Are you tired of cleaning up mountains of toys every day? Tired of hopping around holding your foot after stepping on a toy army character? Me too. For the past two years, we have been asking for non-toy gifts for our kids birthdays, to try and prevent those issues. We ask specifically for arts & crafts, STEAM related gifts, and some of the below ideas.
1. Memberships – An individual or family membership makes a great gift that keeps giving! There are so many choices that can be tailored to a child's or family’s interest. Some great choices are the IMAG History & Science Center, We Rock the Spectrum, Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, or the YMCA.
2. Subscription Boxes – You can get just about anything in a subscription box these days ... science experiments, crafts, snacks, toys, and more! Our favorites include the STEM-related Kiwi Boxes, the science and geography Little Passports boxes, Green Kid Craft STEAM boxes, and more!
3. Adventures – Plan a day out and then print out a page with images of the things you'll spend the day doing together. Riddles and treasure hunts make really fun ways to have kids uncover all of the fun events that will take place on an adventure day too!
4. Books – Books encourage children to read, and adults to read to them. Stop in and visit with the knowledgeable staff at a bookstore like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or other locally owned bookstores. They will have wonderful book suggestions for kids and kids at heart.
5. Tickets - Theater tickets, movie tickets, concert tickets, baseball tickets etc. Think local here for big savings - like Broadway Palm and Barbara B Mann. Check out schools for theater shows, concerts and sporting events. Younger kids love seeing teens perform and it gives them a taste of where they will be in a few years!
6. Magazine subscriptions - This is another one where there is something for every kid, from babies to teens! Our kids love their Nat Geo Kids and Highlights magazines. There are usually lots of fun stories, facts, games, and crafts within the magazine. When you're finished with it, you can make a poster by cutting out some pictures from the magazine, and pasting them to a sheet of paper or poster board!
7. I.O.U. Cards – Create coupons for playing a favorite board game, getting out of cleaning up after a meal, staying up half an hour late, and other fun ideas. Just simple things that kids love and don’t cost money for you.
8. Lessons – We opted for swimming lessons at Swimtastic this summer, but we love the idea of horseback riding lessons, cooking, art, theater, musical instruments … the list is endless, and you can find something for everyone!
9. Family Vacation – Wrap up plane or train tickets, an itinerary, or hints about a great family vacation. Near or far, whatever trip you plan to take this year can be a surprise!
10. Donations - It's always a great time to teach your child about helping others. Make a donation in the child's name to an organization that is important to him/her, or give them a gift card to purchase items for that organization, then deliver them as a family. For example, go shopping for items for your local food pantry or animal shelter. This summer, Macaroni KID Fort Myers - Fort Myers Beach is hosting a backpack drive for the kids of Fort Myers - Fort Myers Beach area!
