10 unique kids’ Christmas gifts that aren’t toys

Children’s Santa lists might be full of the latest toy or gadget, but it can be disheartening how quickly they lose their novelty - getting added to an ever-growing pile of plastic that doesn’t keep the kids occupied for long. Less frustrating is choosing a present with all the fun and excitement of the latest flashing, whirring craze that nonetheless has a longer lasting impact: gifts that teach a new skill or an activity you can do as a family. With this in mind we’ve compiled a run-down of some unique, creative gift ideas that are also light on screen time (we’ve had enough of that this year thanks) – without a toy in sight!

A PERSONALISED STORYBOOK: It’s well known that children who read – and are read to – on a daily basis excel later on in life and a personalised book could be the ideal gift. UAE-based Story For Me sells picture books that can be customised for your child from their name to their interests, including stories set in the Middle East with diverse characters. This year they are also offering a Christmas Memory Book, which has all sorts of opportunities for children to stick in pictures and jot down memories, to create a beautiful keepsake of a very unique and memorable year (Dh75). For older kids, US-based Wonderbly (which delivers to the UAE) offers a ‘Where’s Wally?’-style book, called ‘Where are you?’, which can be tailored to a specific child and features illustrations of busy scenes with a depiction of your child hidden somewhere within. DETAILS: Storyforme.me and Wonderbly.com.

A DIY CRAFT KIT: Often the simplest ideas are the best and kids love to be given free rein to create. As well as developing fine motor skills and neural pathways, art allows children to express themselves, learn problem solving and (perhaps most importantly) keeps them quietly, safely occupied for decent periods of time. Putting together a fun box of craft supplies opens up a world of possibilities and is as easy as a quick trip to the store. Sustainable Dubai-based kids’ store Eggs and Soldiers is selling a delightful Doddlebags Art Box Gift Set (Dh143 on offer), containing Kids Apron, Brushes, Reusable Pouches, Paint and Canvas, while Eco Souk has some amazing DIY costumes made out of recycled cardboard, including an awesome DIY Unicorn Costume (Dh125), and DIY Astronaut Costume (Dh150). Alternatively, Creative Minds is a temple for people looking to get crafty, while Daiso offers plenty of budget friendly items. DETAILS: www.eggsnsoldiers.com/shop/gifts/from-grandma/doddlebags-art-box-gift-set/; www.ecosouk.me/christmas-gifts-for-big-kids.

ADOPT AN ANIMAL: Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting you start installing a cat flap in your home just yet! But it’s never too early to get kids passionate about the world around them and most little ones have a favourite animal before they can even spell it out. A symbolic adoption of an exotic or endangered animal can really spark a child’s imagination as you explain to them that their gift is helping to look after a living, breathing creature somewhere in the world. WWF (World Wildlife Foundation) has a brilliant list of animal species to choose from, and while they don’t ship physical adoption packs to the UAE, digital packs are available to download and print out.

THEME PARK TICKETS: Parenting experts say time and again that it’s parents’ presence that children really crave rather than presents. So if you haven’t hit one of the UAE’s amazing theme parks as a family yet, Christmas could be the perfect opportunity to splash out on a pass. LEGOLAND and Motiongate are both super child-friendly and have reopened since the pandemic, while IMG Worlds of Adventure has a specific Cartoon Network zone geared towards a younger audience. It’ll be a day of thrills for everyone and is a fab way to spend time together as a group, and most of them are running discounts at the moment. Or save money in the long run and invest in an annual pass.

KIDS’ CLASSES: It’s amazing how often extracurricular activities are just seen as a given, when they are actually an incredible privilege. If your child is interested to try his or her hand at the guitar, fancies giving parkour a go, or wants to get good at climbing, dance or trampolining, why not swap out the packaging-laden presents and give the gift of an experience instead? Sustainable, instructive and edu-taining, by framing a course of classes as a gift it will also help to teach your child the value of money and help them to appreciate the investment required to take up a new skill. DETAILS: Bonus points for the offbeat! Check out the kids’ classes on offer at Parkour.ae, Bounce.ae, the acting and improvisation sessions for kids at Courtyardplayhouse.com, or look into Threadwerk.com, a brand new training facility that teaches children how to sew.

• A COOKERY KIT: This is a win-win for kids and adults alike as everyone gets to enjoy the spoils. Giving kids their own baking kit or cupcake-decorating set is a lovely promise of fun days to come where you can spend time together. Plus, as with so much on this list, inviting little ones into the cooking process has added benefits to their development. Cooking helps children learn time management, fine motor skills and teaches them about how to stay safe from potential hazards in the kitchen in a safe, supervised way. Five Little Ducks has some glorious baking options, including the Handstand Kitchen Deluxe Bake Shopper Set (Dh165) and the Handstand Kitchen Out of This World Cake Making Set (Dh99), which has a rocket-shaped cake mould. DETAILS: Fivelittleducksme.com.

A SUBSCRIPTION BOX: Do you remember how exciting it was to receive something in the post as a child? Christmas needn’t end in December when a kid-focused subscription service can be the gift that keeps on giving every month, delivered right to your door. The Happy Box is a home-grown example of subscription boxes, which sees fun, engaging kids’ activities sent to you each month with a focus on natural materials and educational tasks. The activities are customised for your child’s age ranging from three to eleven years. Science-lovers may enjoy the My Discovery Lab box subscriptions, which offer amazing science experiments for kids from age 3 to 14, customized to their level, while Elbirg sensory box subscriptions are ideal for a mum with a new baby aged 0-12 months. DETAILS: www.thehappybox.ae/monthly-boxes, Mydiscoverylab.com, Elbirg.ae.

BEDDING: Disguising homewares as presents for the little ones is a sure-fire way to get them more excited for bed time. Keep sleep fun with bedding covered in their favourite characters, from unicorns and dinosaurs to superheroes. Pottery Barn Kids is a great place to start for awesome bedding, while we love the Snurk series that allows kids to dress up even in their dreams. Eggs & Soldiers also offers the Petite Lamb Pillowcase and Pens(Dh110), a white pillowcase with a printed design and fabric crayons, so children can colour in their own pillowcase. DETAILS: Snurk bedding available at Mumzworld.com, Petite Lamb colour-in pillow cases at www.eggsnsoldiers.com.

A GROW-YOUR-OWN KIT: Forget nature vs. nurture, this gift teaches children about both. A grow kit is a wonderful way to instill patience in little ones and they’ll be amazed when they see their hard work pay off, transforming into their own blooming flowers or tasty vegetables. A low-effort, ongoing activity that’s safe and easy to oversee, they’ll have green thumbs in no time. My Green Chapter has some simple herb-growing kits as well as other urban farming ideas while Dubai Garden has a whole range of seeds and grow your own kits. DETAILS: Mygreenchapter.ae and Dubaigardencentre.ae.

A MONEY BOX: Age three to five is an ideal time to start teaching kids about money in a casual way. More specifically, the principle of delaying gratification in order to get something you want later on. Life skills like saving needn’t be hard won and a gift like a money box can become a fun game that rewards little ones in the long term with a favourite treat. If they’re still young, consider introducing coupons that they can save in the box and cash in for watching a favourite movie for example. This will set them up well for making sensible decisions when and if you introduce a proper allowance. DETAILS: www.marmarland.com has some cute piggy bank options at the moment.