Toys: Kids these days have A LOT of them, and most parents will tell you that the toy tsunami is a real problem. The older your kids get, the more the toys start to take over the whole house, spilling out of your child’s bedroom or play space to the living room, kitchen, closets, yard, porch, garage, attic, and basement. After enduring the agony of stepping on a lego block barefoot, or tripping over yet another stuffed animal in the dark, you’ve had enough! But if you put the kibosh on toy-giving for your child’s birthday, what kind of gifts does that leave?  

Not to worry; there are actually lots of really fun, exciting non-toy birthday gift alternatives that will still put a smile on your child’s face… Without adding yet another soon-forgotten toy to the mountain of action figures, blocks, balls, stuffed animals, dolls, board games, and other gizmos in your kid’s toybox. Keep reading for some inspiration!

Non-Toy Birthday Gift Alternatives

Sports or Exercise Equipment

Any birthday gift that gets kids to be more active is a great toy alternative, so think about what type of sports or exercise equipment the birthday kid would enjoy. Whether it’s a jump rope, soccer ball, bike, trampoline, or roller skates, they’ll have a blast and burn off some energy all at the same time! 

If you’re in the market for roller skates, visit our pro shop. We’re always happy to help you pick out the right roller skates and equipment, whether you’re shopping for a gift or for yourself!

Subscriptions

What’s better than one birthday gift? 12 birthday gifts! Treating a birthday kid to a subscription is an awesome gift because it just keeps on giving. There are tons of options for kids’ subscriptions, from magazines and “book of the month” clubs to monthly sensory play or STEM activity boxes. 

DIY Kits

Speaking of activities, DIY kits are another fun and educational alternative to toys. There is a wide variety of options out there, from painting, sculpting, and drawing to jewelry crafts, model building, and engineering projects. 

Books and Music

It seems like kids these days are hooked on screens almost from birth, so why not give the gift of unplugging? Kids can never have too many books, and instilling a love of reading from a young age (even before they can read themselves) has been shown to have lots of benefits. 

Music is another important developmental tool for kids, not to mention the fun memories that often result from sharing songs. Gift the birthday kid with some cool music, their very own boombox or bluetooth speaker, or better yet, their very own instrument! 

If changing things up sounds good to you, check out our birthday cake alternatives that are just as delicious!