Gifts for kids on a budget — save smartly, just as much fun

Ask a child after a birthday what the very best thing was, and the answer often surprises you: the big box the present came in, or playing together on the floor. Especially with young children, the price makes no difference at all — as long as they can have fun playing with it, a simple or second-hand gift is just as valuable as the most expensive one in the shop.

That’s actually very liberating: you don’t have to spend much to bring on a big smile.

It’s often the parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts who feel it has to be ‘more’ — while children actually benefit from having less to take in. One gift that really gets attention gives more play than a pile the child races through.

And remember: a gift you got for free, or one that’s second-hand, can be just as much of a hit. It’s not about what it cost, but about whether it makes the child happy.

Second-hand children’s things change hands a lot in the Netherlands, and you can find gems for a fraction of the price new:

• Marktplaats: the biggest platform (the Dutch equivalent of eBay or Gumtree). Collecting locally is best — no postage, and you can look at the gift first.
• Facebook groups & Vinted: there are active groups for children’s things in every region, with friendly prices and quick replies. Vinted is the app for second-hand clothes and more.
• The vrijmarkt on King’s Day (Koningsdag): the yearly goldmine for second-hand toys, when anyone can sell their things on the street — getting up early pays off.
• Kringloopwinkels (charity and thrift shops): they often have a children’s section with books, cuddly toys, games and wooden toys.
• Book-swap boxes & give-away spots in the neighbourhood: free (children’s) books around the corner.

Not everything works equally well second-hand. These almost always do well:

• LEGO and DUPLO, wooden toys, puzzles and board games: sturdy and usually still complete (missing instructions can often be found free online).
• Books: they last forever and are often still in top condition.
• Balance bikes, scooters and bikes: children grow out of these quickly, so second-hand is ideal.

Do be critical about the condition, though. One second-hand item is hardly distinguishable from new, while another can be quite worn. A few rules of thumb:

• Judge the condition carefully: are the photos unclear? Ask for clear photos, or only buy it if you can look at it first.
• Look at bigger and more expensive toys in real life first: a bike, scooter or cargo bike is best checked properly (brakes, tyres, handlebars and hinges) before you buy.
• Mind the safety: avoid toys with sharp edges, tears or loose small parts — they can be dangerous for young children. Not sure about a brand or type? Check that it hasn’t been recalled.
• Some things are better bought new: a bike helmet or car seat can have invisible damage after a fall — that’s not where you want to compromise.
• Electronic toys with batteries: parts wear out and safety is harder to check — be extra cautious here.
• Cuddly toys and textiles: fine second-hand, but wash them at 60 degrees first.
• Sets and games: ask whether everything is complete (missing instructions can often be found free online).
• Preferably choose well-known brands in good condition: they’re safer, last longer and hold their value.

Read more about this in our article on sustainable gift-giving.

• Buy at a good moment: early September is generally cheaper than the busy October–December period, although this varies by brand.
• Keep an eye on offers and buy in time: handy if your child’s interests are fairly stable. With very young children they can change quickly — then it’s better to wait until closer to the occasion.
• Watch the postage: small gifts are often cheaper in the shop, while more expensive products are easy to compare online. If you order online, bundle your orders to share the postage.

Go for inexpensive products that are still good quality and last a long time:

• Good colouring pencils last for years, while felt-tip pens dry out quickly. With a set of good pencils and a sketch or colouring book from, for example, Pipoos (a Dutch craft-supplies shop), you create hours of fun again and again. You’ll find more affordable materials that last for years in our overview of lovely drawing supplies for children.
• Toys with ‘endless’ play value: a good football or basketball often means years of fun.
• Wooden classics, construction sets and board games last a long time, and you can pass them on or sell them later.

Not every child likes everything equally — and a gift that misses is a waste of money. Two ways to choose a gift that fits:

• Look at what your child really plays with: at childcare, at school or at friends’ houses you see their real interests.
• Use a wishlist: on Kindkado you can make a free wishlist where family can see exactly what fits — no duplicate or unwanted gifts, and so no money thrown away.

Some of the best gifts cost (almost) nothing:

• Free LEGO Magazine: full of building plans, comics and inspiration. Request it free here — note: it only comes out 4 times a year and arrives by post, so sign up well in advance. If you sign up now, the next issue often only arrives a few months later.
• Crafting with nature or leftover materials: leaves, twigs and acorns, or boxes and toilet rolls. Online — on Pinterest or YouTube, for example — you’ll find endless craft ideas for every age.
• A dressing-up box from your own wardrobe: old dresses, hats, bags and scarves are worth their weight in gold for pretend play.
• Borrow books from the library: new stories for free, again and again.
• Things you were given or that were passed on: if the child is happy with it, it’s a perfectly good gift.

An experience often stays special for longer than a thing — and it doesn’t have to be expensive:

• An afternoon at the park or in the woods: a picnic, looking for leaves, building dens.
• A cinema night at home: blankets, popcorn and a home-made ‘ticket’.
• Make a fun activity or voucher card with things you’ll do together (swimming, baking cupcakes, a games night). Making it yourself makes it extra personal.

Instead of everyone buying a small present, you can also give one lovely, bigger gift together. Often more fun for the child and cheaper per person: with a few people you can easily chip in enough for that one gift that really stands out. Agree on it with family or friends beforehand, so not everyone buys the same thing.

A free trick: put part of the toys away for a while and bring them out again later. For your child it feels almost new — without you buying anything. It also keeps the play corner nice and tidy.

Sometimes it’s easier to think from a budget. Below are some general ideas by price range — you’ll find them worked out by age in our gift ideas.

Not sure what fits? A VVV Cadeaukaart (a Dutch gift card) is available from €5 and can be spent at lots and lots of shops — the recipient chooses, so it never misses.

See concrete ideas by age:

• Toddlers (1–3): sturdy, colourful toys and first books — see gifts for age 2 and age 3.
• Young children (4–6): imagination, crafts and the first construction sets — see gifts for age 4 and ages 5–6.
• Schoolchildren (7–10): building, games and books — see ages 7–8 and ages 9–10.
• Tweens and teens (11+): hobbies, board games and gift cards — see ages 11–12 and 13+.

Or browse our gift ideas for boys, for girls or by age.