Birthday gift ideas for kids, by age

Children remember birthdays as a feeling more than a pile of presents. One good gift, one tradition and a little bit of magic usually beat a mountain of plastic.

Make it together, free

A letter from the Birthday FairyA personal letter that knows their age, their friends and what they did this year. A birthday photo signFree, fillable, with the questions to ask every year. The set is the treasure. A birthday wish listA printable list they fill in themselves, which also helps the grandparents. The year page in their Grow BookPhoto, height, favorites and a short recording of their voice this year.

Under $20

Ages 1–3: things to push, stack and fill. A ride-on, stacking cups, a board book with flaps. Sturdy beats clever.
Ages 1–3: a first art kit. Chunky crayons, washable paint and a roll of paper for the floor.
Ages 4–6: dress-up and a cape. Costumes get more play than almost anything else at this age.
Ages 7–10: their own books. A series to start, with their name written inside the cover.
Any age: a birthday tradition. The same breakfast, the same photo spot, the door covered in paper. Free, and it becomes theirs.

$20 to $75

Ages 7–10: a big building set. Something that takes a weekend, and that you can do with them.
Ages 7–10: a craft or science kit. Slime, crystals, a circuit kit. Check the age on the box honestly.
Ages 11–13: an experience with you. A game, a concert or a day out, just the two of you.

Worth it

Ages 4–6: a first bike or balance bike. The gift they remember. Add a helmet in their color.

Questions people ask

What can the kids make for the birthday child?

A letter from the Birthday Fairy — A personal letter that knows their age, their friends and what they did this year. It is free on Keepers of Childhood.

What is a good Kids’ birthdays gift under $20?

Ages 1–3: things to push, stack and fill. A ride-on, stacking cups, a board book with flaps. Sturdy beats clever.

What if we want to spend more?

Ages 4–6: a first bike or balance bike. The gift they remember. Add a helmet in their color.

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