I have very fond memories of my childhood birthday parties. As a summer baby, my parties usually included half a dozen friends and neighbors running through the sprinkler in our backyard, playing pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, and eating cake (baked by my mother) on our back deck. The presents were simple too—a book, a record, or maybe a game.

Now I’m a mother of two young children, and the simplicity of my childhood seems far removed from the lives of my little girls. This is particularly apparent when it comes to birthday parties. I caught on pretty quickly that birthday parties can be extravagant affairs in Fairfield. Parents routinely spend $300-500 or more for a toddler’s birthday party. Not surprisingly, the gifts can be equally as elaborate.

After my daughters’ birthdays last May, I was overwhelmed by the number of presents they had received. Each and every one was both thoughtful and generous, and naturally, the girls were thrilled. However, my husband and I took one look at each other and said, almost in unison, “Where are we going to put everything?” Our toy closets were already bursting at the seams from Christmas four months earlier, and we had already donated boxes of unused toys to Goodwill. Then a thought popped into my head: would everyone I know agree to a “no birthday gifts” policy? It would certainly cut down on playroom clutter and innumerable brain-racking trips to the toy store, not to mention saving time and money.

A few times, when my children were invited to parties, the invitations stated “no gifts.” Oddly, everyone brought gifts anyway. Perhaps showing up without a gift makes people uncomfortable. Both habit and culture mandate the need to reciprocate gifts. One playgroup I know of has an “under $10 gift” policy for birthdays, although similarly, one member admitted that she didn’t feel comfortable going to a pricey party with only a token gift in hand. The unspoken rule seems to be, “the more elaborate the party, the more elaborate the gifts.” The result is our children having more toys and belongings than they could possibly want, need, or play with in three lifetimes. I think most parents would agree it goes beyond excess.

So what is the solution? Chances are slim that everyone will unanimously agree to forgo gifts at all birthday parties (especially the birthday boy or girl). Although the “no-gift” sentiment is nice, parents do not want to deprive their child the joy of receiving and tearing open birthday gifts from all their friends. Perhaps the answer lies in “consumable gifts”—gifts that get used, enjoyed, and loved, and do not require any space in your house. Not sure what to get? Here are a few “no clutter” gift ideas for kids of all age groups.

gift cards, expanded
Gift cards have become a popular option for lots of gift-givers. Choosing gift cards from places like ice cream parlors, movie theatres, or video rental stores will delight children and parents alike, since they are fun and won’t create clutter. Tie a gift card for movie theatre tickets or for video rentals to a bag of microwave popcorn for a fun presentation any child will appreciate. (Take note, most movie theatre gift cards can be used for both movie tickets and concessions.) Older kids will appreciate gift cards to the online iTunes store, where they can download their favorite songs, or telephone cards which will allow them to call friends and family without running up mom and dad’s phone bill.

passes
Children of all ages love museums. They are a perfect rainy day activity, and educational to boot. Buy a few museum passes (or perhaps a membership, for a more elaborate gift) to one of the many Connecticut museums, such as Stepping Stones or the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, the Peabody Museum of Natural History and the Connecticut Children’s Museum, both in New Haven, or the Barnum Museum or Discovery Museum in Bridgeport. Passes to Bridgeport’s Beardsley Zoo are also great gifts for upcoming summer and fall birthday parties.

magazines
Magazines aren’t just for grown-ups. In recent years, specialty magazines for kids are popping up all over. Purchase a gift subscription for a child and each month the child will be reminded of your thoughtfulness. The Cricket Magazine Group publishes a series of magazines for every age group: Babybug (ages 0-3), Ladybug (ages 3-6), Spider (ages 6-9), Cricket (ages 9-14) and Cicada (ages 14-18). One of my favorites has always been Highlights Magazine (for ages 6-12). The magazine recently celebrated its 60th birthday by launching a new publication, Highlights High Five which targets preschoolers through age six. Great options for older kids are subscriptions to National Geographic Kids (ages 8-14), or Sports Illustrated Kids (age 8 and up). Roll up the latest copy of the magazine with a card announcing the gift subscription, secure it with a bow, and the birthday child can enjoy the gift immediately. The best part is that when your child is done reading the magazines, they are recyclable!

arts events & activities
Introduce a child to the arts. Theatre tickets are another great gift possibility. Locally, Westport Country Playhouse has a wide variety of children’s programming ranging from plays to concerts and puppet shows. Bridgeport’s Playhouse on the Green (formerly The Polka Dot Theatre) is another venue presenting a line-up of shows appropriate for kids, in addition to educational programs for all ages. In the same vein, budding artists will love a gift certificate to Hands On Pottery in Fairfield, where the child can choose a piece of pottery and paint until the heart is content! The unique gift certificate comes painted on a glazed ceramic tile, so the child can see what fun is in store. These gifts can open new doors and are educational besides. Above all, they can provide a fun day out for the birthday child.

sports & sporting events
Active kids will love local sports outings. Try a pair of tickets to a Bridgeport Bluefish or Sound Tigers game, or a gift certificate to The Batting Cage on the Fairfield/Bridgeport line, where kids can swing for the fences as well as play a round of mini-golf on the 18-hole course. Skating and hockey enthusiasts will love a gift certificate to Bridgeport’s Wonderland of Ice, where you can purchase gift certificates for skate rentals and ice time, or even a “learn to skate” package. The Nutmeg Bowl in Fairfield also offers gift certificates for bowling, which, when redeemed on a rainy afternoon, make the perfect gift.

So, the next time your child gets invited to a birthday party, instead of buying presents that will end up in the back of the toy closet or in the next neighborhood tag sale, choose gifts that don’t gather dust. By thinking “out of the toy box,” your gifts will promote activity, stimulate the mind, and best of all, won’t take up a bit of space in the playroom.