Alternative Gifts for a Kid's Birthday Party

Whether you're trying to teach a child about the importance of caring for others or simply attempting to cut down on the amount of clutter in your home, there are plenty of excellent birthday gift alternatives to consider. The key to choosing the ideal alternative gift is to think about the child's age as well as his personal interests.

  1. Planting a Tree

    • A child who enjoys being outdoors might like the idea of a tree being planted in his honor. If you don't want to plant a tree in your own backyard, the Arbor Day Foundation website lets you plant a tree in either Superior National Forest or Blackwater River State Forest. You can print a personalized gift certificate for the birthday child after ordering your tree.

    Wildlife Adoption

    • If the birthday girl has always dreamed of having an exotic pet, a wildlife adoption makes for a unique birthday gift. The World Wildlife Fund lets you adopt a variety of endangered animals, including pandas, tigers, kangaroos and humpback whales. The adoption package comes with a plush toy and adoption certificate.

    Library Donation

    • Donating a copy of the birthday boy's favorite book to the local library can be an inexpensive yet meaningful gift idea. Many libraries put special bookplates in donated titles to indicate who they came from or send personalized thank-you letters to people who have donated books.

    Magazine Subscriptions

    • Most kids love the idea of getting mail that is addressed to them. A magazine subscription can encourage reluctant readers to practice their skills. If you want the birthday girl to have something to open, wrap up a current issue of the magazine you've selected along with a gift card explaining that you have purchased a subscription. Zoobooks and Highlights are both good choices for children ages six to 12. There are also several junior versions of popular adult titles, such as Sports Illustrated Kids and National Geographic Kids.

    Activity Kits

    • Activity kits make ideal alternatives to traditional birthday gifts because they are consumable items that don't create unnecessary clutter. If you don't want to buy a prepackaged activity kit, you could make your own. Assemble a few simple mixes in decorative jars and give them to an aspiring chef along with a cute child-sized apron. For a little artist, you could pack several sketchbooks and a large box of crayons into a pretty storage tote.

    Experience Gifts

    • For a child who already has a room full of toys, experience gifts can be a great choice. Gift certificates for a trip to the zoo, nearby children's museum or even a summer day camp help create special memories for the birthday child without adding unnecessary clutter.

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