Ultimate Child Meaningful Gift Ideas 2025

It's already that time of year - the build up to Thanksgiving with Christmas time quickly approaching around the bend - and the slew of Christmas catalogs are quickly filling our mailbox!  I have already received many requests for a Christmas gift guide for kids since I have shared what we've gotten our kids for many many years (mainly on Youtube).  We are being even more intentional and minimal this year with Christmas gifts (because it saves money, our kids already have so much, and because they get gifts from others as well), but I thought it would be helpful to come up with a guide of mainly non-toy, intentional gifts for kids with different interests.

This guide is not to be a "buy a bunch of stuff on this list that I'm making only to make affiliate $$$).  Yes, I do make a tiny bit off of purchases when I share affiliate links.  It is usually far less than on week's worth of groceries for our family, but I appreciate it nonetheless.  But, I put this together because I know how hard it can be to compete with the commercials and catalogs full of crappy toys that are junk and will end up getting donated in a couple months.  I tried to imagine my own children and things they would enjoy and use when coming up with this list.  I intend for it to be a launchpad of sorts that help you come up with thoughtful ideas the kids in your life will truly love, appreciate, and USE for a long time.  If you buy using links on this page, thank you!  But, if you use it to come up with your own ideas, that's amazing!  Thank you for stopping by and I'm glad it could be helpful for you!


For the Nature-Lovers

This list is for the children who absolutely love learning all about nature - animals, plans, bugs, and more. They love to hike.  They love to explore.  And they really love to learn more about what they have seen and observed. I've included a beautiful nature journal to draw and record their nature findings, a drawing book to learn to draw birds more realistically, and a bird feeder you place on the outside of a window to observe birds up close (among other great finds). We have a few things on this list and my kids use them so often!


For the Crafty Kids

For the children who are constantly creating works of art and cannot keep their hands still, I have created this list of quality craft and art gifts they will love.  I have one child who falls into this category the most.  She never stops making and creating.  Buying supplies, tools, or display items for their creations area all great ideas for the crafty kids!

 

For the Library Lovers

Some kids would spend all day reading if you let them, so this list is dedicated to them!  Obviously, books are a great gift idea for them, but going a step further and finding a special edition of one of their favorites is even better.  I included one of my favorite finds this year - these collector books from some classic books (I have the Anne of Green Gables one) with little memorabilia and items that are sprinkled in sleeves throughout the pages that make the reading experience even more special.  The rest of the items are ideas to make reading more comfortable, enjoyable, or memorable.

 

For the Creative Makers

Some kids have minds that are always trying to figure out how to create things or how things work.  This list is for them!  From their own tool set to learning how circuits work with a Snap Ciruits Kit, from a cardboard construction kit to a really awesome marble run set, the creative makers in your life will love the ideas on this list!

For the Rhythm Keepers

For the children who just cannot get enough of music, look to this list as your guide!  From actual instruments like an electric drum set or ukelele, to things to aid your instrument learning like a piano notes guide and a music book storage basket, this list is filled with ideas to excite the music-lover in your life!

 

For the Word Weavers

Some kids are drawn to writing - writing letters, writing comic books, writing their own stories, and more.  This list is filled with ideas that make writing easier, more fun, or to take their writing up a notch.  I included things like a stationery set and a wax seal kit for the letter writers, a set of blank books and blank comic books for the kids who want to feel more formal in their writing, and even story cubes and a set with a dictionary, thesaurus, and vocabulary book to take their writing up a notch.

 

For the Memory Makers

Some children are drawn to making memories with the ones they love, being intentional with the time they have together, and creating momentos of their memories.  This list is filled with things to make memories - an adventure challenge book, games, a projector, and conversation cards - and items to record memories - journals and a camera.

 

For the Grace Seekers

Obviously children are multi-faceted human beings with many interests, so none of these lists is meant to be the only list for one particular child.  This list serves as a guide for faith-filled gift ideas for the kids in your life.  Obviously a Bible is a great gift, but things like affirmation cards, a prayer journal, a page-a-day devotional calendar, etc. are also great gift ideas to help guide the children in your life on their faith journey.

For the Discovery Scientists

This list is for the children in your life who cannot get enough of discovering all there is to learn about the sciences.  They want to invent, they want to explore, and they want to discover.  Encyclopedias are wonderful, but there are also tons of great science kits out there as well.  Tools to make discovering easier or to add to their knowledge is always a great idea as well.

 

For the Movement Makers

Some kids just cannot stop moving!  This list is for them!  Whether they could use a new duffle bag for their favorite sports practices or they need some options when they go outside, I've got ideas for them!  I even added our favorite video game system (the Playground) for getting movement in indoors (our favorite this year for getting through the winter when we can't be outside for as many hours).

 

For the Littlest Loves

Most of this list is for elementary-middle school aged kids (plus or minus a few years on both ends), but I added this list with some of our top favorites for the younger littles ones 2-5 years old or so) that we have absolutely loved over the years and would buy again if doing it all over again.  From a couple of our favorite picture book stories to our favorite toys and sensory kits - these are our favorites!

 

I hope this list was helpful!  You can also check out last year's Non-Toy Gift Ideas list for many other ideas for the kids in your life!

 

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