The festive season is a time for giving and receiving, but trying to think of original Christmas gift ideas for kids seems to get harder every year. This year, why not try giving a unique Christmas gift that’ll not only teach them about money but also help them to build good money habits that could last a lifetime.
We’ve pulled together a list of Christmas gift ideas for kids of all ages, so next time you’re thinking of what to get them, think about picking up one of the gifts below.
Cool gifts for younger kids
Giving kids an early introduction to the world of money can help them learn important life lessons from a young age and prepare them for a brighter future. To help them get to grips with the basics, some unique gift ideas for kids include:
1. Piggy Bank
A piggy bank or money box is a great way to teach your kids about saving money and will come in handy when they need to stash away any gifted money from Christmas or birthdays. Choose one that they’ll love, perhaps their favourite character or one that lights up when you place money inside. You could even start a savings challenge with your kids, seeing how much money they can save in a month or a year.
2. Toy cash register
A toy cash register is a fun and educational gift for young kids to help them understand the idea of ‘buying and selling’ items in exchange for money. Depending on their age, it can also help them to learn the basics of adding and subtracting – the perfect way to give them a head start with money.
3. Board games
There’s some great board games out there to help kids learn about the value of money, such as Monopoly and The Game of Life. These games are a brilliant way for kids to learn about budgeting, saving, and investing while having fun with the rest of the family. We’ve already written an article about some other fun money games for kids that you can play if Monopoly gets too competitive!
4. Books
If your kid is a bookworm, there’s loads of books about money that they can dive into. Have a look around and find a few books to help introduce the concept of money in a way they’ll still find interesting.
Christmas gift ideas for older children
As kids get older, they also want more independence, so teaching them good money habits can give them the confidence to manage their money wisely and make considered spending choices when they’re out and about with friends. Good Christmas gift ideas for older kids include:
1. Savings account
If your child is old enough, you can open a savings account to give them a safe place to save their money and earn interest. You could even offer to match their savings or set them a challenge to save as much as they can in a month or a year.
2. Prepaid debit card
A prepaid debit card is a great way for your kids to make considered spending choices with their card, while you decide how much responsibility to hand over. Many cards come with flexible parental controls that let you choose where and how much your kids can spend, and with no risk of going overdrawn, you can let your kids take the next step towards confident money management.
3. Money management apps
Money management apps are a great way to help older kids learn the basics of budgeting and saving. These apps can help kids to track their spending, set their own money goals, and gain the confidence to make smarter spending choices.
No matter how old your kids are, our Christmas gift ideas for kids can teach them the basics of money management and help them to develop good financial habits that’ll last a lifetime. If you’re looking for other top tips to help you get prepped in the run-up to Christmas, check out our Christmas survival guide for parents.