20 Old Fashioned Christmas Gifts for Kids 12 and Under

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Have you and your kids become zombies in this age of screens everywhere? Do you long for the good ole’ days when conversation and meaningful gifts ruled the holidays? Make this Christmas different for your family with these old fashioned Christmas gifts for kids.

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Old Fashioned Christmas Gifts for Kids

Christmas Gift Guide that is Practical and [Mostly] Affordable
Christmas Gifting Outside the Box

1. Books!

Books are always my go-to for Christmas gifts. No matter what age the person, there is always a book of interest for them. Comic books, chapter books, picture books, board books, fact books like the Guinness Book of World Records, joke books and many more.

Even my brother – who wasn’t an avid reader – loved getting joke books, comic books and science books. Consider books as your first option for Christmas gifts for kids.

2. Audio Books

If the person on your Christmas list truly isn’t a reader or doesn’t have time to read, consider audio books. There are lots of apps that you can purchase audio books through.

3. Tricky Dogs

I gotta admit that I didn’t know what tricky dogs were until I met my husband. He introduced me to them at church. One of his little cousins was playing with them on the cover of a hymnal.

After church, back at his house, he showed me his own tricky dogs and how they worked. They are two magnetic dogs. You can make them spin, kiss, chase each other or anything you want through the cover of a book.

Tricky dogs are excellent entertainment for church, the car or other places you need your children to be quiet. They are easy to carry in your purse for such occasions.

Read More: Quiet Church Activities for Toddlers

4. Jacks

Who doesn’t love a good game of jacks!? This fun, simple game encourages hand-eye coordination and can be played along or with friends.

Just teach your children how to put them away so you don’t step on them or vacuum them!

5. Jump Rope

Children of all ages still enjoy jump ropes. This activity also encourages hand-eye (and foot) coordination. Let your kids have fun outside, in the basement or the garage burning off all that extra energy.

Teach them how to jump by themselves. Forwards, backwards, criss cross, one leg and singing.

Or get them a longer rope and encourage the older children to help swing either end so someone can jump in the middle.

Look up some jump rope songs on YouTube to give your kids added fun.

6. Lacing Boards

When I was little I loved these sewing boards! You can lace and unlace them as many times as you want. The boards are wooden so they don’t wear out and the lacing strings are sturdy, too. If the lacing strings do wear out, just grab a pack of shoe laces at the store.

Shop around to find other animals and even dolls to trace.

Another great quiet activity for the car or church.

7. Paint by Sticker

So nothing beats the traditional paint-by-number but if you have younger kids, those can be messy. Why not try this paint by sticker for some of your younger children?

They can join in on the fun of creating their own artwork!

8. Paint by Number

When I was a kid and even a teenager I loved doing paint by numbers. I was kinda artsy but didn’t want to create a painting from a blank canvas.

Paint by numbers were perfect for me! There are all skill levels available.

9. Needlepoint

So maybe you don’t want to jump into counted cross stitch or embroidery right away. Why not try this adorable kit?

Get your kid started with something easy and then move on to more difficult stitching projects. This is a great winter time hobby!

10. Latch Hook

Even my brothers enjoyed doing latch hook projects. Somehow latch hook is a little more manly than needlepoint… I can’t blame them.

But there are cute girl designs as well!

11. Leathercraft Set

When we were kids, someone gave us a treasure chest (for real huge treasure chest!) full of leather, leather tools, leather accessories, buttons, stains and anything else for leather working. We had a blast making moccasins, hair barrettes, pouches and more.

This random gift sparked a new hobby for all of us kids and soon we were tanning deer and cow hides.

Grab this starter kit for your children to make their own leather creations!

12. Rock Tumbler

Give your kids something to do with all their “cool” rocks they find and make you collect. With a rock tumbler they can turn their treasures into real treasures. 😉

13. Sleeping Bag

Kids are drawn to camping.

Anywhere.

The thought of getting to sleep anywhere other than their bed is such an adventure for them and can be encouraged with a sleeping bag. You don’t have to even plan any extravagant trip or overnight camping. Just make some popcorn for them and let them have their own “camp out” in the living room or basement. Maybe they just want to watch a movie snuggled warm inside.

14. Teepee Play Tent

So if you want a special place for your kids to camp with their
sleeping bags, set up this teepee in the living room! My brother’s kids have one of these and they love it. It is one of their favorite reading nooks, too.

15. Trunk Box

Is your windowsill over run with special “treasures” your children find or
make? Why not get them their very own treasure box. I’m 32 and I still have a treasure box. I keep special letters, rare coins and memorable souvenirs in it.

It’s also a great place for your kids to store their polished rocks.

16. Microscope Kit

So a microscope isn’t that old fashioned…but hey, it’s not an
electronic so in my book that’s a win! Grab your child this perfect microscope kit so they can discover for themselves all kinds of bugs and critters from your yard (or house).

Even the skin of an onion is cool to look at under a microscope.

17. Locking Cash Box

Kids love money. Kids love locks. So why not get them a locking cash box! One year my husband and I got my nephews (aged 8, 8 and 3) each their own cash box just like this one.

They loved them! The locks kept them obsessed and they had so much fun playing “store.” And they could keep so much more than just money in them.

18. Swiss Army Knife

Even girls love a cool pocket knife. Grab your kids or nieces and nephews each their own pocket knife. This Swiss army knife has enough little gadgets to keep them entertained for quite a while.

Provided you instruct the kids on knife safety.

19. Play-Doh

Um, I still like to play with clay or Play-Doh. There’s something so
therapeutic about it. This gift is appropriate for kids of all ages.

And don’t feel like you have to clutter the house with all the little tools that you can buy. Just stick with a few simple kitchen tools you already have: like cookie cutters and a rolling pin.

Would you rather make your own play dough? Read my post: Homemade Play Dough

20. Kinetic Sand

Kinetic Sand might not be for toddlers, but wow! it is fun to play with even as an adult! It’s easy to vacuum out of the carpet and sweeps up easily off the floor. My son (and I!) love playing with this therapeutic sand.

21. Wooden Train Set

And last but not least is the classic train set. I know, it’s 21, but who doesn’t need more Christmas gift ideas?? With lots of pieces of track the possibilities are endless. The best part – no batteries required!

Grab your free Christmas Gift Checklist from my resource library when you sign up for my newsletter!

As Christmas approaches, don’t be the one that dreads shopping. Enjoy giving gifts this year that won’t have everyone in front of a screen. Hopefully you’ve found a few old fashioned ideas for Christmas gifts for kids.