Holiday gift guide: 6 non-toy gift items for kids

Christmas is less than a week away, and most, if not all, the people I know are already busy with their holiday preparations -- including shopping for Christmas presents.

However, if -- like me -- you're still not done with buying Christmas gifts, you might find yourself wondering what to buy for those special people in your life.

That's why I hope you'll find this gift guide useful, especially if you're looking to bless the kids in your life with things that are not toys for once.

Personally, ever since I read this article on BBC News, I've started believing that kids really don't need a lot of toys. Joshua Becker also wrote a great post about why fewer toys will benefit your kids on BecomingMinimalist.com.

Having said that, allow me to say that teaching our kids (and ourselves!) to detach from the "more toys, please!" mentality is still a "work-in-progress." Slowly, but surely, we're getting there, as part of our learning how to make Christmas more meaningful for our family.

Now, without further ado, here are some suggestions for non-toy gifts for kids:

1. Tickets to a museum or science center

Instead of the usual toys, treat that special kid in your life to a fun and educational experience.

Tickets to places like the Philippine Science Centrum in Marikina, or Exploreum at SM Mall of Asia cost around the same amount as toys from popular brands (or less).

What's great about this is that you'll be gifting a child with a unique learning experience that he or she will definitely remember.

2. Good quality children's books

"A book is a gift that you can open again and again." -- Garrison Keiller

Our family was given some books by Tahanan Books recently, and I discovered a few titles that are definitely worth giving to other kids -- namely Bahay Kubo, Alpabetong Filipino and 500 Words & Pictures: My First Bilingual Visual Dictionary.

Each beautifully illustrated book is a treasure trove of learning for children (and maybe even adults who are not so fluent in Filipino, like yours truly!). We especially love Tahanan’s version of Bahay Kubo!

3. Arts and crafts materials

If the child on your gift list is the "artsy" type, then getting him or her a good art set or craft materials is certainly the way to go. These are not that expensive either, so your wallet will definitely be "happy," too.

You can check out local bookstores or even toy stores for such sets and/or materials. Toys R' Us has a great art set that includes colored pencils, markers, crayons, watercolors, and oil pastels, retailing for below P300.

4. Science kits

I'd like to believe that every child is a scientist somehow, with his or her seemingly endless questions and innate curiosity. Basic and easy-to-do science kits will definitely be a hit then, and also provide the opportunity for kids and parents to bond while learning together!

Most toy stores sell science kits with prices starting from around P300+. You can also buy them online via websites like Oga-lala or Fatty Brain Toys.

5. Gardening tools

Go beyond the usual plastic "fake" toy gardening tools and give the kid in your life real gardening instruments like seeds, a small watering can, trowel, pail, shovel or even gloves. You can also give them containers for growing indoor plants, made from recycled bottles.

Include a note about the importance of loving our earth, or a children's book about how gardens grow or other similar topics. This will, hopefully, help instill a love of nature in your recipient.

6. A children's Bible and/or other materials that encourage a child to grow in faith

Being a Catholic-Christian, I couldn't help including the above item/s in my list! Christmas is, after all, about celebrating the birth of Jesus, so giving kids items that can help introduce them to Jesus and develop a relationship with Him certainly makes sense.

If you think a children's Bible is too "serious" material, you can also start with materials like an inspirational children's book or magazine. A 10-issue subscription to Mustard, a magazine for kids aged 6 to 10 years old published by Shepherd's Voice Publications, costs only P250, and ordering online via KerygmaBooks.com is super easy.

Whatever gift you may choose to give to that special child (or children!) in your life, make sure that you also bless him or her (or them!) with your prayers and presence. These may actually be the best gifts that they could ever receive from you!

Do you have suggestions for other non-toy gift items for kids this Christmas -- and beyond? Share them with us by leaving a comment below. You can also send me a message via my Facebook page.