Inside: Are you looking for affordable, clutter-free, minimalist gift ideas for kids? Here are ten thoughtful and inexpensive minimalist gift ideas to avoid clutter.
As a mother of a two-year-old, I know how hard it can be to pass by the toy section and see my toddler touching and playing with a toy. My first thought is to buy it for her, but my second thought is that she already has enough toys at home, and a lot of the time, it is a toy that served the same purpose.
As a mother who values minimalism, I’ve come to understand that having fewer toys can be more beneficial for my toddler in the long run. It will help her be more grateful for what she has. She will value experiences over possessions, and it will teach her that love can be expressed in ways other than material gifts.
Whether you’re shopping for a family member or your own kids, these minimalist gift ideas are affordable, clutter-free, and offer long-term value. They will save you time and money and avoid contributing to clutter.
Why gift minimalist gifts
Toy consumption in the U.S. has gone up and is in the billions. In 2023, Americans spent 28.0 billion on toys. What is more surprising is that “80 percent of toys end up in a landfill, incinerators or the ocean while 90 percent are made of plastic and are used for just six months on average. (source)
These minimalist gift ideas for kids prioritize experiences over possessions and promote creativity. Consequently, fewer toys will end up in landfills.
10 affordable minimalist gift ideas for kids
- Sport camp
Depending on the season you are gifting, you can pay for a sports camp for a kid. These camps can include soccer, basketball, or volleyball. Figuring out what sport or activities a child will enjoy can take time and money, so gifting a sports camp can make it easier for both the parent and the kid.
- Books
Reading books to children has many benefits, including language development, concentration building, and a great bonding experience. Books are an excellent gift for any age. Unlike toys, books can last longer, from a parent reading to a child to the child flipping the pages and looking at the book to the child reading the book.
Books can be re-gifted, donated, or passed to younger family members. If you buy books for your kids, you can purchase second-hand to save money.
- Lovevery
I enjoy the Lovevery play kits for my toddler. Lovevery is a Montessori-inspired subscription play kit for babies to four-year-olds. You can cancel anytime or purchase a kit that you want. The kits are for use for two to three months but are open-ended; your child will continue to play with the toys in the kits.
My toddler still plays with kits she got before she turned one year old. Not only does it save you time from looking at what age-appropriate toys your child needs, but they do not lose their value. You can re-gift or sell them on a platform like Poshmark or eBay.
- Something they need
This can be something they need, including clothing or sports equipment, or an upgrade that they want or need, like new sports equipment, clothing, or shoes. Kids will always outgrow something they need or use up.
- Membership
Your area has many memberships, including those to the museum, zoo, and movie theater. Gifting a membership is a great way to give the receiver experiences. You can also ask the parents what the child would prefer in a membership. My favorite one is probably the zoo.
- Barnes & Noble gift card
I do not know about you, but I enjoy walking around a bookstore and looking at all the books. I do not purchase all my books at Barnes & Noble due to the high prices. But I know if someone gave me a gift card, I would.
A gift card from Barnes & Noble is great for any kid. They sell books, board games, book accessories, and writing materials.
If you’re looking for a great book to read, I highly recommend Things That Matter: Overcoming Distractions to Pursue a More Meaningful Life by Joshua Becker.
- Class
A class is a great minimalist gift idea for kids. These classes can be art, drawing, or painting classes. You can find affordable classes in your city on the city’s website. Other classes can include dance, gymnastics, or cheer class.
- Open-ended toys
These toys can be played with in multiple and varied ways. They leave plenty of room for a child’s input, and they can usually be played with a baby, a toddler, a preschooler, and beyond. Open-ended toys encourage endless creativity and imagination. They can include animal figurines, building bricks (Lego), or an easel. Below are two open-ended toys for toddlers and up.
- Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Solid-Wood Building Blocks With Wooden Storage
- 108 pcs Magnet Tiles Award Winning Building Magnetic Toy With Bin 3 years and up
- Consumables
Consumables is a great minimalist gift idea for kids. These items can include bath products, food, and personal products. Bath products can be bubble baths, natural bath bombs, or bath crayons. Food items can be hot cocoa mix or chocolate-covered fruit. Yum!
- Money
You may think money is an unthoughtful gift, but you will be surprised how many people prefer money to avoid their kids having more toys or duplicates. Also, like me, some parents open a savings account under the child’s name and start saving money they receive for birthdays or Christmas.
Related post: 15 Affordable Best Minimalist Gift Ideas Without the Clutter
Tips to maintain clutter-free space
- Declutter toys
Regular decluttering sessions with your kids will help keep the toys minimal. Depending on their age, they can help you donate toys they do not enjoy as much. Letting them know that the toy will be donated to someone happy to play with it will make it easier for them to let go of toys.
I recommend decluttering toys in the Fall before the holidays and the kid’s birthday. Decluttering at least these two times a year will help you be ready for the new toys.
If you are decluttering or trying to be more minimal, I recommend decluttering every three months or more.
Related posts.
10 Reasons You Should Start Decluttering Now and Embrace Simplicity
15 Simple Decluttering Tips for Beginners to Keep a Tidy Home
- Toy rotation
It would be best to do a toy rotation to spend less time picking up and avoid making the toy area look messy and cluttered. I suggest just having one bin for the extra toys in rotation. To make the toy rotation easier, you can make it a habit to rotate the toys at the beginning of a new season.
Toy rotation will help kids play with toys they have not played with, saving you money by not buying new toys.
- Designate toy area
All the toys in a home should be in the same place, the toy area. Avoid having toys in different locations to make maintaining a clean and tidy space easier. Depending on the size of your home, this can be a small corner in the living room, an office space, or a playroom.
- Five-minute daily reset
Make it a daily habit to take the time to put all the toys back where they belong. Depending on the age of the kid, they should be the ones who pick up after themselves. Doing a daily reset before bed will keep your home tidy, and your future self will thank you.
- Basket and ottoman
Having an ottoman or baskets in the toy area to store toys will make it easier to maintain a clutter-free space. An ottoman is a multi-purpose item for storage and sitting, and it is a great investment. Baskets are decorative and can make a space look pretty and organized at the same time.
- Costway 31.5″ Fabric Foldable Storage Ottoman Toy Chest with Removable Storage Bin Grey
- Cherishgard Storage Basket, Laundry Basket 3 Pieces, Woven Baskets for Storage for Toys
Final thoughts
I know how stressful it can be to get someone a gift. For years, I would take days to decide on a gift. Now, I choose minimalist gifts that avoid creating clutter, and most of the time, it’s a gift card or money. I hope these minimalist gift ideas for kids help you decide to get a more affordable, thoughtful, and clutter-free gift.