Input requested: Non-cluttering gifts for 2-year-olds
My daughter (18 months) has been invited to her first friend birthday party. Her friend will be two next week. I was wondering if you have any good ideas for non-cluttering gifts for girls at age two. I know your daughter just turned two as well, and she has a birthday close to Christmas. I don't want to get just another toy that has to find a home; I would like to give a meaningful gift and/or one that doesn't gather dust. Thanks for your input! -LindsayGreat question, Lindsay! I know I'm a bit late in getting to this, but I thought I'd answer it anyway!
I'm all for "non-cluttering gifts" as you put it. I despise clutter and feel like it is so easy to get bogged down by stuff. For Kathynne, we always try to keep things simple. I think most American children have way more than they need and can easily fall prey to "entertainment-overload." With that in mind, we try to limit toys and keep those toys we have to ones which encourage creativity and productivity. Things like books, puzzles, blocks, Legos, paints, crayons and paper.
As far as ideas for you, here are just a few:
-A book with a read-aloud tape. My little brother and sister have made a few of these for Kathrynne and she loves them. They just get her a book or two or three and then make a tape of themselves reading it aloud to her. They often also include a few songs, too.
-A basket with supplies for a simple craft or cooking project for the daughter to do with her mother. You could also include a little apron and paint the little girl's name with fabric paint on it.
-A miniature tea set with some tea or cider and a simple cookie mix.
-A homemade book that you and your daughter have made together with a simple story and pictures cut out from magazines to go along with it.
-A coupon for a special outing later in the year.
These are just a few ideas I had off-hand. I know there are hundreds of others so please feel free to comment with yours, as well.
posted by Crystal Paine at 2:02 PM
9 Comments:
I really like to give "event" gifts. For a toddler I'd say a pretty apron and a day to come to your house and bake cookies or a trip for the two little girls (and a mommy or two) to the zoo. We usually give a certificate without a date on it that says what the event will be. Always talk to the mom first though so you don't catch her off guard:)
i love to give consumable gifts at any age, bubble bath, neat toothbrush with their OWN toothpaste...kids shampoo just fun kids stuff that'll get used up before too long and brings a smile everytime.....they've all been a hit so far and my kids love to receive them...
as a matter of fact , after xmas walmart had themed bath sets for half price, NOTHING xmas-sy about them, so i stocked up for my dd's birthday invites....again very well received...
Celina in Canada
We limit toys at our house too! They play much better when they only have a few things. My daughter loves simple craft things - washable crayons and some construction paper go a long way! I have a small plastic bin to throw it all in to contain the mess, and the recycle bin is wonderful for all her finished projects...really, not everything's a masterpiece! This is a good thing to help them master their fine motor skills.
For a 2 year old, I would keep it really simple, they will probably not remember it anyhow! I like to give nice books. A nice board book or a wooden puzzle or a Laurie puzzle are really nice gifts! Laurie puzzles are nice, even though they cost a little more, if they lose a piece Laurie will replace it for a low cost.
Lacing cards
Something like Preschool activities in a bag. You could make a couple bagged activities for the child to take out and do "school" with her. Some of the favorite bags with my 2 year old have been homemade playdough and cookies cutters, Bean bag toss, fishing game. Little books with follow along tapes are great too!
For small children, I like to give a batch of home made play dough. I add a packet of Kool-Aid to mine so it's pretty and smells nice. Then I include different things. One time I found a child's bake set with rolling pin etc for 99 cents. You can include cookie cutters or whatever would be fun. Kids love it.
My almost three year old loves books (you can never have too many) and craft supplies and loves to help me cook. So I plan to get her her won cooking things for helping mommy in the kitchen. Also when my nieces adn nephews were young dh and I would take them to the zoo or some other outing and they LOVED it and still talkabout the outings even though they are 21 and 18 now!
My little ones have always loved their subscriptions to Wild Animal Baby, a board book magazine put out by the National Wildlife Federation. It is full of rhymes, nature scenes, and animal pictures, with lots of little "spying out" activites. As a side note, NWF also publishes Your Big Backyard for 3-7 year olds (which my older littles adore) and Ranger Rick for elementary age kids.
Thank you so much, Crystal and everyone! You gave me lots of ideas and just in time too. I appreciate your creativity :)
Lindsay
Just another idea: our kids have all loved the Melissa and Doug lock box. It is extremely durable and will provide hours of play over the course of a number of years. Our 1 year old loves it and our 4 year old still plays with it.
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