This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chase Ultimate Rewards for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
If you’re a parent then I’m sure you can relate to the clutter of toys that have taken over your home. We always go through purges before the holidays and donate what the kids have outgrown and don’t play with anymore, but usually after the gift giving season is over you’re right back to where you started. This year my husband and I challenged ourselves to come up with some non-toy gift ideas for the kids. Now I’m not against giving the kids some toys that they have on their list but we wanted to include some practical gifts and experiences in there as well. Here are some of our favorite Non-Toy Gift Ideas For Christmas.
- Lessons – Sign them up for things like dance, sports, or gymnastics.
- Membership – Purchase a membership to a local zoo or a children’s museum. This is such a fun idea because these are two of my kids’ favorite places to go and it’s quality time with the family.
- Event Tickets – Sometimes we get caught up in the gift giving spirit that we forget what Christmas is really about. Last year as one of my son’s early Christmas presents I took him to see his first big movie at a theater, it was exciting for both of us because it was a “big boy” experience and a first that I got to enjoy with him and something we will always remember. He’s already put a movie date on this year’s Christmas list.
So we are planning on surprising him with a trip to an event this Christmas, this could be a show on ice, a monster truck show, or even a sporting event. We are taking advantage of our rewards card and stretching our dollar for this gift. By using our Chase Ultimate Rewards, which is available to Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire, and Ink from Chase holders. Every time I make a purchase using my card I receive points that I can then redeem on a ton of rewards that include travel, experiences, merchandise, gift cards, and even cash back. Some experiences that they offer are exclusive VIP access to concerts, sporting events, movie premieres and more. - Magazine Subscription- A magazine subscription is another fun thing for kids to get in the mail plus they can be super educational. You can easily find different magazines based on age.
- Subscription Boxes – Subscription boxes are always a hit because it’s like Christmas every month and what child doesn’t like to get mail? They usually always have deals for signing up for a 6- month price or a year and there’s so many different choices out there from video game ones, educational, and even craft supply boxes.
- Vacation/Mini Vacation – Now of course the ultimate vacation for my kids would be something like Disneyland but taking a family vacation doesn’t have to so extreme and expensive. While we’ve shopped for other Christmas gifts this season we’ve earned points on our Chase Ultimate Rewards that we can use to splurge on booking holiday travel. We’re planning on doing a mini vacation for the weekend in Ohio to view a gorgeous Christmas lights show that they have every year.
- Books and Art Supplies – These are great items that foster creativity and keep the kids busy. Books are always a hit with my kids! Plus, most of the time the books outlast the battery operated toy that the kids outgrow by next Christmas.
- Practical Gifts – These are going to be items that you would be buying anyways like toothpaste, fun bath soap, new plates or utensils, and clothes.
- Homemade Coupon Vouchers – Create homemade coupon vouchers for special treats like staying up late past your bed time, computer/tablet privileges, or even a “Get Out Of Chore” Card. These are great for stocking stuffers too.
- Restaurant Gift Card – This could be anything from a gift card to their favorite restaurant, ice cream place, or candy store. You can turn in your Chase Ultimate Rewards points in exchange for gift cards. Visit Chase Ultimate Rewards to learn more.
- Music – Because kids love music! This can be a gift card to download some favorite music on a tablet or even buying a new instrument.
- Money/ Savings – This is always a good idea for the really young kids on your gift list. Contribute money to a savings account or start a savings bond.
What are some of your favorite non-toy gift ideas?
