Unplugged & Unwrapped: Fun, Screen-Free Gifts for This Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, so does the pressure to find the perfect gift. And while kids and teens may be dreaming about that new video game or phone, it’s often up to parents to balance what they want with what they truly need. While screens can certainly provide hours of fun, keeping gift-giving diverse with screen-free gifts for kids lets them not only dodge the more damaging effects of prolonged screen time, but also indulge their imagination, ramp up their creativity, and grow their connections with friends and family.

If you’re looking for fun and fulfilling unplugged holiday gifts, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we break down the benefits of screen-free play, the best non-tech gifts for kids, and how Bark can help you manage the holiday chaos and beyond.

Why Screen-Free Gifts for Kids Matter

The key to parenting? Striking a compromise and being flexible. Embracing screen-free gifts for kids doesn’t mean ditching screens entirely, but when you take a look at the research, it becomes clear that working in some screen-free time can reap big benefits. By providing some variety, not only are you mitigating the downsides of too much screen time — from poor sleep to loneliness and irritability — you’re also setting off a chain reaction of positive impacts and growth for your child and your family, including: 

• More creativity, imagination, and problem-solving. A study published in the Encyclopedia of Early Childhood Development reveals that balanced screen-free play nurtures imagination, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Specifically, unstructured play among young kids—when they play with toys without a distinct directive—supports crucial developmental skills in creativity and imagination.
• Better focus and patience. When screens aren’t the go-to distraction, kids have been shown to have an easier time sticking with tasks, regulating emotions, and transitioning more smoothly. Not only do these skills help mitigate meltdowns in your family, but child psychologists say they also support long-term resilience.
• Increased physical activity and stamina. There’s no surprise that handing a kid a bat, ball, or hula-hoop is more likely to get them up and moving more than a video game. And with a growing childhood obesity rate — 1 in 3 kids today qualify as obese — studies show that outdoor play makes a big difference in lowering body mass, improving muscle strength, and even boosting your child’s mood and immune system. 
• A potential lifelong interest in new hobbies. Sports gear, craft kits, musical instruments, and books don’t just get kids off their phones; they have also been shown to help spark lifelong interests that can boost confidence and sense of self.  
• Stronger social and family connections. In a world that’s becoming increasingly more isolated, shared offline moments around games, hobbies, and crafts have been shown to activate the communication and bonding pathways screens tend to disrupt.

Screen-Free Gifts for Kids and Teens

We’ve sifted through Toy Insider’s 2025 Top Toys and Amazon’s Toys We Love List to find the hottest, on-trend, and classic non-tech toys for kids, tweens, and teens. Browse below to find screen-free activities that spark creativity, get kids moving, bring the family together, and offer some mindfulness and rest.

Screen-Free gifts for kids ages 6–9

Gifts that spark creativity

• LEGO Medium Creative Build Box — Hours of imaginative build-play, ideal for storytelling and motor skills. You can also browse characters to find your child’s favorite.
• Lite-Brite ColorPOP! — This classic glow-board turns simple peg placement into bright, imaginative artwork that encourages kids to focus, design, and create without screens.

Gifts that get kids moving

• Slackers NinjaLine Intro Kit — This backyard challenge course helps kids build balance, strength, and confidence as they swing, climb, and navigate obstacles.
• Stomp Rocket Ultra Rocket — With each launch powered completely by kid-energy, this outdoor favorite gets little ones running, jumping, and burning off energy.

Connection-focused gifts for family time

• Lakeshore The Ultimate Fort Builder — Promotes active building and physical exploration (indoor/outdoor) that the whole family can jump in on.
• Outfoxed! Cooperative Mystery Game — This kid-friendly whodunit transforms family game night into a fun mission where everyone works together to solve the mystery.

Gifts that encourage mindfulness and rest

• Nee Doh Nice Cube —This soft, squishy cube offers soothing sensory feedback that helps kids unwind, self-regulate, and shift into calmer moments.
• Brown Curly Bear Warmies — This warmable plush becomes a comforting bedtime companion, offering gentle weight and heat to help little ones settle down.

Screen-free gifts for tweens ages 9–12

Gifts that spark creativity

• Fashion Angels Light-Up Sketch Pad — This illuminated sketch pad gives budding designers a place to experiment with tracing, shading, and outfit ideas.
• LinXo Creator Set (Make It Real) — Flexible building pieces let tweens construct, tinker, and reimagine their creations.

Gifts that get tweens moving

• Spikeball Rookie Set — This fast-paced bounce game gets tweens outside, diving, laughing, and staying active with friends and family.
• Razor A 2 Wheel Kick Scooter — A nostalgic favorite, this lightweight scooter gives tweens an easy way to roam the neighborhood and venture somewhere new.

Connection-focused gifts for family time

• Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza — This quick-fire card game guarantees silly, energetic rounds that pull tweens into the fun and spark instant laughter among the whole family.
• Creature Crash — This adorable capybara-stacking game turns family time into a hilarious balancing challenge as players roll the die and try not to topple the tower of tiny capys.

Gifts that encourage mindfulness and rest

• Gui Gui Deluxe Beauty Slime 2-Pack — This trendy sensory slime is ideal for squishing and stretching for sensory play after a long day.
• DIY Candle-Making Kit — With calming scents and step-by-step crafting, this kit gives tweens a relaxing project that ends in something cozy they can enjoy long after.

Screen-free gifts for teens ages 13–18

Gifts that spark creativity

• 4M Table Top Robot —This STEM-friendly kit invites teens to build a working robot crab, offering a hands-on way to explore mechanics and creative engineering.
• DIY Blank Board Game Kit — This build-it-yourself set gives teens full creative control as they design characters, rules, and gameplay, making it ideal for storytellers and creators.

Gifts that get teens moving

• Pickleball Paddle Set of 4 — Easy to learn and endlessly social, this set can help your teen get into the growing craze.
• Supreme Silent Sports Reflex Catch Game– This viral reflex challenge done by elite athletes on social media has teens chasing and catching falling sticks in rapid-fire rounds.
  

Connection-focused gifts for family time

• Taboo —This classic fast-paced word-guessing game pulls teens into the conversation with frantic clue-giving and high-energy team play that works for the whole family.
• Exploding Kittens —This wildly popular game keeps teens engaged with strategy, sabotage,e and quick, hilarious rounds.

Gifts that encourage mindfulness and rest

• Strawberry Weighted Blanket — This cute and cozy weighted blanket applies gentle, even pressure to help teens relax, reduce stress, and fall asleep more easily.
• Woobles Plush Craft Kit — These adorable crochet kits are for complete beginners and give teens a soothing outlet and easy-to-finish project for trips and beyond.

How Bark Can Help

If you’re looking to keep that screen-free balance going long after the holidays, Bark can help. The platform gives families tools to set healthy screen-time limits, stay aware of online activity, and create a healthier digital rhythm at home. You can explore all of Bark’s products here, and if tech gifts are on your list this year, Bark’s Know Before You Buy: Holiday Gift Guide is a great place to get clarity on what’s safe, kid-friendly and actually worth bringing into your home.