Looking for minimalist gifts for a one year old that isn’t something boring? Here are 12 gifts that they’ll actually be excited to open!
Hi friends,
This past week was my son’s very first birthday! Of course, after deciding on an adorable 1st birthday theme for his mini party the next step was finding the perfect gift.
With three kids, there isn’t much out there that we don’t already have! I’m constantly purging our play room as it is! Truthfully, I’ve turned into a bit of minimalist with the more kids I have.
Now, practical gifts are always good, don’t get me wrong! But, when have you ever seen a 1 year old baby’s eyes light up with joy over opening a new sleeper or tickets to the zoo? I really wanted a gift that he would be excited to open! Something that’s not just an upgraded version of an item we already have (which was hard in itself!) or a toy that he would outgrow in 6 months.
Minimalism means something different to everyone! To me, it means not only having fewer things but more importantly, that the items we do keep are quality, will continue to be enjoyed for years to come and are multi purposeful! That was my goal while searching for the perfect gifts!
Today, I’m going to share with you what I ended up purchasing for my one year old (who LOVED all of gifts and was so happy opening them!) along with a few other items I was considering that I think would also make great minimalist gifts for any one year old!
Best Minimalist Gifts for a One Year Old
1. Color Block Set
First up, these fun blocks! While my son surprisingly still loves every gift we got him, these are probably his favorite! So many fun ways to use them. We like to use them as “glasses” and look through them to see everything all funny colored. They really enjoy that! My older two love to use these in the sunlight by our sliding glass door to see & mix the colors reflecting on the floor.
These blocks also come with a “case” of sorts which somehow I completely missed while looking at the photos. So that was a pleasant surprise and adds another use for them as the kids figure out all the different ways they can get the blocks to fit.
This set does only come with six pieces and I was a little worried that it wouldn’t be enough for him to truly have fun with them but actually, I think the opposite happened! They’re the perfect amount to play with without him getting overwhelmed and then just making a mess. He’s actually intentional when playing them! I’m very glad I didn’t end up purchasing a larger set!
I won’t write a novel for every item listed, but I really wanted to share my opinions on these blocks because again, we just love them so much!
2. Textured Mats
Next, these textured mats were a big hit too! While opening gifts this was the item he initially gravitated towards first. Naturally, he was curious to feel each square with his hands first. Then he wanted to stand on them and walk around a bit. Before I knew it him and his brother were playing with monster trucks on them as a new, fun, bumpy ground.
There is another very similar set of these mats that come with more for the same price! Admittedly, I opted for these ones for selfish reasons. I don’t enjoy “obnoxious” brightly colored things. Especially ones that I know will probably live smack in the middle of the floor for a while.
3. Rainbow Ribbons
Lastly, we also got these adorable ribbon “kites”. These are super simple, light weight and fun! Truthfully, my 5 year old probably grabs for these more than my 1 year old. To me that hopefully just indicates that this toy will grow with him!
I purchased these ones over other ones listed mainly because of the bells! Luckily, it was a good decision because my son loves hearing the bells!
We actually play with these many different ways! My son likes to hold them and spin around till they get some traction and start “floating” in a way. He really loves having me gently brush them over his face when he’s laying down. (I have sissy do this to him sometimes during diaper changes to keep him entertained lol) I’ll also make a “tornado” around him by whirling them over his head. He really enjoys that!
4. Magnetic Blocks
I like that they come with a case for easy on the go storage! Many reviewers rave about these as a good distraction at restaurants and on airplanes since they’re so compact.
I think this would be one of the best minimalist gifts for a one year old for two reasons! One, there aren’t a million pieces and its compact! Two, it will most definitely grow with your child! As a super young toddler they’ll enjoy simply discovering what a magnet is.. Then, the older they get the more complex figures they can try to make. Also, you can always add on and buy more as your little ones creativity grows throughout the years!
5. Sarah Silks
Oh man, I went back and forth on this and the ribbon kites over and over again! Actually, I do still plan on purchasing this later on as another gift for Christmas or something.
Anyway, this is a silk skytail! If you’ve never seen one before, don’t worry! Basically, this is silk “tail” with a soft ball at the end. It’s intended to be thrown and tossed around but of course it’s open ended and can be used by the child however they want!
This would make a fun textured toy that very easily will grow with your child for years to come & provide endless imaginative play!
6. Balance Beam
I know for a fact that I was not the only child out there who so badly wanted their own balance beam! This would have been a dream for me haha!
Alright, I know balancing might seem far off especially if your little one is just barely starting to walk but hear me out. Again, this is an item that can grow with your child! At first they might use it to make different “tracks” for toy cars.. Later on they can practice standing and balancing.. Soon enough, they’ll be actually balance-walking on the “mazes” they build with it!
I appreciate that this breaks down into pieces and doesn’t just “fold” up. It even comes with it’s own tote bag to easily store away.
7. Sensory Bin
Omg, how gorgeous is this sensory bin? Absolutely in love. This is hands down one of the best minimalist gifts for a one year old out there!
This wooden sensory bin is perfect in just about every way! I really like that it has two sections and it even comes with a few tools. This would also double as a great tray to present other crafts and projects on it as well!
There are limitless sensory bins you can introduce baby to with this. As they grow older you can even grab a few more tools to help keep things fresh and interesting (although truthfully, do kids ever even get bored of sensory bins?)!
8. Liquid Tiles
I actually stumbled across these by accident while doing my search for gifts. I wasn’t quite sure what they were but they definitely peaked my interest!
Turns out, these fun tiles have colored liquid in them and squish around when you apply any kind of pressure! Honestly, things like this can even keep me entertained for a good amount of time! These are so fun and I’m positive baby will immediately be itching to explore them more the very second they unwrap these!
Again, another item that will grow with your child. As a baby/young toddler they can explore cause and effect, as they get older they can stop and jump on them and really get creative. I can total see my 5 year old loving these for playing “the floor is lava!” games!
9. Wobble Board
The wobble board! If you’ve ever looked into any Montessori or Waldorf you’ve probably seen this before! If not, allow me to introduce you to this simple, fun, open ended item!
Wobble boards are the perfect example of how kids don’t need toys that light up, make music or have an intended purpose to have fun! This is just plain old simple piece of curved wood, nothing fancy! (But it is considered a high quality item so it the price does, in fact, reflect that)
There are so many different uses kids find for these wobble boards! Standing on it face-up to “wobble” as the name suggests is one way. You can also use it to lounge out in, pretend its a bridge or ramp for toy cars or even using it as a mini slide off the side of the couch! Endless play and imagination with this board!
10. Animal Figures
So simple and forever a classic! Animal figures are a great choice when it comes to minimalist gifts for a one year old. These are definitely a long-term use item and will be enjoys for years to come!
Over the years, I’ve accumulated quite a collection of animal figures. They are probably the only items that I don’t mind having a growing collection of! We use these almost daily because they’re practical and fun.
Once again, say it with me, an item that truly does grow with your child! There are a million ways to use these other than just playing zoo with them (which is still great obviously!). These are great as a tangible item to help teach young ones the names of animals but even beyond that, there’s more! Once baby is a bit older, you can take photos of them, print them out and make a matching “work”. When teaching letters and their sounds, you can sort the animals by the first letter of their name. If your collection grows, you can even sort them by land, water and air.
11. Tap LED Light Tiles
How freaking cool are these!? I really, really, love the look and idea of these! Unfortunately, we had set a $100 gift budget and this would have eaten the entire budget.
I think this would be a great minimalist gifts for a one year old who is about to transition to their own room or a toddler bed. Something to get them excited and make them less scared. They stick to the wall (or any flat, hard surface I believe) and can be positioned in any way you like. They’re also touch sensitive which is the main part that makes them so fun!
12. Wooden Truck
Lastly, a classic wooden vehicle. I feel like this is such a timeless gift idea that will forever be a good option! Plus, look at it, its absolutely beautiful!
Again, with minimalism in mind, a car like this is perfect. Without any crazy colors, lights or sounds it truly allows the child to engage in open ended play. It can be a construction dump truck, it can be a flatbed farmers truck carrying pumpkins, etc! This paired with something like the wobble board could really provide endless opportunities for imaginative play for years to come.
