Christmas

25 Things Kids Can Open Early That Aren’t Toys

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Are your kids always begging to open one Christmas gift early?

I know mine are!

That’s why I’ve come up with these magical ideas for early gifts for kids to give them a little taste of Christmas morning without having to wait until December 25th.

But…

…If your house is already overflowing with toys like mine, I totally get that you probably don’t want to add another toy to the pile.

So instead of toys, this list focuses on giving your kids a Christmas gift they can open early and actually use during the holiday season to make December more fun.

Whether you’re looking for Christmas gifts that aren’t toys, or simply some fun things to let kids open early, these ideas are perfect for creating a little extra holiday magic.

Let’s get to it!

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Looking for early gifts for kids? Discover 25 fun Christmas gifts that aren't toys, including cozy, festive ideas kids can enjoy all season long.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information read my full disclosure here.

1. Christmas Pajamas

Christmas pajamas are one of the easiest gifts to open early for kids because they can wear them all month long.

Look for festive pajamas featuring Christmas trees, Santa, snowflakes, reindeer, or their favorite holiday characters. My favorites are always Carter’s because they have matching toddler and kid ones for both my children (find the newest styles here).

You can even make opening Christmas pajamas an annual family tradition.

2. Christmas Sheets

Give their bedroom an instant Christmas makeover with a set of festive sheets.

Christmas sheets are especially fun because they’re something kids can enjoy every night throughout December.

Grab any of these best-selling cozy flannel sheets with favorite characters like Rudolph, the Grinch, Hello Kitty and more.

3. Gingerbread House Kit

A gingerbread house kit is practically made for an early Christmas gift.

Let the kids open it early, then spend an afternoon decorating their house with frosting and candy. It’s a delicious way to turn an ordinary December day into a Christmas memory.

4. Christmas Book

A new Christmas book is a classic non-toy Christmas gift for kids.

Wrap up a favorite holiday story and let your child open it early. Then make reading it together part of your bedtime routine throughout December.

Here are some of our toddler favorites:

Kid favorites:

5. Christmas Movie Night Basket

Put together a little Christmas movie night basket filled with popcorn, hot chocolate, Christmas candy, and a cozy blanket.

Let your child open the basket early and choose the first Christmas movie of the season.

6. Christmas Mug

My kids love having special dishes that are just for them.

So they’ll love opening a Christmas mug decorated with Santa, snowmen, Christmas trees, or their favorite holiday character that’s just for them (this one always gets a laugh).

Fill the mug with hot chocolate packets or marshmallows for an extra-special surprise.

7. Christmas Ornament Craft Kit

A Christmas ornament craft kit is a perfect early gift because kids can open it and immediately start creating something special for the tree.

This fun craft kit has tons of unfinished wooden ornaments and everything kids need to decorate including paint, glitter and stickers. They can make their own ornaments throughout December and then proudly hang their creations on the Christmas tree.

8. Christmas Blanket

A soft Christmas blanket makes a wonderful early gift for kids.

They won’t stop smiling when they open this seriously fun personalized Christmas blanket. Add a cute or silly photo of their face on it, personalize it with their name (or both!).

Plus, they’ll have plenty of time to use it for movie nights, reading, or snuggling up on chilly December evenings.

9. Christmas Coloring Or Activity Book

A Christmas coloring book or activity book is an inexpensive way to give kids something festive to enjoy all season.

It can be a classic Christmas coloring book or a Christmas version of their favorite characters such as:

Pair it with crayons, colored pencils, or markers and let them start creating their own Christmas masterpieces as soon as they open it.

10. Christmas Cookie Decorating Kit

Kids don’t need another toy when they can have cookies to decorate!

Give them a cookie decorating kit that includes:

It’s an especially fun Christmas gift that isn’t a toy because it turns into a holiday activity.

11. Christmas Baking Apron

Speaking of making cookies, how about a festive apron?

This affordable holiday apron is perfect for both boys and girls.

Whether they’re baking cookies, helping prepare Christmas dinner or doing holiday crafts with paint, they’ll feel like one of Santa’s official helpers.

12. Christmas Socks

Festive socks are small enough to make a fun surprise gift without creating more clutter.

Fluffy, fuzzy slipper socks are the best especially when they’re rocking cute Christmas and winter designs both boys and girls will love.

13. Christmas Robe

Do the kids love lounging around and being cozy in December?

Give them this fleece Christmas robe or get a little silly with a Christmas character onesie such as a reindeer, gingerbread man, snowman or elf!

They can wear it on Christmas morning, during movie nights, or any chilly winter morning leading up to the big day.

14. Christmas Slippers

Give those Christmas pajamas an upgrade with a pair of these best-selling fluffy slippers.

From cute Santa slippers to adorable reindeer designs, Christmas slippers are a fun seasonal surprise kids can start wearing immediately.

15. Christmas Plate

A special Christmas plate can make breakfast and snacks feel a little more magical.

Toddlers and young children will love these whimsical plates and cutlery while older children may enjoy this set here that they can use through out the holiday season and for Santa’s special cookies and milk snack on Christmas Eve.

16. Mini Christmas Tree

Give your child a little Christmas tree of their very own for their bedroom.

Both of my kids have this small tree that stands on their dressers. It’s one of the first things we pull out when the kids are itching to begin the Christmas season.

They love to decorate it with their favorite mini ornaments, lights, bows, and handmade decorations.

It’s such a fun Christmas gift to open early because they can enjoy it for the entire season and have their own little Christmas space.

Then going forward each year you can gift an ornament for their tree for them to open early!

17. Holiday Puzzle

A holiday puzzle makes a fun early Christmas gift that kids can enjoy during the season without adding another toy to the pile.

I love this Christmas puzzle because after the kids finish the puzzle, there are 40+ things for them to search for in the picture.

Set it up on a cozy December afternoon and let the kids work on it together while Christmas music plays in the background.

18. Christmas Stickers

Never underestimate the excitement of a fresh sheet of Christmas stickers.

Gift Christmas stickers like these that kids can use for crafts, homemade cards, wrapping paper, notebooks, or Christmas countdown activities.

OR

Grab some re-usable Christmas window stickers that the kids can decorate with over and over.

Both options are inexpensive, festive, and easy to enjoy throughout December.

19. Christmas Craft Supplies

Give your kids a little bundle of Christmas craft supplies to open early.

Think glitter, pom-poms, pipe cleaners, construction paper, stickers, ribbon, and other festive supplies they can use to make Christmas decorations, cards and crafts.

20. Felt Christmas Tree

A felt Christmas tree is such a fun early Christmas gift for toddlers.

My kids have had this felt tree for a few years already that we bring out with the decorations each holiday season and hang on the wall. It has lots of removable ornaments, bows, candy canes, stars and other festive pieces.

It’s a simple, mess-free way for little ones to have their own Christmas tree to decorate, and they can change it up as many times as they want.

And hopefully, for you, it keeps them from wanting to take ornaments on and off the real tree!

21. Christmas Bath Bombs

Make bath time a little more magical with these Christmas-themed bath bombs!

With fun shapes from Santa to candy cane, it’s a simple little surprise that’s especially fun for kids who love a special bath.

22. Christmas Hair Accessories

For girls who enjoy a little holiday glam, Christmas-themed hair accessories can be a fun early surprise.

Think sparkly bows, Christmas-colored scrunchies, reindeer clips, or cute holiday headbands.

23. Christmas Dress-Up

Give the kids a seasonal surprise of festive accessories they can wear throughout December. Think Santa hats, Christmas bracelets, jingly accessories, and silly glasses and reindeer headbands.

They can mix and match them for Christmas parties, family photos, movie nights, or just for getting into the holiday spirit at home.

24. Christmas Countdown Calendar

A Christmas countdown calendar is a wonderful gift to open early because the whole point is to use it before Christmas.

You can choose a traditional countdown calendar with chocolates or one with tiny surprises that won’t clutter up the house.

Find the most popular countdown calendars for this year here.

25. A Christmas Eve Box

Why wait until Christmas Eve to introduce the tradition?

Give your kids a special Christmas Eve box early so they can see what’s coming. Fill it with Christmas pajamas, a book, hot chocolate, popcorn, Christmas socks, or another small seasonal surprise.

Have a special Christmas Eve box personalized with their name that you can use every year (I love this one) or use a simple festive basket like this to pile in the goodies.

Why Give Kids an Early Christmas Gift?

Sometimes you don’t need to wait until Christmas morning to give your kids a little holiday magic.

Early Christmas gifts for kids are a fun way to make the entire month of December feel more magical, especially when you choose something they can enjoy throughout the season. A new pair of Christmas pajamas, their own mini Christmas tree, a holiday puzzle, or a gingerbread house can become part of your family’s favorite Christmas traditions.

And if your kids already have plenty of toys, these Christmas gifts that aren’t toys are an easy way to give them something exciting without adding more clutter. From cozy Christmas sheets and festive accessories to ornament craft kits, Christmas books, and toddler-friendly felt trees, there are so many non-toy gifts for kids that feel special.

The best things kids can open before Christmas are often the ones that make the days leading up to Christmas more memorable. Let them open something early, put on their Christmas pajamas, turn on the tree lights, and enjoy a little holiday excitement together.

After all, Christmas magic doesn’t have to happen on just one day.

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Looking for early gifts for kids? Find 25 fun Christmas gifts that aren't toys, including cozy, festive ideas kids can enjoy all season long.

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