You chopped down your own Christmas tree. You made all of your favorite Christmas cookies. You filled the stockings with the best goodies yet. As you check your list twice, you realize Johnny has way more Santa gifts than Katie. Now, you are scrambling to make the spread even. Don’t worry. Our list of the best last-minute gift ideas for kids ranges from educational to interactive, enough to keep your child happy and busy.
With prices rising, parents are bargain shopping more than ever. Two in three parents were already staking out the best deals for their kids’ holiday shopping lists back in September. A survey of 2,000 parents of kids under 18 looked at how they’re planning on getting their hands on the perfect gift for their child and found that 42 percent believe their child is anticipating a hot-ticket item for the holidays this year. This may be why the average parent is checking on prices for certain items four times a week.
Price checking and ensuring your child gets most everything they want for Christmas seems stressful! Most parents agree, yet still do their best to make them happy. A survey finds that 76 percent of parents agree that finding the perfect gift is one of the most stressful parts of the holidays. Most parents agree that it doesn’t feel like the holidays until their kids rip open their presents (83%). With that in mind, four in five would feel guilty if they got their child a gift they didn’t like.
Ready to pick and choose the great options below? We sorted through 13 expert reviews to find the best last-minute gift ideas for kids that were most recommended across the board. Let us know what you have found in the comments below!
The List: Best Last Minute Gift Ideas for Kids, According to Experts
1. Craft Subscription Boxes
Subscription boxes are great gifts because in addition to there is something for everyone, they really are the gift that keeps on giving. “Depending on how long you sign someone up to receive these boxes, this could be a gift they enjoy monthly all year long. One of the best places to shop for subscription box options online is Cratejoy. And, as luck would have it, they’ve got a collection of last-minute subscription box gifts for kids. For example, they offer a DIY kid’s crafts box,” suggests Leah Ingram.
This a great hands-free option that takes care of all of the dirty work for you. “With a box subscription, I don’t have to be crafty or ‘science-y’ or look for materials. I don’t even have to come up with ideas on my own. All the work–the planning, the ideas, the instructions, and even the supplies–are all in the boxes for me,” states The Humbled Homemaker.
2. Reading Subscription
Looking for the type of gift that “keeps on giving?” Then we strongly suggest giving your child a subscription to a reading platform. One great option is Reading Eggs. “Reading Eggs is an e-learning platform for kids ages 2-13 that makes learning reading and math fun through interactive games and activities. If your child is just starting to learn their letters and numbers, then Reading Eggs will accelerate their learning; and for older children, it builds on existing reading skills,” says The Daily Mom.
This is the perfect gift for the bookworms in your life. USA Today recommends the Epic Reading app. “With over 40,000 titles to choose from, this app, which sends books right to a phone, tablet or laptop, promises that reading material will never run dry. For new or reluctant readers, this is—bar none—one of the best literacy-building apps available. Completely searchable by age and grade, they can easily find books that are right at their reading level and that will pique their interest. There is also a fantastic ‘read-to-me’ option where titles are read aloud, highlighting each word as it’s spoken, allowing kids to hone their phonetic and comprehension skills and build their reading confidence,” states USA Today.
3. Games
Playing a game together is a wonderful chance to connect as a family and make memories together. “When my daughter was younger, she loved the game ‘Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel.’ From ages six to eight, she just couldn’t get enough of ‘Trouble.’ These days she wants to play ‘Sleeping Queens’ again and again (which is wonderful, because it helps her with math too)! At every age, though, she’s enjoyed ‘Charades’—which is really fun to play with visitors too,” states Birmingham’s Mom.
One source recommends Guess in 10 card games. “I grabbed Guess in 10 card game in two versions; the 50 States and Animal Kingdom. It’s like a trivia card game and I think it will be great for travel on a plane or a road trip. Maybe even around the kitchen table for game night. Tons of other options as well,” says This Is Our Bliss.
For a fan favorite, CNET says to put Jenga under the tree. “Jenga is a classic and this mini version of it turns all of that fun into a portable package. It comes with 18 mini wooden blocks to stack up at the table to bring some engaging fun at your next event where space may be limited,” offers CNET.
4. Ride-On Toys
Bikes, scooters, wagons, and tricycles are classic toys for a reason—kids have always loved them, and they always will! They’re all great ways for a child to get in their exercise and calming sensory input, as well as some much-needed fresh air. “For rainy days though, allow me to recommend our favorite INDOOR ride-on toy, the Ponycycle! While this is a more expensive gift, it was absolutely worth the investment for our horse-loving girl. It functions like you would ride a horse (up and down in the saddle to gallop), but rolls forward on wheels like a bicycle. Our daughter has had hers for four years and STILL plays with it at least once a week, sometimes even every day! Her horse has been Spirit exploring the Wild West, Mulan’s horse going into battle (carrying our daughter with sword and shield), and even a unicorn named Lyria on a grand fantasy adventure,” says Birmingham’s Mom.
For a portable option, a foldable trike is your go-to! “After some considerable research, I set my sights on the ‘smallest folding trike on the market.’ This three-wheeler will grow with your toddler, from a parent-push-operated vehicle to an independent, pedal tricycle. In that regard, it’s a solid two-year investment. While the Liki is ideal for travel (in the future), thanks to the easy and compact way it folds up, it’s also handy for apartment living where storage space is at a premium,” offers Buzzfeed.
Shopping for little ones? The Retrospec Cricket Baby Walker is the perfect gift! “Crafted with plastic that makes it soft enough for indoor play yet durable enough for outdoor play, this wagon can be used to cart around whatever your toddler may need to transport. This toy is ‘good for smaller kids,’ said one reviewer, adding that they ‘love the material and safeguards that keep little fingers out of harm’s way,'” adds Today.
5. Online or In-Person Classes
Make a child in your life feel seen and celebrated with a class related to one of their interests. “From cooking to painting to dance or sports, there are classes on pretty much everything you can imagine,” suggests Parents Together.
Does your child love doing magic tricks? “This master class with master magician Ming Da is best for older kids who want to up their illusionist game. In this one hour class, students will not only get an intimate show from an elite magician, they will learn his sleight-of-hand secrets,” adds USA Today about Uncommon Goods’ Magic 101 course.
Inspire creativity with a drawing class. “Do you have a budding artist? This drawing class includes 75 super interactive and engaging lessons by one of my favorite illustrators, Sarah Jane Wright (you may know her from her Lola Dutch picture books!). This is great for kids about 4-11 and you own it forever so they can take it whenever they’d like at their own pace,” boasts Everyday Reading.
6. Craft Supplies
For the little Picasso’s in your life, investing in their creativity never fails. “There’s a reason we joke about kids playing with the boxes instead of the toys! It’s because they love to use their imaginations to craft fun creations! One of my daughter’s favorite gifts a few years back was a plastic bin full of crafting goodies from her aunt. So create a fun collection of twine, ribbon, glue, googley eyes, buttons, special papers, cardboard, stickers, and other craft supplies. You’ll be amazed at how much fun a child can have when their imagination can go wild,” adds Birmingham’s Mom.
You can even throw supplies together using what you have at home. “Have a maker in the family? Spark their creativity with a box of interesting household materials to create something with. On the cover, write a simple, open-ended prompt like ‘Create a made-up animal’ or ‘What could you build with the stuff in this box?’ And then fill the box with supplies like straws, tissue paper, ribbon, felt, fabric, pipe cleaners, plastic forks, tape and glue, colorful paper, leaves, rubber bands, stray playing cards or game pieces, or anything else you find (just make sure the craft supplies you choose are safe and age-appropriate),” adds Parents Together.
7. An Annual Membership
Another gift that keeps on giving, is an annual membership to a child’s favorite place or activity. “From the zoo to the local inflatable playground, most places kids love to visit have annual memberships available for purchase online. It’s the easy-peasy gift that keeps on giving,” says Care.com.
This is another great customizable pick. “No matter what a child is interested in, there’s a museum, aquarium, or zoo where they can explore the topic further. A membership to one of these places—and the promise of spending some quality time there together—is a great way to bond and take in some local sights,” Shares Parents Together.
Plus, it’s like giving the gift of enriching experiences. “An annual pass to a local museum or science center is always appreciated. Not only are you giving them a far more rewarding experience than any toy can give, but you are also giving something for the family to enjoy together. What’s more, most children’s museums and science centers are reciprocal—meaning gifting them a membership to a local museum will give them free or discounted entry to other museums nationwide. Not sure what museum to buy them a membership to? The Association of Children’s Museums and the Association of Science and Technology Centers can help you find just the right one,” states USA Today.
You might also be interested in:
- Best Christmas Gifts for Dads
- Best Christmas Songs of All Time
- Best Last Minute Digital Gifts
- Best Tech Gifts For 2024
Sources:
- Leah Ingram
- The Daily Mom
- This Is Your Bliss
- Care.com
- Humbled Homemaker
- Birmingham’s Mom
- Parents Together
- USA Today
- Buzzfeed
- Everyday Reading
- PureWow
- CNet
- Today
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.