Unplugged and Unforgettable: Gift Guide for Kids Who Love off-Screen Fun
This was one of my favourite gift guides to make. There's something about items that are not screen based that just brings me back to my childhood (millennial here).
I enlisted the help of my friends Dr. Roxy & Dr. Liz; two moms with PhDs sharing research-based, guilt-free screen tips about TV, apps, & more for little ones at @thosemediamoms to find the BEST toys for the kids on your list that are educational AND fun. These recommendations are primarily geared to toddlers and preschoolers.
So without further ado - Here we go!
*this blog post includes affiliate links. Canadian links will earn a very small affiliate commission for @gratefulheartcollective and the American links will earn a very small affiliate commission for @thosemediamoms - we greatly appreciate any and all of your support!!!
1. Magnetiles
We have these in our household and all of my 4 kids use them - from ages 2-8! These really can grow with your child and help them be so creative! Definitely a great unplugged toy idea.
2. Montessori Block Kit
Blocks are amazing for the developing brain. Block play requires fine and gross motor skills, enhances children's problem-solving abilities, mathematics skills, and language and literacy abilities. And constructing “creations” builds selfesteem and feelings of success!
3. Building Tubes
Pipe building blocks toys help children build a solid foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and learn spatial reasoning, stimulate problem solving skills and unleash creativity and imagination at early age.
4. Doodle Board
It's so important to express themselves, but their art can be difficult to love when it's all of their clothes, or the table, or the walls...in come the doodle boards to save the day! Mess free art that everyone will love!
5. Reusable Sticker Books
Let's face it - toddlers and preschoolers don't have fully developed dexterity yet. Which means that sometimes when they put a sticker on a page...it's not exactly where they wanted it. And then CUE THE MELTDOWN. Unless you've got reusable sticker sheets! Then they can pull them up and reposition them over and over again!
6. Water WOW Books
These are a staple in any home that has toddlers and preschoolers. These Water Wow painting books paint with water and can be used over and over again. The good thing about painting with water - it doesn't stain anything! I'd call that a win.
7. Tea Set
A tea set is a great screen-free toy. The sets are designed to simulate a real tea party scene, helping children develop color perception, hand-eye coordination skills, and socialization and communication skills!
8. Wooden Car Ramp/Garage
Car ramps can help kids to learn the basics about forces in motion. You can integrate speech and language exercises into this one as well - think "the car goes DOWN DOWN DOWN" or "back to the TOP"!
9. LEGO Duplo
we LOVE LEGO in our household, and we like to start em' young. But in order to do that, you've got to start with the saver non-choke-hazard version! LEGO Duplo to the rescue! This toy stimulates so much creativity and helps to learn cause and effect and even colour recognition and so much more!
10. Wooden Doll House
Doll houses are a wonderful addition to a child's toybox. They foster imagination and creativity—skills that will benefit your kiddo throughout school and life. Playing dollhouse gives children a chance to create stories, learn life, organizational, and classification skills!
11. Wheely Ride-On Toy
The joy of riding these toys, whether indoors or outdoors, greatly enhances their gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. Beyond the physical aspect, these toys also bolster your child's confidence, problem-solving abilities, and social skills!
12. Yoto Player
The Yoto Player offers your child all the benefits of music and audio listening without any interference from screens, ads, or cameras. Children are able to select and play their audio of choice by simply placing their chosen Yoto Card in the slot at the top of the player! Not only that, it works as a white noise machine, measures room temperature, and works as an "ok to wake" clock!
13. TonieBox Audio Player
Tonies, a digital audio platform for children, helps pre-readers and developing readers use their imaginations, allows them to develop reading skills, and encourages them to become storytellers. A Toniebox is a 5-inch, squeezable speaker with buttons shaped like cat ears.
14. Animal Stacking Toy
Stacking toys help to teach children valuable balance and coordination skills,. The child learns to achieve balance not only with their own body but also by engaging with external objects such as toys. By controlling the movements of their hands and fingers, young children learn to manipulate individual objects. And these animal ones are just super cute and unique!
15. Wooden Puzzle Game
While playing with this type of toy, a child will be developing their attention span, practising concentration and learning about perseverance. Puzzles can encourage your kiddo to keep playing even when things aren't going the way they want and will help them develop frustration tolerance (which let's be honest...isn't a toddler/preschoolers strong suit)
Those screen free suggestions are great! As a teacher in kindergarten (Belgium) I almost have all of them in my classroom (the yoto player and tonie box not). I love that you enspire moms/parents to go on a search for really great toys. Each friday afternoon (or right before holiday breaks) I tell the children they have homework to do. And they can all say by heart what I tell them: play a lot, inside and outside the house. Love each other and hug each other, cuddle and laugh with the ones you love. And most important: no screens 😉
Be blessed
Tonia