Want to keep your kids’ brains engaged, their school skills sharp, and their creativity flowing? Here are some of my favorite (FUN!) brain-boosting gifts for summer that won’t break the bank!
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If you’ve read my “summer kick-off gifts” blog post, you know that I like to give my kids a little something special at the end of the school year that will enrich them over the summer (and beyond!). I don’t just shower them with toys and trinkets, however, that do little more than consume our money and clutter up our house. No, I am very intentional about what I get them. I look for things that will engage their brains, spark their creativity, and… of course… lead to hours of fun!
Following are some of my favorite ideas of things you can get for your own kids this summer to boost their brains and delight their hearts… all without breaking your budget!
Brain-Boosting (& Budget-Friendly) Gifts For Summer Break
Want to keep your kids’ brains engaged, their school skills sharp, and their creativity flowing? Here are some of my favorite (FUN!) brain-boosting gifts for summer that won’t break the bank!
1. BOOKS!
If you know me, you know my top brain-boosting gift idea will always be books! 😃 Whether you buy them, borrow them, or get them from the library, make sure your kids’ summer is FILLED with reading!
Let me help you find some great books!
- Our Favorite Picture Books for Kids
- 10 Picture Books That Fuel Kids’ Imagination
- Our Favorite Chapter Books for Read-Alouds
- Read Aloud Chapter Books for 4-6 Year-Olds
- 25 Must-Read Children’s Chapter Book Series
- Children’s Chapter Books I Read & Loved in 2023
- 20 Books For Kids Who Love Outdoor Adventure
- Chapter Books for Kids Who Love Puzzles & Riddles
- 10 Books For Kids Who Love Books
- Must-Read Chapter Books With Strong Family Relationships
2. Notebooks
I keep my kids well-supplied with notebooks year-round. They’re the perfect open-ended materials for developing minds and skills! They can journal, they can draw, they can write stories, they can record nature observations, they can make lists, they can copy facts… the sky is literally the limit on what kids can do with notebooks! Get them in a variety of sizes, so they can take them with them anywhere they go.
3. Blank Books
I buy these blank books in bulk because my kids love them so much!
4. Kanoodle
I got this game for Aidan’s summer kick-off gift this year, and WOW, has it been a hit! He’s gotten hours of fun out of it, and I love how portable it is – great for traveling and times of waiting!
Both of my boys love these, and you can almost see the gears in their brains turning!
6. Craft Kits or Materials
Cultivate your kids’ creative expression with a craft supplies kit or heap of craft supplies. (Tip: You can get all kinds of cheap craft materials at Dollar Tree!)
7. Marker Board
There is something so fun to kids about writing on marker boards. I don’t know if it’s getting to use markers, the deviance from the pencil and paper they’re used to, or something else. Whatever it is, it’s a surefire way to get your kids writing this summer!
8. Logic Puzzle or Lateral Thinking Books
My oldest son LOVES logic puzzle and lateral thinking books (as do I!). I’ve gotten them for him for summer kick-off gifts and stocking stuffers.
9. Tangrams
Tangrams are great for developing spatial reasoning, computational thinking, and a whole host of geometric concepts. And they’re just plain fun!
10. Bananagrams
Even if you don’t play a “real” game of Bananagrams, the tiles are super fun to arrange into words.
11. Nature Guides
This gift has an additional benefit of encouraging outdoor play and exploration (which is SO good for kids!). Here are a few I’d recommend:
Memory games are fun – yet effective! – ways to boost memory and improve concentration.
13. Magnetic Poetry Kit or Magnetic Letters
These are fantastic for practicing reading and composition skills in a fun, creative, and collaborative way. I remember loving them as a kid (one of my friends had a Magnetic Poetry Kit), and I have it on my list to get for our family at some point!
14. At-Home Science Experiment Kits or Books
Cultivate those science skills with a fun science kit (such as this science magic kit, this volcano kit, or this crystal growing lab), or get a book of science experiments you can do at home. We love this Outdoor Maker Lab one!
15. Scavenger Hunt Cards
You can find TONS of nature scavenger hunt cards online, but my favorite set I’ve found so far is this one from National Geographic.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
- 35 Fun & Engaging Summer Enrichment Activities For Kids
- 20 Summer Learning Activities (That Aren’t Worksheets!)
- Super Spectacular Summer Reading Challenge for Kids
- 10 Surefire Ways to Fuel Your Kids’ Imagination
- 50 Backyard Activities For Family Fun All Summer Long
Share your thoughts!