Know a creative kid? Here are some gift ideas, PLUS enter to win a $125 Amazon Gift Card!

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Since doing my Kon-Mari decluttering, I definitely look at Christmas a little differently. Basically, I don’t want any extra, useless, ugly CLUTTER in my home. And I don’t want to give this useless clutter to anyone else.

This doesn’t mean I don’t want gifts, or that I’m not giving gifts to my family. But I just have taken an entirely different perspective on gift-giving.

More than ever, I want to give gifts that are meaningful, with value and beauty. Not waste.

Since using the Kon-Mari decluttering system on my children, I have realized that the toys we hung onto were the creating toys. Toys that were one-dimensional (action figures, toys that make one sound or do one thing) – these are not the ones my children gravitate to. These toys were just clutter that I was picking up over and over.

The toys we love and enjoy and cherish are the Creating Toys, that encourage imagination. Here are a few of our favorites, and a few other ideas I have for kids who like to create, to build, to craft, to be imaginative, to learn through creative play. Did I mention your favorite?

• Good watercolor paints (like these)  and good watercolor paper (like this).
• Play-Doh tools – we use this exact set with Play-Doh or with Kinetic Sand.
• IQ Twist – My cousin recommended this and said her boys (6 and 4) loved creating designs with this game.
• LEGO basic set and board – So we’ve all heard of LEGOs. My mother-in-law, a retired kindergarten teacher, said many parents would say, “Oh, my kids don’t like LEGOs.” And she’d say, well, did try to do the kits, or did you give them a bunch of toys to play?” She is a firm believer in their creating random designs, and that is what my kids love most. Here is a good basic set, and you MUST have a Baseplate, like this.
• Snap Circuits – We have the Snap Circuits, Jr. kit for my four and six-year-old, and they love creating little designs, THAT WORK! It’s amazing. The four-year-old needs a little help, but once they get the hang of it, it’s amazing to see their little engineering minds work. 🙂
• Tinkertoys – I didn’t purchase this this year, but it will be something we do very soon. I’ve heard great things. My cousin said to purchase the basic set, and also the wheels version, so they can make vehicles to drive on their creations.
• Kids Dress-Up and Pretend Clothes. One of the best gifts my mother-in-law ever gave my kids was a dress-up box with all sorts of costumes. This is probably the single “toy” we use the most. She rounded up stuff from all over the place, but this kit (though expensive) would be a great start for a dress-up kit you could add to. My boys have logged HOURS pretending they are firemen, train engineers, football players, pilots, doctors, soldiers, “adventurers,” and construction workers. Just to name a few. 🙂
• Pipes. Yeah, normal, white, PVC pipe from Lowe’s or Home Depot. My husband brought some home from work and the boys use them for all sorts of creations. All outside, of course. If you have a budding little engineer don’t underestimate how exciting some pipes would be. 🙂
• Beginner Needlepoint Kit – I can’t wait to do this with Ellie. 🙂 Hopefully she’ll have more patience with sewing than her mother.
• Art Classes – you could attend a local one, or do this video course I reviewed. 🙂
• A sewing kit – I still have my little sewing box my mom gave me as a child. Here is one already put together.
• Kids Weaving Loom – I have such fond memories of doing this as a child. Anyone else?
• Cooking utensils (their own!) and a cookbook
• Bristle Blocks. I just want to play with these! They look so fun to touch.
• Magformers Set – I LOVE this concept, of 3-D shapes made out of magnets. Though we’ve never played with them, they have terrific reviews on Amazon.
• Marble Run – This also has fantastic reviews. We can’t have them yet in our house because I still have a little one who likes to put EVERYTHING in her mouth. I envision that we will have these one day, though!
• Spirograph Design Kits – Aw, I remember these!
• Kids Jewelry-Making Kit – This headband-making kit is adorable. I also love the ones with all the cute little beads.
• A coloring book of their favorite. Never underestimate the magic of a brand new, quality coloring book! (ps – have you gotten into the coloring books for grown-ups?)
• Play Silks – I have to admit, I haven’t gotten any of these. I have heard that kids have so much fun using these in a million different uses. For some reason, they feel more like a “girl” thing than a boy thing, but I might be wrong? Anyone have these?
• Classic art supplies. I love filling their stockings with art supplies they need (and I would probably buy anyway – money saver! 😉 ) The boys get so excited for good ol’ Scotch tape, new scissors, glue sticks, yarn, fresh construction paper, mini-staplers, brad-type fasteners…You could do the whole stocking in a craft supply theme!

Looking for more gift ideas? Check out these round-ups from some of my wonderful blogging friends! 

Gift Ideas for Dads & Husbands by Whitney at Beauty In the Mess 

Gift Ideas For Little Boys by Leigh Ann At Intentional By Grace 

Frugal Gift Ideas by Shannon at Growing Slower

Gift Ideas For Moms by Kayse Pratt  

Gift Ideas For Sisters By Elsie at Richly Rooted

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