A Screen-Free Gift Guide for Kids
I love a good screen-free gift – they offer so many opportunities for imagination, free play and movement!
It was so fun to collect some of my favorite screen-free activities and toys that would make terrific holiday gifts.
Some of these are small and inexpensive – perfect for tucking in a stocking – while others are a big gift, the kind that finishes Christmas morning with a big hurrah!
I hope you find something perfect for your child or grandchild on this gift guide!
20+ SCREEN FREE GIFTS FOR KIDS THEY WILL ACTUALLY USE
Cluedle
These have been one of the most popular things I’ve shared! My kids are obsessed with these puzzle books! Perfect for ages about 7-12. They make great Christmas and birthday presents.
Murdle Jr. Mini Summer Fun
We are longtime fans of Murdle Jr but I didn’t know about the Murdle Mini puzzle books until a reader shared them with me last month! Under $7 and perfect for saving for a road trip or day at home when everyone is going stir crazy.
Dot Art Books
My kids spent the whole winter doing these and they’re perfect for a cold day at home or a summer road-trip! I love that the markers come with the books and attach to the back for easy storage and transportation.
3D Sticker Design Sets
I got these sets for my kids for Christmas a couple of years ago and they LOVE them! So cute and delightful (and there are 6 sets for $6.99!)
Large Pencil Case
We got these for our kids for Christmas last year and they have been the #1 most used gift! I love that they zip open flat and hold a ton! Perfect for keeping things contained at home or taking on the go. Some colors are under $8.
Tangram Magnetic Set
This is one of those items you leave out on the coffee table and it will get played with constantly. It’s also small and easy to take on the go!
Foldology
I can personally confirm the hype around these is deserved (I even added them to my 10 favorite products from 2025). From long international flights to those stuck-at-home, cabin-fever days, these kept us entertained and sane more times than I can count.
Paint by Sticker
Paint by Sticker books are a staple at our house – I can’t even count how many of these we’ve gone through in the past decade!
Super Slide Puzzle. We bought this for our then 6-year-old at Christmas and it has been SUCH a hit with the whole family. It is perfect screen-free toy for on the go, especially road and airplane trips! Since I first shared it, I’ve heard from so many families that their teens and adult family members loved it just as much as the kids!
Bead Kit
This bead kit has been a huge hit with my girls! It comes with 6000 beads in 24 colors. It also comes with earring hooks, stretchy string, tools and more!
Sculpd Air Dry Clay Kit
Bring the pottery shop to your home! This is a completely unique idea for anyone who loves to create!
Polymer Clay
Polymer clay is way better than Play-doh because after you create, you pop it in the oven to bake. The clay becomes hard and doesn’t crack or flake. I’ve seen kids make little figurines, keychains, charms – the options are endless.
Mindful Lettering Kit
My teen and tween girls have done the Mindful Lettering Kits and LOVE them! I love them because everything you need comes right to your doorstep: workbook, brush pens, tracing paper, and detailed video tutorials. This keeps them focused for hours!
Advanced Art Supplies: Canvas, Paint, Sketchbook, Pencils
These kind of supplies don’t come cheap and it’s always nice to have something more extravagant than your standard Crayola marker set. And if you haven’t ever tried out Art for Kids on YouTube now is the time to give it a whirl.
Carving Kit
A reader recommended this as something her tween son LOVED and I immediately knew it would be a hit. In addition to the carving kit, I would get an extra set of these wood blocks.
Diamond Painting
My girls love diamond painting and I love that they are mess free. You can get a a diamond painting kit for under $10 and they last for hours.
Paper Airplane Kit
Paper airplanes never get old and they REALLY never get old with this fun kit that’s under $6. My sisters and I loved making new kinds of paper airplanes and this is great for boys and girls alike.
A Basketball Hoop
If you have the space for it, this is a really fun gift that gets your kids outdoors. Or go for a smaller one that you can use inside during the winter (or summer, if you live somewhere crazy hot like Arizona).
Skateboard
I have no experience skateboarding, but this is a great, active option that could provide hours of entertainment!
Rollerblades
One Christmas we got all of the girls roller blades (this K2 brand came highly recommended). All you need are some skates, a helmet and a smooth surface to get going. My favorite thing about roller skating is that you can really get your heart rate up while having a blast!
Magmen
These are so fun to do imaginative play with. They are perfect to take along in the car, doctors appointments, sitting at church. Even the older kids play with these when I pull them out.
Squigz Suction Toys
Use these in the bathtub, on a window, a hardwood floor and build away. Easy to clean, store and requires no prep to play with. Just pull them out and have fun!
Ezyroller
These are so fun to ride on for both big and little kids! Drift, ride straight, do races, great for exercise, and they sit low to the ground. All kids love them. My favorite part – they don’t require charging!
Professional-Grade Sidewalk Chalk
For the sidewalk chalk artist who is ready to up their game, these professional-grade chalks come in a broad range of colors, and are great for blending. Get ready for some elaborate artwork on your sidewalks!
Hand Bells
A few years ago, we bought a set of Merry Bells and they have a terrific DVD or digital play-along video with 30 different Christmas songs that have chords – definitely a step up from single note playing! – and come down the screen like Guitar Hero and you play your bell when it hits the line. You can use the code JANSSEN for 10% off them!
KiwiCo Labs
KiwiCo is my FAVORITE option for a STEM subscription box – they really are the crème de la crème. And it’s the perfect gift that keeps on giving! Their KiwiCo Labs boxes are designed for ages 6-16+ with brand new rebuildable STEM projects. (Plus they have additional digital content to extend learning and STEM skills). Use the code EVERYDAYREADING for 50% off your first box.
ChompSaw
Definitely one of the priciest things on this list and worth the splurge! A completely safe cardboard cutting mechanism for kids. My girls would use this like crazy!
RC Cars/ Boats
The remote control car and boat game has really improved in the last decade or so. There are so many quality options that can do all sorts of crazy stunts and tricks. A fun non-toy, toy for an older kid.
Yoto Player
We have loved and used our Yoto players for years and I would recommend them to anyone. And if you are wondering, what about the Tonie?! I have a Yoto and Tonie comparison you might find helpful!
Popdarts
This was one of the most popular things I shared last Christmas and for good reason. It’s so fun to play, is virtually no mess and anyone of any age can play!
Weighted Chess
These chess pieces are SO pretty and would make such a great gift for someone who loves chess! They have a gorgeous wood-look finish but are actually made of durable, weighted plastic, so they have a nice, substantial feel. I especially love that you can upgrade an existing chessboard with these pieces without having to buy a whole new set!
National Geographic Magic Set
I LOVE a gift that keeps kids entertained AND teaches them something new! This kit comes with everything they need to learn 45 different magic tricks, plus step-by-step video instructions from a professional magician. Such a fun gift for kids who love learning new skills (and showing off what they’ve learned to everyone in the family!).
Color Stacking Challenge Game
I bought this game on prime day and my girls play it all of the time. It’s a fun speed game that doesn’t require any reading. Both kids and adults alike enjoy playing it!
Follow the Money
I am using this finance book as part of our homeschool the fall with my 9, 11, and 13 year olds to build their financial literacy. And so many of you bought it too. It’s an easy and fun way to incorporate financial literacy with your kids too and would be a great gift for a child who loves numbers.
PINDALOO GAME
I bought this juggling toy on a whim for Bart for Christmas a couple of years ago and it was a hit! My dad, my brother and Bart (plus all the girls) spent the whole day playing with it. It’s so simple but so fun.
Boxing Machine
We bought this as a family Christmas gift a couple of years ago and it’s used regularly by our girls and when friends come over. It’s a great thing to have to burn some energy especially when the weather get colder.
Light Up Flying Discs
There is something magical about playing outside in the dark. These light up frisbees are great for the park, at a beach or in your backyard.
Portable Tabletop Air Hockey Table
How fun is this?! It’s not as big of a commitment as a full sized air hockey table and it gives you the chance to move it around your house so you don’t have to have dedicated space for it. My girls would play with this all of the time!
Yodeling Pickle
I was asking for gift suggestions for boys and this one was recommended multiple times. Definitely something I didn’t even know existed!
