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Eid Gifts for Kids: 12 Screen-Free Ideas by Age

By Chaz Bagri7 October 20268 min read

Three laughing boys in kurtas with their arms round each other in a garden

Eid gifts for kids aged 3 to 8 that outlast the day: twelve screen-free ideas by age and budget, Eid gift box ideas, and what to pair with Eidi.

In many families, Eid already brings new clothes, a big meal and Eidi, the money given to children. The best Eid gifts for kids sit beside that: something still in use when the visitors have gone home, like a book, a game for the cousins or something to make together. Here are twelve screen-free ideas for ages 3 to 8, sorted by age, with rough prices.

Eid al-Fitr, which BBC Bitesize translates as "the festival of the breaking of the fast", marks the end of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha, the "Festival of Sacrifice", marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. Every idea below works for either. For other times of year, our screen-free gifts for 3 to 8 year-olds go further.

Do you give gifts on Eid?

Many families do, especially at Eid al-Fitr. BBC Bitesize describes it as a time for decorating the house, wearing new clothes, a big meal with family and friends, and exchanging gifts, alongside prayers and giving to charity. People greet each other with "Eid Mubarak", which means "blessed Eid".

Customs differ between families and communities, so if you're buying for someone else's children, it's fine to ask what they usually do.

When is Eid, and why does the date move?

Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, so its date in the everyday calendar changes every year. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar: each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon and lasts 29 or 30 days. Twelve of those come to about 354 days, so Eid arrives about 11 days earlier each year than the last.

That means you can't put the date in the diary a year ahead with certainty. Order presents in good time, and check with the family nearer the day.

Eid gift ideas by age and budget

These Eid gift ideas for kids are grouped by age, from 3 to 8, with three ideas that suit any age at the top. Each one says who it's good for, the age and a rough budget. Prices are guides for the kind of thing, not quotes.

By budget:

Under £10: ideas 4, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12
£10 to £20: ideas 1, 3, 5, 9 and 10
£20 to £40: idea 2

If you're giving Eidi as well, a present doesn't need to be big. One thing to open and one thing to do is plenty.

What are good Eid gifts for kids?

Good Eid gifts for kids are things they'll use after the day: books, games, something to make, and something to wear. Here are twelve.

Any age, 3 to 8

1. A gift sack with their name on it

Good for: a family that wants a tradition. Age: 3 to 8. Budget: £10 to £20.

A fabric sack or bag with their name stitched on, brought out every Eid and filled with that year's presents. It's the container, not the present, and it's the part they'll remember.

2. A mat for the quiet days after Eid

Good for: a family who'll all be on the floor by the afternoon. Age: 3 to 8. Budget: £34.99, and this one is ours.

The Freedom Flow mat has 15 numbered poses engraved into the surface, nearly all of them on the floor, so a five-year-old can start at 1 and work along on their own once the visitors have gone home. It's full length, 183 x 61 cm, so an adult can join in, and there's a standing version too.

3. A card or board game for the cousins

Good for: a house full of children for the day. Age: 4 to 8. Budget: £10 to £20.

Pick a game with short turns that four or five children can play at once. Eid is a day for visiting family and friends, and a game gives the children something to do together while the adults talk.

Ages 3 and 4

4. A touch-and-feel or lift-the-flap Eid board book

Good for: a toddler or preschooler who likes to be read to. Age: 3 to 4. Budget: under £10.

Thick pages that survive small hands, with flaps or textures to find. Read it on the day, then keep it on the shelf for next year, when it becomes part of getting ready for Eid.

5. A soft toy with their name stitched in

Good for: a child who takes a toy everywhere. Age: 3 to 4. Budget: £10 to £20.

A soft toy with their name embroidered on it feels like it belongs to them, not to the toy box. Check the age label before you buy: the Office for Product Safety and Standards advises following the age recommendations on toys.

6. Chunky crayons and an Eid colouring pad

Good for: a child who likes to sit at the table and draw. Age: 3 to 4. Budget: under £10.

Thick crayons for small hands and a pad of moons, stars and lanterns to colour in. Or a sticker book. It keeps a small child busy at the table while the big meal is being made.

Ages 5 and 6

7. An Eid picture book with an activity in the back

Good for: a child who's starting to read on their own. Age: 5 to 6. Budget: under £10.

Choose one with a recipe, a craft or a puzzle at the end, so the book becomes something to do together. For more ideas at this age, see our gifts for 5 year olds.

8. A make-your-own moon and star decoration kit

Good for: a child who likes making things. Age: 5 to 6. Budget: under £10.

Card, string and stickers to make a moon and stars for the window. BBC Bitesize lists decorating the house as part of the celebrations, so this gives a five- or six-year-old a real job to do in the days before.

9. Something new to wear on the day

Good for: a child who loves dressing up. Age: 5 to 6. Budget: £10 to £20.

New clothes are an Eid tradition, so check with the parents first: the outfit for the day may already be bought. If it is, a new hair clip, a cap or a scarf to go with it still lands well.

Ages 7 and 8

10. A biscuit-decorating kit

Good for: a child who wants to help in the kitchen. Age: 7 to 8. Budget: £10 to £20.

Cutters, icing pens and sprinkles to make the Eid treats together. BBC Bitesize notes that Eid al-Fitr is sometimes called the Sugar Feast, because desserts are such a big part of the meal. This way they make them, not just eat them.

11. A card-making set

Good for: a child who's proud of their handwriting. Age: 7 to 8. Budget: under £10.

Card, envelopes and gold pens, so they write the family's Eid Mubarak cards themselves. It's a job with a real purpose, and it's their name at the bottom of each card.

12. A first purse or wallet for their Eidi

Good for: a child old enough to count their own money. Age: 7 to 8. Budget: under £10.

A purse or wallet of their own to keep their Eidi in, so the money feels like theirs to look after. It closes the list where many children's Eid mornings start.

What goes in an Eid gift box for kids?

Most Eid gift box ideas for kids come down to four things: one thing to open, one thing to make, one treat and the Eidi envelope. For example:

To open: a sticker book or a board book
To make: a moon and star kit or a few biscuit cutters
A treat: something small and sweet from the family's favourites
A card: a handwritten Eid Mubarak card, with the envelope tucked inside

Two Eid gift pairings

For a three-year-old, under £15: a board book and a colouring pad.
For a family who'll all be on the floor by the afternoon: the mat, and a game for the cousins.

If the mat is on your list, it's £34.99 with free UK delivery and 30-day returns, and two or more are 10 per cent off if the cousins are getting one too: choose a mat your child can follow on their own.

What if Eid day is too busy for presents?

Eid is a busy day, and new presents compete with cousins, food and visitors. That's how it should be. Put the presents somewhere safe and let your child come back to them in the quieter days after, when they have less competition.

Frequently asked questions

Do you give gifts on both Eids?

Many families do, though customs vary. BBC Bitesize describes exchanging gifts as part of Eid al-Fitr, and wearing best clothes, visiting family and friends and giving to charity as part of Eid al-Adha. If you're not sure what a family usually does, ask. Every idea on this list works for either Eid.

What is Eidi?

Eidi is money given to children at Eid, usually by parents, grandparents and other older relatives, and often handed over in an envelope. Not every family gives it, and how much is a family matter. A present alongside it doesn't need to be big: a purse to keep the Eidi in is a gift in its own right.

Why do some families celebrate Eid on a different day?

Each Islamic month begins when the new crescent moon is seen, and in the UK different communities use different ways of deciding when that is. A University of Cambridge researcher found more than 11 methods in use. So neighbours can celebrate Eid a day apart, and it's worth checking which day each family is keeping.

What can grandparents give for Eid?

Eid presents for kids from grandparents work well as something to share: a game for the cousins, a card-making set, or a mat you can both try. A name sack brought out every year can become a family tradition. Ask the parents what's already planned. Our guide to gifts for grandchildren has more ideas.

Sources

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