Looking for some creative and multi-purpose gifts for your toddler? This list contains lots of no screen gifts for toddlers they can use again and again.
When Rob and I found out we were pregnant with Zoey, we made a commitment to be a no screen family, or at least as much as possible.
With William and Hazel in the mix, Rob and I are very proud that we have kept up our no screen goal. You can read all about how we do it in this post: How To Be A Screen Free Family (It’s Easier Than You Think).
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Since screens are not part of our day-to-day schedule, we have a pretty good cache of high engagement toys and activities that we do with the kids. Our daily schedule looks similar to this in that we do a morning activity out of the house – usually time outside, home for lunch and quiet time, and then an afternoon of play either indoors or outdoors.
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We opt to only have toys for the kids that we think are going to be really high engagement, not just something they will be entertained with for a few minutes.
As such, the kids have toys that they can be creative with in multiple ways, or we can learn multiple things by using. Here are our top items if you are on the search for some no screen gifts for toddlers they can use again and again.
Membership
A yearly membership to places like the local children’s museum, zoo, aquarium, or play place are much appreciated by parents and will provide endless fun for little ones that does not involve screens. Pair it with a little plush animal or puzzle to help get them excited.
Color Peg Game
Zoey adores this game! It works on so many skills like colors, shapes, matching, numbers, etc. She plays it independently or with us and always seems to enjoy it. It is probably our go to no screen gift for a toddler.
Busy Bags
These will take a little work to put together, but it is perfect if you have a crafty side. Check out my Pinterest board for some ideas and make 3-10 busy bags for your toddler. You can gift them all at once, or pull them out as needed. We got all of our busy bag materials from the dollar store.
Shopping Cart
Take things out, walk around the house, put things in. Zoey and William have used their shopping cart for hours on end especially in tandem with the play kitchen.
Stroller
My parents gave Zoey a little stroller when they visited this summer and it is still a hit with both kids. Loading and unloading stuffed animals, walking loops around the house, covering them in blankets, they are always busy with this toy.
Play Kitchen
We have had this play kitchen for two years now and both kids adore it. We spend countless hours “cooking” various dishes. Make sure you add in a few pots and pans as well as play food to round out the details.
Cut Food Game
Zoey first fell in love with cutting velcro food at the Nature and Science Museum kids’ section and received a set from my parents for her birthday. William is now just as obsessed with it as Zoey. Hours of entertainment, people. Hours.
Stickers
The little yard sale dot stickers from the dollar store have provided us so much entertainment. Zoey gets so focused peeling them off and putting them on drawn lines, designing cups, or just sticking them on herself (which she cracks up about). This is a great stocking stuffer idea!
iPlay Baby Hat
We are completely obsessed with these hats. All three kids have had multiples of these in various styles and sizes. They have SPF and long ear and neck flaps so the kids do not get sunburned. Add the tie under the neck and we are good to go!
Plush
While Zoey travels with a menagerie around the house, the original stuffed animal that started it all was her beloved Lamby. So soft, so cozy, and just the right size for her little hands.
Strider Bike
One of the kids’ favorite way to spend time outside is to go on a bike ride. Both kids have a Strider bike and they are fast! Do not forget to snag a helmet as well.
Mini Bed
Zoey turned into a little mama when William was born and again when Hazel was born. Even William likes to tuck in his bear, push him in the stroller, and take him everywhere. This little bed is the perfect spot for the kids to cozy up their animals and dolls.
Sound Machine
My mom gifted us a sound machine to help us with Zoey’s going to sleep issues. We bought the same one for William and are about to get the same one for Hazel. There are six different sounds to choose from, though we typically leave it on the ocean.
Learning Flashlight
When we were struggling to get Zoey to sleep on her own, my mom sent us this learning flashlight. Zoey was obsessed with it and it made bedtime much easier (for a while at least). Now, William loves to play with it in his room at night as well. He even brings it downstairs to play with during the day.
Book Light
When doing our nightly ritual of reading before bed, we sometimes like to turn off the lights and attach a book light. It makes for a fun and cozy atmosphere and the kids get to feel just like mom when I read my book via book light in my room.
Mo Willems Books
These books were a hit this summer! Lovable characters, easy to read (and for them to memorize to read later), and sweet messages. The kids are riveted every time we read them and I just love those kind, surprise endings.
Search and Find Books
Another huge winner around here especially for those early moments or post quiet time moments when our current toddler (William) just needs a slow wake up. We love search and find books as no screen gifts for toddlers.
When you look for a search and find book for a toddler, be sure to get one where they have a picture on the side of what they need to match. The words alone are a bit above their level.
When it comes to finding no screen gifts for toddlers, focus on finding her toys that can work on multiple levels for learning and both independent and group play.
Check out these other gift ideas:
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I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.
I think your no screen policy is truly wonderful and would set a perfect example for kids. Growing up all we had was a TV, now, in an average home, there are a computer, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and so many things. Even a fridge nowadays comes with a screen. Just a few days back I was reading an article about how poor the readership in South Africa has become and screen/internet has to take a lot of the blame if not full. And, this is affecting kids in almost all spheres of life, from mental health to physical health. I think in the future more and more parents are going to adopt your policy.
Thank you for the support! We have a lot of families who look at us like we are crazy when they find out we are screen free. They are also shocked at how we do it. All the research we read and all the kids we have seen in our classrooms just motivate us to stay screen free as long as possible.