When it comes to practical gifts for kids, making them somehow fun is key. Kids are full of energy and creativity, but they are also short on patience. When you give fun gifts that can be used in a practical way, everybody in the household wins!
This post is full of practical ideas that make for a great gift. Whether you are shopping for a birthday, the holidays, or another special occasion, there’s something for everyone here!
For ease, I’ve broken up this gift guide into ages I think presents will work best for. Or course, use your best judgment. 🙂
Useful Presents for 1 Year Olds
1) Rainboots
A pair of rain boots in his or her favorite color is the perfect gift! He or she will love splashing in puddles and exploring the great outdoors.
These boots come in 6 fun colors and the handles make it easy for little ones to pull them up on their own.
Grab these cheery boots HERE >>
2) Sleep Sack
A sleep sack kind of looks like a wearable sleeping bag for toddlers. They are perfect for keeping a one-year-old cozy on camping trips, during travel, or any other random times they need something portable and cozy to sleep on.
Even better? It helps them not to be super wiggly in their crib and some say it can promote better sleep!
Keep your little one warm throughout the chilly nights ahead with this practical present. I like THIS quilted version >>
3) Sippy Cups
Toddlers are all about independence, so practical gifts that encourage it are always a big hit.
Sippy cups like THIS one with handles make drinking easier and give toddlers some confidence as they learn new skills and move away from the bottle.
4) Busy Board
This is a great practical gift for 1.5 year olds. Their little hands will love to explore as they practice their hand-eye coordination.
If you are looking for a gift for a grandbaby or nephew or niece that will encourage the child’s development without needing batteries (trust me, the parents will love it) here’s the one.
2 & 3-Year-Old Gifts That Aren’t Toys
For practical gifts for kids ages two and three, the best kind of present really can be one that isn’t a toy!
Kids this age are more interested in absolutely everything around them. Their ever-expanding brains want to explore and do life right alongside you.
Here are some practical presents to consider that will help them do just that.
5) Step Stool
Perfect for boys and girls this age, a step stool like THIS one is practical and fun.
This wooden version will last through the years (and many spilled paint jobs) while keeping your toddler’s feet where they belong… not in some precarious place that makes you nervous!
6) Mini Vacuum
Every toddler needs their own vacuum! It’s practical, sure, but to them? It’s just plain fun.
THIS adorable mini Dyson vacuum cleaner actually suctions and is perfect for your little one to carry around the house. I’d recommend this for age 3+.
7) Balance Bike
A balance bike is a great practical gift for kids who are ready to start exploring outdoors, but don’t quite have the coordination or strength to pedal just yet. A bike like this would be the perfect present on Christmas morning for a 2.5 year old.
This style of bike will help build coordination, strength and confidence. It gives kids the chance to explore their world with less risk of injury while being active at the same time!
8) Learning Tower
Here’s one of the best practical gifts for kids and what a kid really needs…a learning tower!
This practical gift is great for helping toddlers get used to standing on their own two feet right at the kitchen counter with you. They can “help” you make meals and snacks or just hang out as you are cooking.
The best part? It’s practical because it makes tasks that are difficult more accessible, but also fun since kids feel like they’re “bigger” while using the learning tower.
Perfect Practical Gifts for 4 Year Olds
A four year old is a little older and by now probably has quite the toy collection! Provide a bit of balance with practical gifts for kids that they’ll actually use and love.
9) Interactive Plates
Kids love to play with their food so practical gifts for kids that encourage it are always a hit. Interactive plates like these will have them busy for hours
It’s perfect for ages 3.5-4.5, and is one of the things they’ll actually use. It may even encourage them to eat their veggies too! 😉
Grab this fun construction plate set HERE >>
10) Cookbook
Looking for a way to get some quality time in? Kids’ cookbooks are perfect for ages 4+ as they let them practice reading, measuring, and counting.
I got THIS cookbook for my youngest daughter and it was a total hit!
11) Toothbrush
I know, “toothbrush” doesn’t exactly scream exciting…but this one is really cool!
This practical gift for kids is a little more advanced and designed for ages 2-6
When your child’s teeth start coming in, you’ll want to make sure they learn proper oral care early on.
The problem? Many toothbrushes are too big (and scary) for their mouths! Enter the whole mouth toothbrush. Young kids (and their parents) will absolutely love this!
Get the whole mouth toothbrush HERE >>
12) Color Wonder and Water Wow (Mess-Free Coloring)
Toddlers love to color, and practical gifts for kids that let them do it without making a huge mess are always winners.
THESE Water Wow coloring books don’t need any pens or markers- the colors show up when you brush water over the pages!
They’re perfect for on-the-go fun, and can be refilled again and used forever!
If your child wants a bit more creative control, THIS Color Wonder set with their favorite characters is a great option. It comes with markers that only work on the special paper, and nowhere else.
Three cheers for mess-free coloring! This is a simple fun gift that adults and kids will love.
Ages 5 & 6 Non-Toy Gift Ideas
Provide some variety and keep children busy with these fun options. There’s something for every boy or girl here from ages 5-6.
13) Tumbling Mat
Know a little girl who loves to practice tumbling in the living room?
Gymnastics is a great way to stay active, and practical gifts for kids that give them the chance to try it out are always appreciated.
A tumbling mat like this one is perfect for indoor or outdoor use and helps prevent injuries while they’re practicing their flips and tricks.
It’s also lightweight and easy to fold up – definitely one of the more practical birthday or Christmas gifts.
Grab this tumbling mat HERE >>
14) Book Light
Nothing’s more practical than gifts for kids that help them keep reading.
Your early reader will love the fact they can read at night without disturbing anyone or keeping you up, and their parents will appreciate it too!
Grab the rechargeable book light HERE >>
15) Hooded Bath Robe
Wondering what to get in the winter? Here’s one of the practical gifts for kids that they’ll use every day – especially in the colder months.
A bathrobe is perfect for staying warm after a bubble bath or shower, and this unicorn hooded one is super soft and cozy.
THIS hooded bathrobe is machine-washable and comes in a variety of super fun colors, so there’s sure to be one they’ll love.
16) MathLink Cubes
Here’s a practical gifts for kids with STEM in mind.
These math cubes are perfect for building spatial awareness and problem-solving skills, so they’ll love using them to build towers or geometric shapes.
There are also lots of games you can play with your daughter or son to help practice counting and pattern recognition too!
Garb the MathLink builder set HERE >>
Best Gifts for 7 to 8 Year Olds
They’re not quite a little kid anymore, but they still love to play and pretend. These practical gifts for kids are perfect for the seven-to-eight year olds in your life!
17) Crayola Art Kit
This is one of my favorite useful gifts! Art supplies always get lots of use and are loved by practically every kid.
If you have a budding artist on your hands, a Crayola art kit like this one includes everything they need to make beautiful drawings and paintings.
I love that THIS set is portable and comes with a cute carrying case!
18) Fun Socks
Socks may not seem like the most exciting gift, but kids of all ages will love these ones!
These fun socks come in a variety of designs and colors, so there’s something for everyone.
They’re also soft and comfortable, which is always a plus.
19) LEGO Wallet
Know a kid obsessed with LEGO sets? This LEGO wallet is the perfect place to store their money, cards, and ID.
It’s made from durable plastic and comes in a variety of colors, so they can choose their favorite.
There’s even a space to put their student ID along with cards or cash. It’s a great opportunity for them to learn responsibility and budgeting too.
20) Goggles
Swimming is a great way to cool off in the summer, and gifts for kids that let them enjoy it even more are always welcome.
These goggles are great for swimmers everything your child needs to have a blast in the pool.
The goggles fit most sizes, and allow them to explore the water as they are swimming. If there are multiple children, particularly little kids, this is a really good idea!
Get this set of two goggles HERE >>
Things To Buy For For Kids Aged 9 & 10
With the right practical gifts for kids aged 9 or 10, they’ll be excited to open your present(s) on their special day.
They’re not as little anymore and may have more specific tastes and preferences, but there are still plenty of practical gift ideas that will delight them!
21) Echo Dot for Kids
The Echo Dot Kids Edition comes with a kid-friendly case, a two-year warranty, and access to tons of age-appropriate content from Audible, Disney, Nickelodeon, and more.
It can also act as an alarm clock, remind them of things, or act as an intercom for you to communicate with them.
Get the Echo Dot for Kids HERE >>
22) Jewelry Making Kit
Jewelry making kits are one of my favorite practical gifts for girls around the age of 10! I just gifted this to my niece and it was a huge hit.
They’re easy to use, and it all comes in a cute little container that’s perfect for storage. You can even pair this gift with a jewelry box for extra fun.
THIS set includes everything they’ll need, including beads, wire, clasps, etc.
The Osmo Genius Kit is perfect for kids who love playing video games or educational games to learn.
Games like this are great because they help boost logic skills like problem-solving, reasoning, and more! Screen time has never been better.
They’ll need to have an iPad for this set but they can practice spelling, math, drawing and so much more.
Get the Osmo Genius Starter Kit HERE >>
24) Backpack
Kids who are going into a new grade or school will love practical gifts that help them transition.
Backpacks like THIS one allow your child to carry their things in style! They’re durable too so it makes for the perfect gift. I like that this one is anti-theft and also has charging ports.
Preteen Gift Ideas for 11 to 12 Year Olds
For 11-year-olds and up, practical gifts are still appropriate!
They’re becoming more independent so gifting them things that encourage responsibility is a great idea. At this age they’ll likely be starting to think about the future too – practical gifts for kids that help with their career or interests can be really special.
25) Star Projector
Know a kid obsessed with stars? This practical gift is perfect for them!
It’s an easy way to bring the night sky into your bedroom or living room, and it also helps kids relax before bed.
They can turn off any lights in their space and this projector will project images of star constellations on the walls around them. This is one of the most well-loved and unique gifts out there!
Grab this star projector HERE >>
26) Digital Camera
For kids who love taking pictures, practical gifts for 11 year olds and up can include a digital camera.
There are lots of great options out there depending on their preferences, but THIS ONE is simple to use and it comes with all the perks you need!
It’s waterproof so they can take awesome underwater photos. They’ll love documenting all their experiences over the year including the holiday season.
27) LED Bike Lights
This set of LED bike lights are perfect for young bikers. They’ll love these because they’re bright and have different colors. They are also easy to attach to their bikes so kids stay visible when it gets dark outside.
Buy these LED bike lights HERE >>
28) String Light Photo Clips
Help your preteen document their life the easy way with this practical gift!
String light photo clips are a great way to display photos without having them take up too much space.
They’re also really easy to use – just clip the photo onto the string and it’ll stay in place. This is a perfect way for kids to show off their favorite memories!
Get these string light photo clips here >>
13 & 14 Year Old Non-Toy Gifts Gifts
Once they’ve hit the teenage years, it becomes a little bit more challenging to find practical gifts for kids that they’ll like. But, never fear, these gifts are proven winners with this age group.
29) Personalized Notebook
29) Personalized NotebookThis practical gift is a great way to show your teen that you care. A personalized notebook can be used for school, work, or just general note-taking.
There are lots of different designs and colors to choose from so they’re sure to find the perfect one for them! I like THIS leather personalized notebook. While older kids will like it, other family members will also find it cool!
30) Gift Cards
For practical birthday gifts, gift cards are a no-brainer.
This age group is old enough to really enjoy the option of buying something practical themselves. With a gift card, they can choose exactly what they want!
There are so many options out there, but it’s hard to go wrong with an Amazon gift card like THIS ONE.
31) Face Masks
It’s hard to think of a gift more practical than face masks. I gifted my daughter something very similar, along with hand sanitizer in a cute pouch to tuck in her backpack.
32) Shower Speaker
This practical gift is a must-have for any teenager. In fact, this is a great idea for the entire family!
A shower speaker is perfect for listening to music in the shower without having to worry about water damage.
Buy this shower speaker HERE >>
33) Blue Light Glasses
If your teen is always on their phone or laptop, then blue light glasses are a common sense gift.
The glasses block out the blue light that comes from screens and other electronics, which can cause eyestrain and other problems over time.
Get these blue light glasses HERE >>
34) Portable Charger
A practical gift for any teenager is a portable charger. This way, they’ll never have to worry about their phone dying when they need it the most.
There are lots of different options out there, but THIS ONE is a great value and it has tons of positive reviews. I got it for my nephew and he loves it!
35) Hammock
This practical gift is perfect for any outdoor-loving teen. A hammock is a great way to relax and enjoy the great outdoors.
Experience gifts like these teach your teen how to read instructions and hang the hammock on their own.
They’re also really easy to set up, so your teen can get started relaxing right away! I like THIS one from Amazon >>.
36) Hydro Flask Water
Want something that’s not a waste of money? Hydro Flask water bottles are practical gifts that every teen will use again and again.
These double-walled, vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottles keep liquids hot or cold for hours without condensation on the outside! This is a great gift idea because it can be used all year round in any weather conditions.
Plus, teens love personalizing them by decorating with stickers too.
They come in different sizes, but I like THIS 32 oz bottle >>
Practical Teen Gifts for 1-7 & 18 Year Olds
Looking for practical gifts for kids of all ages? Check out this list of some of the best gifts that will be appreciated by any teenager 17 years old and up!
37) Ring Light
A good option for a teenager gift is this ring light made to attach to phones and tablets. It’s perfect for taking selfies without having to rely on natural lighting.
Grab the portable ring light HERE >>
38) Pull Up Bar
This practical gift is a great way to help a teenager get into shape. They can use it for push ups, pull ups and more!
This sports equipment is easy to install in their bedroom, so they’ll always have the option of getting some exercise in when they want to do something practical with their time.
39) Weighted Blanket
A weighted blanket is a big hit with any teenager. The extra weight can help them feel calm and relaxed, which is perfect for bedtime or when they need to focus on homework.
There are lots of different weights and sizes to choose from, but I like THIS colorful one that’s a good value >>
40) Mini Fridge
This practical gift is a must-have for any teenager who loves snacks or drinks. A mini fridge is perfect for keeping their food and drinks cold and close by.
Plus, they can go with them to college after graduation.
I like THIS cute mini fridge with freezer >>
So there you have it – 40 practical gifts for kids! I hope this list gives you some great ideas for the special kids in your life.
More Gift Ideas for Kids:
- 15 Cool Gifts for Adventurous, Outdoorsy Kids
- 30+ Flat Gifts that Are Easy to Mail
- 21+ Perfect Gifts for Kids that Cost Less than $10
- Top 10 Gifts for Super Smart Kids
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