Useful and practical gifts for toddlers that aren’t toys (and also exciting for kids to receive!)
Have you ever looked around your child’s room and thought that they had waaay too many toys?
So when their birthday or any other celebration looms around the corner, you’re dreading the idea of having to deal with more piles of junk that will get tossed aside after 2 minutes of playing? (because if you have a toddler then you know that if they get a present they’ll spend 2 minutes playing with the gift and 30 minutes playing with the box it came in!)
I don’t have anything against toys. There are many educational toys out there that not only promote learning but also help keep your little one entertained.
But in most modern households, kids have SO MANY toys. It’s overwhelming for parents to try to find a place to organize all those toys. And even if you do toy rotation you still need to find place to store all the extra toys.
Plus kids who have too many toys end up not playing with ANY of the toys because they feel overwhelmed with all the stuff they have.
Experts agree that the too-many-toys syndrome isn’t just about the aesthetics of domestic order. It can have negative effects on kids’ developing psyches. For toddlers and preschoolers, an overload of playthings can be overwhelming and distracting. “They pick up one toy, drop it, and move on.
parenting.com
This post is all about practical gifts for toddlers that aren’t toys.
So what’s the solution? Get your kids gifts that are useful and will actually get used.
This is a post I’ve collected of some of the best practical gifts for toddlers that aren’t toys. Some of these are gifts I’ve gotten my own toddler or ones that she has received from others and I’ve found them to be incredibly practical and useful and a great alternative to toys. These are things kids and parents alike actually NEED.
Absolute Best Practical Gifts for Toddlers That Aren’t Toys
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Toddler Sized Furniture: Practical Gifts for Toddlers
Furniture pieces that are made specially for little ones are something very exciting for toddlers. Plus they come in such fun designs!
1. Toddler Sized Table and Chair
Having your own place to color, paint, draw and do cool art projects? This can be a great non toy gift that any 2 year old would absolutely love.
This one is a parent favorite on Amazon: a toddler sized table, chair and storage bin all in 1 piece! Or if you have more than 1 child or want one that has more room you can go for a Kidcraft’s beautifully crafted wooden round table with 2 chairs set.
2. Comfy Arm Chair
Which 2 year old wouldn’t love to have their very own comfy arm chair/beany bag? It can be their very own plush little place to cuddle up and get cozy with a book.
This one comes with extra side storage, has a removable cover and would look absolutely adorable in any kids room! This one is great for older toddlers and this foldable princess chair would make any toddler girl squeal with delight..
3. Step Stool/Learning Ladder
A learning ladder is a versatile little piece of furniture that will help your toddler get to the places he needs. It will help during toilet training when they want to reach the sink and wash their hands.
It can also be used to help out mom or dad in the kitchen for some toddler appropriate chores. Later, a learning ladder can be a child’s gateway to independence by being able to reach things they previously couldn’t.
Parents are loving these ones:
KATARUS Toddler Step Stool for Kids
Kids Kitchen Step Stool with Safety Rail
Tents and Teepees As a Practical Gift for Toddlers
4. Toddler Tents/Teepees
Toddlers love playing pretend and having a tent or teepee is the perfect thing to spark their imagination.
It can be their secret hideout place, a castle, a home or whatever they imagine it to be.
Tents and teepees can also be a great place to curl up, rest and read a book. Many parents use teepees to make a reading nook for their toddlers.
RELATED POSTS:
10 Inspiring Ideas For Setting Up An Insanely Cute Toddler Reading Corner
This one is foldable, washable, includes fairy lights and is a favorite with parents and kids alike. Other favorite options include:
Fun Looking Organizers Are a Great Non Toy Gift for Toddlers
As a parent, wouldn’t you be thrilled if someone gifted your child an organizer instead of toys? (or is that just me?)
Instead of having more toys to deal with, now you have new places to neatly store away those toys you already DO have.
There are so many fun looking organizers that 2 year olds would be so excited to receive as gifts. Plus it can really encourage your toddler to be more organized and remember to keep their things back in place.
5. Toddler book rack
This is a super helpful gift to get a toddler which theyll love. They’ll be able to easily reach their books, pick what they like and then put the books back.
This one is a great choice: it’s a perfect size for little tots and the sling pockets means your little one can easily take and put the book back all by himself.
6. Toy organizer
If your child has lots of toys with bits and bobs (think: kitchen set pieces, lego pieces etc) a toy organizer can be super helpful.
And it doesn’t need to be boring looking at all. You can always choose brighter colored organizers to get your toddler excited.
A superbly brilliant toy organizer that would make a terrific gift as well is a stuff and sit. This is a fabric that you use to store your child’s stuffed animals, extra pillows and blankets. Once it’s all stuffed, it becomes a large cuddley stuffed animal, a storage bag AND a bean bag. And there are so many animal covers to choose from including a unicorn, shark, bear and panda!
7. Storage bins
A friend of mine gifted the cutest storage bins to my girls. Both the kids and myself LOVED them.
Storage bins are so versatile and can be used for organizing books, toys or even clothes.
Educational (and fun!) Practical Gifts for Toddlers
Getting a toddler an educational gift is a great way to gift them something that’s practical. While there are many educational toys out there, there are also tons of non toy gifts that are educational, fun and practical.
RELATED POST: Brilliantly Fun Educational Gifts for Toddlers That Promote Learning
8. Green Kids Craft Box
If you have a toddler who loves doing creative projects then a Green Kids Craft Box would make a perfect gift that’s super engaging, fun and highly educational.
You can choose from individual boxes or even a monthly subscription.
Each box is filled with 4-6 educator designed STEAM projects. These are award winning hands on activities that are created by a panel of child development experts.
The projects are designed to support key developmental skills for kids aged 2-10. It includes STEM kits that promote creative thinking, original creation and a sense of accomplishment and confidence as kids create projects they can truly be proud of.
“This is the best kid craft box around. Love it and so does my child. High quality and the NUMBER of activities! The magazine is great too. So much thought goes into these projects.This is the best kid craft box around.”
You can also choose to get a Green Kids Craft Gift Card and send it to the lucky kid in your life.
Check out Green Kids Craft to see why it’s a parent favorite!
9. Board Books
Board books NEVER get old. Can we all agree with that?
They’re a great alternative to toy gifts, are a superb tool for your child to discover the world of reading and help promote brain development.
I prefer board books over paperback books for my toddler any day. My 2 year old girl is quite a destructive little creature; board books are a lot sturdier and have less chances of getting ripped at her hands.
RELATED POST:
Why Do Toddlers Love Tearing up Books to Pieces?
These are the best selling toddler books on Amazon that parents and kids are loving:
Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Got too many board books in the house already? Get your child a Busy Book! A Busy Book does just what its name says – it keeps a child super busy.
Filled with interactive, fun-filled, hands-on activities, the Sweet n Sour Busy Book has been designed to help toddlers develop their fine motor skills and cognitive skills.
Toddlers learn to match, sort, trace and count with this educational, learning through play activity book.
10. Learning Posters
Many children are visual learners. So having learning posters up on their bedroom wall can be a fantastic and fun way to teach them new concepts. This would be a great idea as a practical gift for a toddler that isn’t a toy.
Heres an amazing educational poster bundle designed for toddlers. It includes alphabets, colors, shapes, days of the week, weather and many more.
These educational posters would be a great addition to a nursery classroom but also a little one’s learning corner. Many parents have been home schooling their kids and this could be a good learning tool for them.
To get kids more excited you could opt for an Interactive Alphabet Wall Chart for Toddlers that parents and kids alike are loving!
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11. Sensory Table
If youre looking to get your 2 year old a gift that keeps them engaged and also promotes learning then a sensory table is a great option.
Development of fine motor skills, social and emotional skills, language skills, creativity, a source of relaxation – these are just a few of the many benefits of letting your toddler play with a sensory table.
A sensory table is basically a table full of materials that get children to use all five senses. The table is set up to let children learn and engage their senses by interacting with everything that is being presented to them.
ABCACADEMYJACKSON.com
This one is a parent favorite and comes with a lid, is easily portable and can be converted into a storage box too!
Stationary & School/Art Supplies as a Non Toy Gift Idea
Looking for practical gifts for toddlers that aren’t toys? Art supplies and stationary are a superb alternative to toys as gift items. It’s a great way to gift your child something that they can use to create things and unleash the artist within.
12. Toddler Bagpack
A bagpack sounds boring but it’s one of the most useful, practical (and cutest!) gift you can give to a toddler.
From furry cute bagpacks that can double as stuffies to the classic Skip Hop Toddler Bagpack, a bagpack is something your kid can never have too many of. They can use it to take to daycare, preschool, sleepovers, camping trips or just to keep their things in one place.
13. Art supplies
Give your toddler a drawing pad, a paintbrush and some washable paint and see the masterpiece that they create. A box of paints is a great gift idea for a little one!
These washable paints by Crayola are my absolute favorite. I’ve been buying them for years and my kids love them. The colors are super vibrant and clean up is a breeze. I can happily let my kids make all the mess they want while painting.
To make the gift more exciting you can pair it up with some Crayola markers or even these toddler crayons that are chunky, non toxic and come in vibrant colors.
14. Art Easle
An art easle provides kids with a screen-free way to stay busy. This one by Melissa & Doug called the Deluxe Standing Art Easel is simply brilliant.
It not only works as a dry erase board but also a chalkboard as well as a paper roll holder ( and also includes storage space to keep all of your little one’s art supplies!)
15. Playdoh (and playdough supplies)
Just like board books, playdough never gets old! And playing with playdough has so many benefits you probably didn’t even know about.
Squishing, rolling, sculpting, molding . . . young children love to play with playdough. Add some props from around the home and playdough play becomes a powerful way to support your child’s learning.
naeyc
The malleable quality of playdough makes it fun for exploration and investigation and it also helps little hands develop strength and dexterity.
Play-Doh Play ‘N Store Kids Play Table for Arts & Crafts Activities
Room Accessories: Gifts for Toddlers That Aren’t Toys
Getting cute and practical room accessories as a gift for your toddler can make for such a fun gift idea.
Here are some suuuuuper cute room accessories you can gift your toddler girl and boy:
16. Backrest Pillow
Get your kid this adorable backrest pillow that provides them back support while reading, playing or resting. There’s even a place for them to store their things on the side!
17. Fun stuff for the bed
Who says bedding has to be boring? Gift your toddler this suuuper cute blanket tail which they’ll want to snuggle inside all day! Perfect for cuddling up in bed, on the couch, for sleepovers or movie night. You can pair that with a cute reversible sequin pillow that kids of all ages love.
18. Toddler Night Light
Every kid loves to have a night light in their room. You can gift your toddler this huggable nursery night light which can double as a lovable pet and a night light.
19. Wall Art
This doesn’t need to be a boring gift at all!
These Dinosaur Wall Art Prints and Beautiful Removable Butterfly Wall Decals are really cute items that any kid would love to hang up in their room.
Eating/Drinking Utensils as a Practical Toddler Gift
20. Eating/drinking Utentils
Tired of all the splattered food on the table and the spills? Or maybe you have a super picky eating toddler on your hands?
Getting eating and drinking utensils that encourage independent eating can make for a great practical gift for toddlers. Here are some wonderful eating/drinking products designed for toddlers:
Construction Themed Dinnerware – Tractor Utensils
The First Years Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Feeding Set
Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup
Cupkin Stackable Stainless Steel Toddler Cups for Kids
Practical Gifts for Toddlers That Promote Pretend Play
Imaginative play is so crucial for little ones. It helps them reenact real life situations, develop problem solving skills, supports social and emotional development and improves language and communication skills.
21. Dress Up Costumes
Dress up costumes are a terrific gift for little ones with wild imaginations. You can find an assortment of dress up costumes for kids on Amazon of every kind to match your child’s current obsession!
Potty training Accessories: Practical Gifts That Aren’t Toys
Most kids start potty training at about the age of 2. There are potty training essentials that every parent needs to get before they start. And then there are also some potty training supplies that help get toddlers excited about training.
So why not get a toddler potty training gear as a gift which can help them get enthusiastic about training?
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22. Potty Training Doll
A potty training doll is a doll which your child can take to the potty. This one by Melissa and Dough comes with a bottle too so your child can feed the doll and then take her to the toilet.
The idea is that while your kid is taking the doll to the toilet, they’re learning about potty training themselves. It’s seriously a genius way to get kids excited about potty training!
23. Potty timer
Which 2 year old wouldn’t like to get a cool, grown up kid looking watch as a gift?
This is a potty training watch which your little one can wear. You can set the timer on it so that each time it rings your toddler knows it’s time to run to the toilet.
This would make for a very practical gift for a 2 year old that isn’t a toy.
24. Potty seat
Need to get your 2 year old a practical gift? Why not gift your toddler a potty chair? They come in many fun colors and designs and can really help get your little one super excited about training.
These are the ones parents and kids are loving on Amazon:
Realistic Potty Training Toilet Looks and Feels Like an Adult Toilet
Potty Training Seat for Boys And Girls, Non-Slip with Splash Guard
Summer 2-in-1 Step Up Potty – Potty Seat and Stepstool for Potty Training
Hygiene products
Toddlers have a tendency to be quite lazy, uninterested (and sometimes downright resistive!) when it comes to hygiene and personal grooming.
So if you want to get practical gifts for your 2 year old that aren’t toys then why not get fun hygiene products? These would definitely get used and be very functional and fun at the same time.
25. Electric toothbrush
Getting a fun looking toothbrush that encourages your little one to brush their teeth can be a big win win for you. You’ll get a practical gift for your toddler which is useful. But you’ll also be able to get your child excited about toothbrushing. Many kids are resistant to brushing their teeth so this would make for a genius gift.
This fun looking electric toothbrush comes with 4 Food Grade brush heads, lights up and even has a built in timer! It’s a great way to instill healthy brushing habits in a child.
RELATED POST:
9 Hilariously Easy Ways to Teach a Toddler to Brush Teeth Without Tantrums
26 Snuggly bath robe & slippers
Can anyone so no to a snuggly little bath robe? There are such fun and cutely designed bathrobes for both boys and girls. They would make for a wonderfully cozy non toy gift.
Another super cute gift idea that complements a snuggly bath robe is fuzzy little slippers. These ones are so adorable and come in so many different animals!
Handling a Cranky Toddler Who Hates Bath Time
27. Hygiene Basket
How about a hygiene basket/bag? You can gather some cute, functional and useful hygiene products for toddlers and then put it all in a basket or a cute toiletry bag (which will really come in handy when travelling!) to gift to your little one. Your 2 year old will be thrilled!
Some ideas include: cute animal bath mitts, an adorable kids soap dispenser, bath crayons and kids hand sanitizer.
I hope these ideas helped give you some inspiration for practical gifts you can get your toddler. What did I miss? Let me know if you have any more practical gift ideas for toddlers!
Check Out Our Best-Selling Printable – the SweetnSour Busy Book for Toddlers!
This adorable Busy Book is currently available for more than 60% off! We also have 2 amazing bonuses that you can get for FREE: 7 adorable educational posters ideal for a toddler bedroom/playroom along with 2 of our best selling bedtime routine charts!
This post was all about practical gifts for toddlers that aren’t toys.
Read these next:
25 Ridiculously Cool Gifts for Toddlers Who Love Outdoors
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Brilliantly Fun Educational Gifts for Toddlers That Promote Learning
The Ultimate Guide to Toddler Proofing Your Home – Safety Hacks That Work
15 Best Bath Toys For Toddlers That Are Educational and Fun
5 Insanely Creative Ways To Teach a Toddler to Clean Up | Cleaning With Kids
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