While many parents prefer experienced-based gifts for their child’s birthday, many fun events and attractions have been closed or limited due to the ongoing pandemic. Not to worry, there are plenty of toys and games you can find for the kid who’s spending their birthday inside this year. If you’re stuck for ideas, here are some ideas for the best quarantine birthday gifts for kids.
Imaginative Toys
When you’re stuck inside during quarantine (or just a rainy day), there’s nothing like a good open-ended toy to spark a child’s imagination for hours of creative play. A well-made doll and plenty of fun accessories can provide a jumping-off point for all kinds of stories and adventures – and the only limit is your imagination! Action figures, animal figurines, and baby dolls are all excellent choices for long screen-free days when you’re bored inside.
For a handy curated set of dolls and accessories, check out our Lottie Dolls bundles for kids who love STEAM activities, pets of all shapes and sizes, the great outdoors, and more!
STEM toys
Kids love learning, and there’s no better time to sharpen their skills in the realm of science, engineering, technology, and math than during quarantine. Whatever your kid is into, whether it’s engineering dolls, logic-based puzzles, science lab kits, pretend gardening tools, or building a real working robot – there’s a STEM toy to keep them entertained for hours.
Irish-based company Arckit makes a unique architectural building kit that teaches kids about design, structure, and allows them to design and build miniature model homes of their very own. You can also read more about STEM toys over here at our blog for more ideas.
Board Games
What better way to celebrate a birthday than with a fun family board game night? With so many award-winning board games out there, you’ll be able to find the perfect one for your family dynamic – even if you let the birthday kid win the first few rounds.
Young children will enjoy classics such as Connect 4, Candy Land, or Chutes and Ladders, but an older board game enthusiast will have fun learning Ticket to Ride, Azul, or 30 Seconds – “The Quick Thinking Fast Talking Irish Board Game”. Toys and Games, Ireland carries a ton of different options of games suitable for all ages.
Active Toys
It’s important to get outside and stay active, especially when so many of us are stuck at home – but with the right outdoor toys, everyone can enjoy getting outside and having fun! From balance bikes to scooters, lawn games to gardening supplies, going outside has never been more fun – especially on your birthday.
Puzzles
Another gift that keeps on giving – puzzles! Depending on the age level and difficulty, you can find puzzles that every birthday kid will appreciate. If they’re a little too challenging, make it a fun family project. You can find puzzles for all ages and skill levels at local toy shops or online.
Art Supplies
If you’re already bogged down by toys at home, consider adding some student-grade art supplies to the birthday pile for your budding Picasso. Upgrade their boring crayons and markers to higher-quality versions of brush pens or pastels, or gift them the whole setup with an easel and good-quality paper too. You don’t have to be an expert artist either, as many art supply websites provide tutorials and other handy guides to help. You can always pick up a pre-made art kit for kids, designed to have everything they need to get started.
Downloadable Gifts
If you want fun for the whole family, did you know you can download a gift right from your computer? Science experiments, e-books, coloring pages, STEM activities, and more – all are ready at your fingertips. With a little pre-planning, you could print instructions to a DIY solar system, dress some delightful paper dolls, or simply keep younger siblings occupied with some fun paper crafts while the birthday kid is opening their gifts.
Check out all of our downloadable resources for fun birthday gifts, activities, and more!
Virtual Experiences
Even if you can’t take your kids somewhere fun on their birthday, you can still give them an experience-based gift. Party princess companies will often provide characters for virtual entertainment, and libraries, zoos, and educational institutions all over the world are putting tons of content online for a nominal fee (or free!). If you’d still like to take your gifts offline, check out Goodreads or the New York Times bestseller list for new book recommendations to jazz up your little reader’s bookshelf on their birthday.
Quality Time
Sure, it’s fun to watch your child’s eyes light up on their birthday at a pile of fancy gifts. But most kids would be just as happy with some special quality time with their favorite people, just for them. Make an elaborate birthday meal together, watch a new movie with some special movie snacks, or set up a spa day. Kids love quality time, and with a little creativity, you’ll be sure to find something that the whole family will enjoy.
