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7 Screen-Free Gift Ideas For Kids

The holidays are just around the corner.

That means it’s time to start shopping if you haven’t already. If you’re one of those parents who already had all your gifts bought and wrapped by December 1st, please tell us your secret!

At any rate, many of us are looking to cut back on our kids’ screen time while encouraging imaginative play and time outdoors.

Want to find ways to incorporate those ideals into your gift giving this holiday season? Keep reading.

Below, we’re sharing 7 screen-free gift ideas the whole family will love.


7 Screen-Free Gift Ideas For Kids Ages 3-12


1. Art Supplies

Art supplies make a wonderful screen-free gift for all ages. If you’ve got a toddler or preschooler, pick up a variety of crayons, construction paper, safety scissors, glue sticks, and stickers. If your child is a bit older, you can branch out into all sorts of different activities. Crocheting, knitting, origami, painting, whittling, sketching…the sky is the limit. Package the supplies up into a nice gift basket and you’ve got an item under the tree that will encourage creativity and plenty of screen-free fun.

2. Board Games

It’s all fun and games til you break out Monopoly. Then, it gets real. We’re only kidding. Who doesn’t love a rousing game of Monopoly? At any rate, board games, like art supplies, can work for any age. There are many excellent games for toddlers and preschoolers and there are plenty of choices for older kids too. Gift your child a stack of card or board games and institute a weekly game night for screen-free family time all year long.

3. Sports Equipment/Outdoor Toys

These are really two separate gift ideas, but fit into one subsection on this list because both encourage kids to get outside. Does your child play a sport? Do they need new equipment or gear? Or are they interested in learning a sport? Maybe sign them up for a team and buy them the necessary gear to wrap and put under the Christmas tree. If not sports equipment, chalk, bubbles, jump ropes, balls, frisbees, etc. all make awesome (and inexpensive!) screen-free gifts.

4. Legos

Legos are a toy that is popular with every age — even grownups. Whether your kids prefer an assortment of bricks or a set they can put together, Legos make a fun gift that will provide hours upon hours of entertainment. Bonus: many Lego sets feature favorite characters from shows and books!

5. Retro Toys

The toys we had when we were kids — Etch A Sketch, Rubik’s cube, Where’s Waldo books, Magic 8 ball, etc. — offered hours of fun. No screens needed. Many of these toys are still on the market and regaining popularity because “retro” is cool. Who needs a tablet when you’ve got an Etch A Sketch?

6. Road Trip

Another screen-free gift idea is to ditch the gifts altogether in favor of a family road trip during the holidays. If you take what you would have spent on presents and invest in a Christmas vacation, you’ll make special memories that last a lifetime. Should you choose to go this route, be sure to check out our post on screen-free ways to keep kids entertained on the road.

7. Pinna Subscription

Last, but certainly not least, our favorite screen-free gift idea is a subscription to Pinna! A Pinna subscription is the gift that keeps on giving. One low yearly (or monthly) price and your whole family has access to high-quality audio all year long. If you’re in search of creative ways to “wrap” the gift of Pinna, we’ve got you covered there too.

The Wrap-Up

Pinna is an excellent tool for screen-free learning and fun all year round. Keep your kids engaged and entertained with Pinna’s comprehensive and growing library.

We’re all ears!


What’s on your gift list this year? We’d love to hear from you! Find us on all our social platforms – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest – or email us at contact@pinna.fm.

Amy Thetford

Amy Thetford

Amy is a freelance writer and homeschooling mom to her tribe of tiny humans. She's fueled by coffee and the desire to do ALL. THE. THINGS. She blogs about all things motherhood at realtalkwithamy.com