Today’s Hint: Compact & Affordable Gifts for Urban Kids

Note from Hint Mama: Before our daughter was born, I envisioned that all of her toys would be contained in her play area off of our living room. But despite my best efforts, her toys have taken over half of our living room and part of our dining room. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve bought her a play kitchen, a little table and other relatively large gifts. Next time, however, I’m going to think twice before I buy something big for my daughter. Instead, I’ll consider these compact and affordable gift ideas from Hint Mama contributor Karen Witham, who writes over at Thoughtstream and is sharing hints from the perspective of a mom of a preschooler and a first-grader.

Growing up as an only child in suburban Florida, space was not really an issue.

I had my own room and two closets to call my own, and our house, while fairly small, had a garage and a back yard. However, my parenting experience has almost entirely been in small apartments – and now, a small house – in the San Francisco Bay Area. (My house is less than 1,000 square feet; my kids share a bedroom, a closet and a dresser. Our whole family shares one bathroom.)

Living this way means being constantly mindful of space and clutter. I’ve learned to think twice before acquiring anything new, and I get it why many parents throw “no-gift” birthday parties. In fact, for my kids’ first few birthdays we had no-gift parties — but all that ends once they get older, and they start going to other kids’ parties, and noticing and remembering gifts. So, parents of toddlers, enjoy that ride while it lasts.

There are many things about kid gifting that I wish I’d known as a new parent — and really wish I’d known before I had kids, when I bought some of the no-nos noted below for my friends with babies.

In general, heavy, bulky, or huge is probably not the best choice when it comes to gifts for kids who live in small spaces. No, you will not magically grow new closet space for the giant stuffed elephant that your daughter fell in love with at the store. In fact, stuffed animals are rarely played with for long, and they take up space and gather dust, as other parents have noticed too (like blogger “I gave up by noon”).

I have also noticed that my kids quickly lose interest in the “one-hit-wonder” electronic toys, but they return repeatedly to the toys that grow with them, let them make up their own rules, and use their imaginations.

So what tend to be good gifts for little ones living in small spaces? Here are five urban-friendly gift shopping tips.

1. I like IKEA. Whenever I’m feeling crazed by our lack of space, I go to IKEA and see how the employees there have somehow created a magical model living space for a 400-square-foot apartment. (And, as a member of IKEA Family, there’s free coffee!) Perhaps partly because Ikea has an urban client in mind, its toys tend to be small, easily storable, and supportive of imaginative play, not to mention affordable. Check out the Mula wooden toys, Mala crafts, and Spexa foldable dollhouse here.

2. Think kid-friendly museums & attractions. Museum and zoo memberships and passes make great, compact gifts that are guaranteed to get the kids out of their cramped spaces and out into the city. Moms chatting over at What to Expect also are fans of the zoo membership gift approach, and the ladies over at 510Families.com offer a great roundup of similar clutter-free experience gift ideas for Bay Area families.

In addition, check out the gift shops of kid-oriented museums and activities. These well-curated and educational collections often include small trinkets that make great gifts, and your purchase will likely benefit a nonprofit.

Some of my local favorites in the East Bay are Children’s Fairyland, the Oakland Museum of California, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and Chabot Space & Science Center. One of my all-time best finds is the mini activity books from Dover that you can buy in the Fairyland gift shop. They cost less than $2 and are full of activities and coloring fun for kids ages around 4 to 7.

3. Go for the old classics. Kids will get a lot of mileage out of simple classics like Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoys, puzzles, washable art supplies, sidewalk chalk, balls and bubbles. For a great selection of retro toys visit The Vermont Country Store and original vintage toys command high prices on eBay, but you never know what you might find at a garage or estate sale.

4. Craft and dollar stores are your friend. Some of the most creative and affordable gifts I’ve seen have come from crafty places such as Michaels, like paint-by-numbers and latch hook kits. (One warning about crafty gifts: At the opposite end of the “avoid big and bulky” mantra lies the truth that “many tiny beads, elastics, or other small pieces can drive most parents insane and children to tears.” Use caution and be sure the kid is old enough to handle the craft.)

Another place for good artsy finds, especially for crayons, coloring books and stickers? Your local dollar store or if you have one, your local Daiso store. Does anyone do cute and compact stuff better than the Japanese? (These stores are also a great place to find affordable party favors.)

5. Consider a clothing or superstore gift card. When you live in a small space, there’s a limit to how many clothes you can fit in your home, and taste in clothing varies widely. So unless there’s a specific clothing item on a wish list, don’t treat clothes like a gift. Give the parents a gift card to a great kids’ clothing store (or a superstore like Amazon.com), or offer to take the parent (or if appropriate, kid) shopping if you just love the idea of clothes. In addition, school-aged kids may like this clothing-related craft; I loved my Fashion Plates when I was young.

For other ideas, check out this creative list of “10 gifts for kids that don’t involve ‘stuff’” from the blog Small Notebook, or some of these cute ideas from Real Simple, like the “mustache bandages” and “surprise balls.”

To be sure, kids may really want that big, unwieldy gift, but be strong, and just say no if in your gut you know it will be a challenging fit in your home.

Whether you’re buying gifts for your own kids or little friends and family, consider practical things like bedroom size, siblings (it’s optimal if a gift is shareable or pass-down-able), storage, yard space, garages, stairs, and even whether car parking is convenient. And yes, that adorable wooden play kitchen will trip up an unsuspecting adult in the middle of the night if you can’t find an out-of-the-way spot for it.

With the exception of gift cards and museum passes, even the most compact toys still take up space. So, I’ve come to link the idea of things coming in – via birthdays and holidays – with the idea that some things need to go “out” – via donations, sales, or even the garbage can.

In that vein, and just in time for spring cleaning, stay tuned for a follow-up post on tips for getting rid of toys. As my friend says when he’s trying to clear a room at the end of a party, “Thanks for coming — and thanks for going!

What are your tips, and pet peeves, when it comes to getting – or giving – kids’ gifts?

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