn’t spend a lot of time doing this because I had another idea to help with the distressing which you’ll see in the next few steps. Next step was to figure out the best way for me to put on the Roman Numer...
THERE'S MORE! Click to read this full post :) »