The Ultimate Gift List for the minimalist or traveling RV family.

If you are looking to breakaway from the mountain of single use plastic toys that society has taught us is supposed to accompany Christmas, then you have come to the right place.

In this gift giving guide, we are focusing on presents that can be used over the course of several years. These are gifts that continuously engage the child over a period of time or provide experiences instead of materialistic items.

This way of gift giving has become a parenting movement that has gained momentum over the past several years. Parents are realizing that while opening the wrapped toys on Christmas morning is exciting, and new things are exciting, after a few days it all just loses its magic or, in my case, becomes overwhelming.

I never realized how overwhelming it could be to have a mountain of presents then after my sons first Christmas. I was sitting in the floor, surrounded by presents I did need, and no idea what to do with them. It just seemed so incredibly wasteful and I did not want to be a part of it anymore.

We sold our big house and our multiple cars. We sold all the items we had bought or received as presents over the years. We downsized from a 2500 sq ft two story house to 200 sq ft travel trailer.

We downsized in a big way, but with each item given away a weight was lifted from our shoulders.

So, you can imagine, that with Christmas just around the corner, family members are struggling with the want to get our son a Christmas present and the want to respect our lifestyle.  It is a struggle that we and other fulltime families often face.

I took to a Facebook group full of families who live this lifestyle for advice.

I wanted to know if there was a gift their child had received that made a difference in their life.

A gift that they would recommend other minimalist families purchase.

The trend of recommendations was kind of surprising. Very few recommendations included anything electronic. Most of them were objects their children could use over and over, regardless of age or what was currently ‘in style’.

Seeing what was recommended by these parents just helped me to know that I was in the right place. I had found my tribe. These were the gifts I wanted for my family in future Christmas’s to come.

If you are a family looking to have a minimalist Christmas, if you are a family that travels fulltime in a RV, if you are wanting to move away from one time use presents, or if you love someone that fits into one of these categories, then this Christmas list is for you!

I have broken the list down into just a few categories. It was difficult to do small categories as many presents can be used for several ages and throughout the years. On top of that, some gifts are appropriate for any age. So, don’t pay as much attention to what age group the gift is listed under, instead pay more attention to your child and where they are developmentally. The ages are really just what I feel is the youngest age I personally would buy that gift for.

Remember these gifts were recommended by parents for parents. These are not items that I just think are pretty cool, they have been tried out in a minimalist lifestyle already and have been determined to be worth the space they take up. That means you can be confident in buying one of these gifts for your loved ones.

Any Age

National parks pass- A national parks pass is one thing we will always recommend for families, whether you are minimalist or not. Declan’s GiGi purchased him one of these for his 1st birthday and we were able to use it to access 5 national parks and 1 national monument in the first 6 months of having it. You can find out information about the national parks pass and purchase it, here.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual pass- Did you know that there is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums? I had no idea prior to this fulltime lifestyle. This is important because you can buy an annual pass for a zoo or aquarium that is part of this association and receive a discount at any other zoo or aquarium that is part of this association. Some of them are 100% of, which means you get into them for FREE with an annual pass to a reciprocal facility. To find out which zoos and aquariums are on the list visit the PDF list here. You can also find out more about this program on their site, here.

A Subscription Box- We all have heard of subscription boxes for makeup or food, think hello fresh, but did you know they make kid specific subscription boxes. You can find subscription boxes for things like cooking, baking, science, art, and reading. One box that was highly recommended is the Universal Yums box. This box grants the family an insider look into another country by providing snacks that are native to that country.  It is a great way to broaden their palate and help them grow up more culturally aware. It can also be a major aid to homeschooling families as they teach their children about different countries.

*The following gift guide includes some affiliate links. If you use one of these links to purchase your item, I may receive a commission for sending you to their website. You will not be charged any extra for this service, but it will help to support our blog if do use one of these links. *

0-2 Years old

VTech Track- this car track is perfect for little ones, with brightly colored pieces and smart cars that keep the fun going for hours. When you are done with it, the pieces come apart for easy compact storage. Don’t forget to purchase the cars if you choose the smart wheels track, many sets to not have them included.

Red Radio Flyer Tricycle- This is actually what we plan to get Declan for Christmas. He loves to be outside and be active. I think this will be the perfect Christmas present for him this year.

We actually purchased this from Walmart in store because it was much cheaper, like 50 dollars cheaper. Maybe we just found it on sale, I have no idea, but I recommend checking there first. We chose this one because we wouldn’t have to bend down and push him as he learns, it can double as a stroller for zoo days, and it adapts and grows with him. I am very excited for Christmas morning and the time after when we actually will get to use it.

Wooden Train Set- Declan has this train set, and it is one of his most used toys. He loves to take them apart and put them back together in different arrangements. I feel like it has helped him understand how things fit together and I have noticed him sticking other things together to. It helps him learn through play. We also use them as a way to show him colors.

Stacking Cups- stacking cups was praised by one mom who said her little one loves to play with them both inside and out. Declan used to love them as well, they make great water play toys also. Their versatility is what helps them stay on our list of great Christmas gifts.

3-6 Years old (and up)

Wooden Train Set- this wooden train set is perfect as the next stage up from the toddler Melissa & Doug set. I think we will upgrade Declan to this one next year as I feel he is just too young for it at this time.

Basketball Net- this net can be personalized for your child. It is attached by adhesive, so no holes in the wall. Plus, it hangs up on the wall, eliminating the cluttering of floor space.

Scratch Off USA Maps- This is a great way to document your travels, remind you of where you been, or it can even act as a homeschooling aid for the non-traveling family. It is an overall fun way to keep the kids engaged and it stores away easy. Bonus tip, they even have scratch off maps for the entire world if you want to use them for geography lessons.

RC Car - What kid would not love their own remote control car? Seriously, this is fun even for adults. Unless you want the playing with this inside (which sounds like a nightmare in a tiny home) I suggest looking for one with big tires that can handle some dirt and rocks.

Legos- I personally think every child should have Legos. Legos are small and can store away in a box, but they build a child’s imagination, problem solving skills, and build an interest in creating. You could use them as a homeschooling aid for a visual with math if needed. The possibilities with Legos is truly endless.

Magnetic Sticks- For me, these go right along with Legos, By being so simple, they truly force a child to use the brain and build on their imagination. This is where play meets learning. For an added bonus, grab you child one of those metal lunch boxes, store some of these in there and you have the perfect activity for long travel days.

Binoculars- When you travel fulltime, or you just travel for vacations, there are always lots of things to see. If you go to a national park, like Yellowstone National Park, will absolutely be enhanced with your kiddos having their own binoculars. You will not want to miss a second of the amazing sites and your kids wont either. You will each want to watch, but that can be difficult if you are sharing binoculars. I chose these to display because they do not seem as fragile of binoculars, they have amazing reviews, and they are shockproof,

Fort building kit- I want to know where these were when I was a kid! Oh my goodness, I can not wait until Declan is at the age for one of these. You get to build your own fort. Well your kids do anyway, but I have a feeling some parents are going to be playing with these. It comes with the poles and these ball end pieces, that allow you to build your fort in any design you want to. All you have to do is add a bed sheet. That’s it! This means that it comes apart and stores out of the way.

What better gift to inspire kids to think about how objects are constructed, while being RV friendly.

Featured Gift Idea!

I Live in a RV is a book from the perspective of children who live in a RV and travel fulltime. It can help you kids get excited about the change in their lifestyle. Change is always difficult and this book may make it a little easier. It is written by a woman who actually lives in a RV fulltime and truly gets the RV lifestyle.

7+ Years old

Travel Journals - If you want your child to have a way to document their travels, a travel journal is a good way to go. Life on the road can bring about so many experiences and emotions, but can almost seem limiting on friends to share these moments with. Friends back home do not quite understand and until your child makes friends on the road it can be lonely. Having a journal to write in can make help them express themselves and not feel so alone. I personally love the journal I have linked because it does not seem like a throw away journal. It seems like something you would keep forever and that can help inspire someone to write.

Travel Scrapbooks and Scrapbooking materials- These can help document your travels, get the whole family involved, and build excitement on travel days. I think these are great, especially for teenagers.

Sticky Photo Camera- If you have a travel journal and a scrapbook then you need a way to add pictures. This camera takes the pictures and prints them right out. They have a sticky back so you can just stick them where you want them in your scrapbook. Think of it like an upgrade Polaroid picture.

Fujifilm smartphone printers- Another option is to by a Fujifilm printer that will link up to your smartphone and print the pictures out that way. It just depends on how much you are looking to spend for Christmas.

Deep sea fishing charter- I have to admit that I did not even think of this as a Christmas gift. It was something another fulltime mom recommended and is doing for her teenage boys this Christmas. What a great idea! That is such an amazing experience to receive for Christmas.

Telescope- A telescope is also a great idea. It can be used for fun or for homeschooling experiences. Imagine inspiring a child’s love of astronomy because you bought them a telescope for Christmas. They even have telescopes for the really little ones (4+years old). You can upgrade this telescope throughout the years or purchase items to go with them, such as a guide to the stars.

Metal Detector- Who thinks of a metal detector for a Christmas present? A fulltime mom, that’s who. What a fun gift. It’s like getting a permanent treasure hunt for Christmas and makes me want to add one to my Amazon cart.

Slack line- Have you ever heard of a slack line before? I had to question the mom when she added that to the Christmas gift idea list. From what I understand, this is two lines like ratchet straps that attach to two trees and allows your child to walk along one like a balance beam. It can help them develop balance and have a proper body position. If you buy these for your child, please let me know. They look so cool!

Hammock- I love these hammocks. They fold up compact and store away easy. They can fit into a backpack if you want to take one hiking. They can by used as bed if you want to take one camping. They are a good place to read a book or to just have some alone time.

Kayak- A kayak is a great gift that will get multiple uses and make some incredible memories, but if you live in a RV fulltime, where do you put the kayak? Guys I have found a solution for you! This kayak is an INFLATABLE KAYAK. Mind Blown. I never even would have thought of this as an option, but it is! Now I want one of these. They even have a two seater version that would be perfect for an adult and small child!

Marble run- A marble run is another great toy that fosters imagination and creation. It would be so much fun to build one up and send a marble flying down the loops and turns. You could pair this with some dominos for a really fun activity.

Bicycles-I do not think a fulltime living gift list would be complete without bicycles. Every child, and parent, needs a bicycle to go out and explore the new area you are traveling to. It is not only fun, but exercise as well. I bet it would even count for gym class for our homeschool friends. I love things that play double duty!