64 Active Gift Ideas For Kids Of All Ages
Selecting the ideal gift for children poses a delightful challenge, as it requires finding items that not only bring joy but also contribute to their overall well-being and development.
I’ve compiled gifts tailored to various age groups in this comprehensive guide. Each item is more than just a present; it's a gateway to fostering outdoor play, promoting movement, supporting health, or enriching the learning experience. These gifts were chosen to ignite a sense of adventure, stimulate problem-solving abilities, refine fine motor skills, bolster gross motor skills, or contribute to overall health—all while ensuring an immersive, screen-free engagement for children of all ages.
Gift Ideas For Kids
Baby (6-12 Months)
Sensory Floor Mat (doubles as a protective mat against hard or raised surfaces).
Wooden Activity Cube. This versatile powerhouse of a toy improves fine motor and gross motor coordination, promotes standing, encourages problem-solving, and, best of all, there’s no cleanup. Simply move it over there.
Toddlers (1-3 Year Olds)
A balance bike. Look for a bike with 10” wheels that have puncture-proof wheels like this one.
Blocks. Your choice but get them something to enter the phase of building and stacking: magnetic tiles, wooden blocks, building blocks, bristle blocks.
A bike. Look for a bike with 12” wheels which is appropriate for most kids ages 2-3 years old (who are between 2’10”-3’4”).
Raleigh Bikes Jazzi Kids Bike (12”, 20”)
Schwinn Koen & Elm Toddler and Kids Bike (12”, 14”, 16”, 18”)
A helmet: Giro Scamp MIPS Youth Recreational Cycling Helmet (circumference: 45-49cm and 49-53cm)
Kids (3-5 Year Olds)
Travel Busy Board for Dressing and Tracking the Time, Days, etc.
A bike. Look for a bike with 14” wheels if your child is in the 3’1”-3’7” height range and 16” wheels if they’re in the 3’7”-4’0” height range.
Dripex Kids Bike (16”, 18”)
Schwinn Koen & Elm Toddler and Kids Bike (12”, 14”, 16”, 18”)
A helmet:
Giro Scamp MIPS Youth Recreational Cycling Helmet (circumference: 45-49cm and 49-53cm)
Giro Hale MIPS Youth Cycling Helmet (50-57cm)
Kids (5-6 Year Olds)
A Knife Set. Around 5 years old you’d child can spread with a knife and toward 7 years old she can cut with one. Foster this learning by using a kid-safe version to help them cut simple things like cucumbers and mushrooms to start and then progress from there. Make sure they have a stable base and consider a kitchen tower mentioned in the article on 18-month-old milestones.
6-in-1 Indoor Swing (plus rings, trapeze, ladder, rope swing, and pullup bar)
A magazine subscription. Yes, these still exist and yes, the kids will love them. It’s an inexpensive and educational present that shows up at the door every month. Here is a list of magazines for a variety of ages.
2-Wheel Scooter. Around 6 years old, your child has developed the balance to transition from the 3-wheel scooter (a.k.a. a kickboard) to a 2-wheeler.
A bike. Look for a bike with 20” wheels if your child is in the 4’0”-4’5” height range.
RoyalBaby Kids Mountain Bike (16”, 20”, 24”)
A helmet:
Giro Scamp MIPS Youth Recreational Cycling Helmet (circumference: 45-49cm and 49-53cm)
Giro Hale MIPS Youth Cycling Helmet (50-57cm)
Kids (7-8 Year Olds)
A bike. Look for a bike with 20” wheels if your child is in the 4’0”-4’5” height range and 24” wheels if your child is in the 4’5”-4’9” height range.
RoyalBaby Kids Mountain Bike (16”, 20”, 24”)
A helmet:
Giro Tremor MIPS Unisex Youth Cycling Helmet (47-54cm, 50-57cm)
Giro Hale MIPS Youth Cycling Helmet (50-57cm)
Older Kids (Pre-teens to Teens)
IQ Bar Protein Bars (Use Promo MINDBODYDAD for up to 15% off.)
Balance Board or a GiBoard.
GORUCK Rucksack (read a review here)