As a single mom of 2 under 2, I am always looking for ways to make my life a little more manageable and stepping over a maze of toys on my commute to the kitchen is not my idea of manageable. Personally, I don’t care much for toys. Don’t get me wrong, I loved toys as a kid and there are definitely some staples that keep my little ones engaged. However, most toys just end up broken or creates a mess that I have to clean up. So I wanted to share some gift ideas for those of you who have a special little person to purchase for this upcoming year that are NOT toys yet BOTH kid and parent approved.

1. Lean into gifting an experience. Kids love to explore at any age so thinking of experiences that the kid you are shopping for would like while also considering the flexibility of the parent’s schedule who will accompany said kid (unless of course part of the gift is you taking the kid) will be a well received gift. An example of some experiences you could gift are annual family memberships to age appropriate and local destinations like the zoo, a museum, an aquarium, or an amusement park. An annual membership may not be in everyone’s budget so consider single use tickets to those same destinations that can be redeemed at anytime or at least within a 12 month window. Another experience you could gift are classes like swim, music, or art lessons. Last but not least, a budget friendly experience that never gets old are tickets to the movies, a timeless gift loved by the masses. 
2. Purchase something wearable. A parent will almost always appreciate if you gift their kid clothes, pajamas, shoes, or jewelry. Just be sure to ask mom or dad the kid’s size before making a purchase. Also, please provide a gift a receipt in case the sizing of a particular brand runs too big or too small. 
3. Reading is fundamental and never goes out of style! A nice book is always a great gift for the little ones. Be sure to ask mom or dad if the kid has an electronic device like a tablet or phone that can receive an electronic book. This will be a winner amongst parents as it will reduce clutter.
4. Gift an electronic device like a tablet, phone, watch, headphones, or gaming system if your budget permits. These thing typically have a longer shelf life than a toy and will most definitely be a hit with kids of all ages. 
5. Gift a single use art or science kit. While these types of gifts may get messy at times, they’re perfect for indoor activity days especially due to their educational or developmental nature. Another bonus is that these kits are often one and done which is an added bonus to the parents.
6. Another oldie but goodie are board or cards games! These gifts are the gift that keeps on giving because the whole family can enjoy them. Just be sure to consider the child’s age when deciding on which game to purchase. I am down for a game of nostalgia but not at the expense of my child swallowing and choking on one of the pieces.  
7. If none of the above options suit you as a gift giver try gifting a streaming, game, or music subscription. This gift is especially useful in today economic climate and will definitely be used. Personally, my little one binges on Blaze which is available in Paramount + and Prime. A Disney + subscription will go over nicely as well for parents of little ones.