A curated list of 2025’s best low-tech and screen-free Christmas gifts for toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens.
- This year’s recommendations include STEM toys, craft kits, sensory play, outdoor gifts, music gear, and subscription boxes – all designed to reduce screen time.
- Consider trending 2025 favourites like Hydro Flasks, Squishmallows, jewellery-making kits, Toniebox updates, retro gadgets, and advanced Lego sets.
- Experience-based gifts encourage action: art classes, adventure camps, music lessons, sports clinics, cooking workshops, and museum memberships.
- Mental wellbeing gift ideas such as affirmation cards, journaling kits, stress-relief tools, and mindfulness activities can help build resilience.
- Eco-friendly and skill-building gift options include grow-your-own kits, beekeeping starter sets, birdhouse crafts, pottery kits, and leatherworking.
- The list provides a balanced mix of low-cost, mid-range, and premium gifts for every age group and interest.
If you’re hunting for inspiring, imaginative ideas that don’t require a screen, you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up this year’s best non-tech and low-tech present picks for little ones through to teenagers. Whether your kid is an artist, a maker, a mover, or an adventure-seeker, these gift ideas support learning, creativity, and connection – no devices needed.
Low-tech gift ideas for kids of all ages
Whether you’re shopping for your niece, a friend’s teen, your godchild, or your own children, we’ve done the searching for you. From preschoolers to young adults, here’s our updated 2025 guide to inspire your screen-free gifting this festive season.
The best low-tech gifts for toddlers and preschoolers
A toy subscription
Lovevery continues to be a favourite in 2025. Their annually updated, expert-curated play kits are developmentally tailored for ages 0–4 and arrive with beautifully designed toys that grow with your child.
A classic easel
For scribbles, mark-making, and future masterpieces, an easel is a timeless gift. Melissa & Doug’s dual-sided option is still a parent favourite for durability and simplicity.
Sensory bath toys
Bathtime = prime playtime. Sensory bath toys, bath pipes, floating lights, colour-drop fizzers, or a mini bubble machine all help toddlers explore cause and effect and build motor skills.
Magnetic tiles
Still one of the best open-ended, screen-free toys. Magnetic building tiles encourage creativity, engineering skills, and hours of independent play.
A Pikler triangle
This Montessori staple remains hugely popular. It’s part climbing frame, part imaginative-play starter kit, and supports physical confidence and coordination. TinyLand’s 2025 versions offer foldable models that save space.
A roll-up floor piano
If you want to encourage musical play (without giant instruments taking over the house), a roll-up piano is perfect. Toddlers can jump, tap, and experiment—then you can roll it away when you need a little peace.
The best low-tech gift ideas for younger kids (5–8)
Wooden Tetris-style puzzles
Coogam’s wooden puzzles remain a bestseller. Kids slot colourful wooden shapes together to form patterns and pictures: simple, satisfying, and endlessly replayable.
A talking microscope
The GeoSafari Jr is still one of the best entry-level STEM gifts. Narrated by wildlife experts, it lets kids explore slides full of animals, plants, and bugs.
A solar-powered cash register
Perfect for role-play and numeracy practice. Kids build social-emotional skills like turn-taking and empathy through imaginative shop scenarios.
A play tent or pop-up ball pit
Whether it’s an indoor winter hideaway or an outdoor summertime fort, a collapsible tent gives younger kids their own little world with no screens needed.
Animatronic low-commitment “pets”
Fingerlings, FurReal Friends, and newer 2025 robotic critters make great starter “pets” for families who aren’t ready for the real thing.
Or… try a real pet
If your child is ready, small animals (hamsters, fish, guinea pigs) can teach responsibility. Just make sure to research the right fit for your home beforehand.
A Toniebox
Still a parenting essential. No screens, no overstimulation, just stories, songs, and plenty of calm pre-bed entertainment.
The best non-tech gift ideas for tweens (9–12)
2025 tween trends
K-Pop Demon Hunters merch, Hydro Flask bottles, Crocs, and puffy accessory charms are this year’s “must-have” items. Choose customisable colours, stickers, and charms to let them personalise their look.
Grow-your-own kits
Click & Grow and other brands now offer beginner-friendly herb, flower, and veggie kits perfect for curious budding gardeners and eco-enthusiasts.
Flipside or reaction-based handheld games
Like a screen-free Rubik’s upgrade, these toys offer fast, addictive challenges—minus the digital distractions.
Karaoke machines
Got a performer in the house? A portable, rechargeable karaoke unit supports confidence, creativity, and (for better or worse) lots of singing.
Musical instruments
If they’ve hinted at wanting a guitar, ukulele, keyboard, or drums, Christmas is the perfect moment to support their artistic side.
Jewellery-making kits
These remain a top craft trend for 2025. Beadology and similar brands offer sets for beginners and more advanced creators.
A low-tech ice cream maker
DASH continues to be a favourite. Tweens get hands-on creativity and treats—win-win.
Squishmallows & Jellycat
Still massively popular for comfort and collecting, especially among neurodivergent tweens who love their sensory-friendly softness.
Advanced Lego kits
From architectural models to movie replicas, Lego offers hours of focused, screen-free building.
Universal Yums subscription
Every month brings snacks from a different country, perfect for adventurous eaters.
The best low-tech gift ideas for teenagers
A bedroom makeover kit
Let them customise their safe space. Think LED strip lights (the 2025 warm-tone trend), wall art, storage upgrades, or a fresh duvet set.
Affirmation cards
These remain popular with teen girls and boys alike—supporting daily confidence boosts during emotionally intense years.
Sportswear or outdoor gear
A great push to get them active and outdoors.
Personalised stationery
Surprisingly cool again in 2025, even for teens who usually prefer typing. Perfect for exam revision and school motivation.
Retro low-tech gadgets
Nostalgia is trending with Tamagotchis and Furbys hitting shelves again.
Board games teens actually like
Try:
- Wordle: The Party Game
- Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza
- Never Have I Ever (family edition!)
- What Do You Meme? – Family
- Escape Room in a Box
Hair chalks
Fun, commitment-free experimentation without long-term dyes.
Temporary tattoo kits
BIC’s BodyMark range remains one of the safest and most creative options.
Journaling kits
A brilliant alternative to scrolling and posting. Add washi tapes, stickers, and highlighters for extra appeal.
Stress-relief gifts
Stress balls, sensory putty, yoga vouchers, or mindfulness sessions can support mental wellbeing during exam season.
Beauty and skincare gifts
Bubble and other teen-friendly lines are still at the top of wish lists.
Gift cards teens actually want
Amazon’s Happy Teen card remains one of the most flexible picks, redeemable across popular stores and restaurants.
The best non-tech gift ideas for the hobby-mad tween
Pottery kits
Let them create bowls, mugs, or sculpture, perfect for tactile, creative minds.
Build-your-own birdhouse
A great project for nature-loving kids, complete with painting and decorating.
Beginner archery set
A safe, supervised introduction to focus, discipline, and hand-eye coordination.
Origami kits
A mindful, calming screen-free activity.
Astronomy starter set
A telescope, star chart, and constellation guide = the beginning of a lifelong hobby.
Leatherworking kits
Let them craft keychains, wallets, and gifts for others.
Screen-free robotics
Mechanical build-it kits that teach engineering without apps or tablets.
Bee-friendly garden kits
A wonderful introduction to pollination, conservation, and sustainability.
Non-tech and screen-free experience gifts for tweens
Experience gifts are often the ones they remember most. Package them up as homemade vouchers if you want to keep costs down.
- Local art classes – Painting, pottery, digital-free creativity.
- Adventure camps – Hiking, canoeing, climbing, outdoor confidence-building.
- Cooking or baking classes – A life skill and a fun afternoon.
- Music lessons – Guitar, piano, drums—let them explore their sound.
- Horseback riding lessons – Confidence, responsibility, and connection with animals.
- Science museum membership – A full year of hands-on learning.
- Sports clinics – Soccer, tennis, basketball—whatever they love.
- Drama workshops – Great for confidence and self-expression.
- Photography classes – They’ll learn composition, lighting, and storytelling.
- Gardening lessons or kits – Responsibility, patience, and outdoor play.
Wrapping it up for 2025
Whatever your child is into this year, we hope this fresh 2025 guide helps inspire gifts that boost creativity, independence, imagination, and connection, while giving your young people a little less time with technology this holiday season.
