Skill-Based Gift Ideas to Suit Every Survival Kid & Teen

This post has been updated, September 2026.

Tired of your kids and grandkids spending too much time in front of a screen? Are you looking for unique and useful gifts that will spark their imaginations, teach valuable skills, and generally contribute to a well-rounded human being?

This gift guide for kids, teens, (and those who are young-at-heart) features fun and functional items that promote creativity, fitness, and preparedness. From musical instruments to gardening tools, we’ve got something for every kid. Great for birthdays, Christmas, just-because, and anything occasion in-between!

Adventuring (While Learning Practical Skills)

There are a lot of practical skills kids can learn while also having a lot of fun. Check these ideas out!

Survival Knowledge Package

Give kids the gift of knowledge and know-how to better handle outdoor survival situations. To help them learn how to read a map and use a compass, start with a copy of  Survivor Kid and a good-quality compass. Then, add in some of the items in this article for a kid’s first aid kit (or purchase a children’s first aid kit. Or split items up for stocking stuffers!

Survival Backpack

If you want to go all out, start with the Survival Knowledge gift package above, then put it in an inexpensive backpack. Add some basic supplies, like a LED flashlight, some high calorie “survival bars”, a roll of duct tape, and some paracord.

Animal Tracking

The Who Pooped…? series of books features animal scat information for different parts of the country, including the Black Hills and a few other National Parks. A book my kids thoroughly enjoyed is Tracks, Scats, and Signs. Another take-along option is this waterproof, spiral-bound book with life-size pictures of tracks.

Codes and Ciphers

Kids learn the skills of secret communication with this book about creating their own secret languages. Challenge them to create a special method of communication for the family that could be used in emergencies. Pair it with a couple of decoder rings or cipher wheels for added fun.

Learning Less Common, but Still Useful Skills

Yes, technically, all the gifts for kids on this list keep them learning. (How cool is that?) However, these are either less common ways of practicing skills or simply hobbies not often seen anymore that also provide skills practice.

Whittling Kit

Whittling is a fun and creative hobby and a way to introduce kids to safe knife skills. They’ll also improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Add in some gloves to protect their hands, too!  If they really take a liking to it, get them a beginner book of projects and more wood.

Bow Drill Fire Starter Kit

Patience, persistence, concentration. All three will be needed to successfully use this introduction to primitive friction fire-making. The Bow Drill Fire Starter Kit is not just a survival tool but a survival learning tool.

Lock Pick Set

Unless there’s some reason you want to keep the kids out of your Halloween candy, this Lock Pick Set will give them hours of challenge. Lock-picking develops patience, persistence, and the ability to manage emotions. But, oh, the satisfaction the first time that lock opens! Keep them practicing by asking friends and family for locks they’ve lost the keys for. I don’t know why we keep them around, but we do.

Junk Silver

Give your kids something that will not only hold its value over time but also create an interest in learning about precious metals and coin collecting. Any American silver coin minted in 1964 or earlier is 90% silver, and you can also buy pure silver “rounds” from a reputable coin collector or an online company like JM Bullion. If you add a few coins or rounds each year, they’ll end up with their nice little stash of a precious metal.

Knot Tying Skills

Tying knots is a basic survival skill but also one that’s useful in daily life as well. This Knot Tying kit is a fun way to reinforce the knots kids know. However, the best way to make this knowledge stick is for kids to have a chance to use them in real-life applications.

Money Management

Knowing how to manage money and set a budget seems like a less common skill these days, so we’ve included it. A fun way to learn is with Financial Peace Junior and a small stash of Christmas gift cash to get the budget/savings process started.

Moving (Indoors and Out)

Let’s start with gifts for kids that give young ‘uns the motivation to step away from their devices. These suggestions help them stay active, and work off pent-up energy if they’re stuck inside (and even if they’re not), all while learning some useful skills. Bonus: They’re (mostly) quiet.

Punching Bag/Boxing Set

If rainy weather keeps your kids indoors, this punching bag set fends off restlessness all while learning some self-defense. They’ll build muscles, gain faster reflexes, and improve hand-eye coordination, too. Plus, it’s height-adjustable, so it grows with your kids. If they’re really into it, have them try a martial arts class.

Archery

This archery set has everything needed to begin learning the sport: bow, arrows, quiver, target, and arm guard. Round it out with a gift certificate for classes at a local archery range. This sport can lead to scholarships and hunting skills.

Looking for a higher quality set? Go to Bass Pro Shops or REI and check out their “real” archery sets.

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Growing (Plants and Food)

Here are some gifts for kids with green thumbs. Even if they don’t, watching things grow is exciting for all ages. Plus, these kits make it easier for all abilities to experience the joy of growing food.

Beginners Herb Gift Basket

If you have a budding herbalist, build a basket of mild essential oils (lavender and lemon, for example), seeds for an herb garden, the Wildcraft: An Herbal Adventure Game, and a copy of A Kid’s Herb Book. Or buy the book ahead of time to get more ideas of what to include in a gift basket!

DIY Garden Kit

If you’d rather gift a full-on garden kit for growing vegetables and flowers, this might be the kit for you. It includes everything needed right down to a small planter. Germination guaranteed or they’ll send replacements.

Playing (Music)

Okay, we all know the traditional standby instruments on which kids take lessons. But these musical gifts for kids put a bit different spin on them. Check them out!

Steel Tongue Drum Kit

Here’s an alternative to a drum set and a lifetime supply of earplugs. At just six inches in diameter, this Steel Tongue Drum Kit is supremely portable and takes up virtually no space. It produces an ethereal sound using either mallets or fingers. And it comes in a choice of colors and with a carrying bag so it can be put away when not in use. I like the sound of that!

Accordion

Don’t let the petite size fool you because this little accordion fits teens and bigger kids at heart also. It gives a workout, too. Pushing, pulling, twisting. But the kids will just think it’s fun. Instructions and some easy starter songs are included, and the accordian is making a comeback in a lot of trendy bands these days.

Boomwhackers

This one is really better for a passel of kids, but if you’ve got a creative group, then the possibilities with these Boomwhackers are endless. And lest you think they would just produce a bunch of noise (okay, they might), check out what this group did with William Tell Overture (music begins at 2:05) or this funny Carol of the Bells church skit with shepherds. Your kids could come up with their own!

Thumb Piano

Does the name give it away? A handheld piano you play with your thumbs. How novel is that! And the music is lovely, too. This set comes with everything a budding thumb piano player needs to get started: thumb piano, tune hammer, instruction book, stickers, flannelette bag, and cleaning fabric.

Creating (Useful and/or Beautiful Items)

These ideas help kids get in touch with the creative side.

Papermaking Kit

There’s something satisfying about creating beautifully crafted paper and then using that paper to write a letter or a story. This papermaking kit allows kids to experience that thrill themselves. Add in this book about making paper from weeds and a fountain pen to complete the sensory experience. If calligraphy is a skill they might be interested in, then this book for kids will give them plenty of instruction and practice.

Bookbinding Kit

After they’ve made their own paper, they can turn it into their very own handmade book with this bookbinding toolset for beginners. In fact, they could make their own gifts this way!

LCD Writing Tablet

One of the advantages of this LCD Writing Tablet is the ability to lock the screen. If your child isn’t finished with their creation, or if they are and want to save it to show grandparents, or anyone else, later, they can do so. They could also use it with the codes and ciphers above.

Eating (By Making & Cooking Their Own Foods)

Okay, if you have teen boys, this may not be an issue for you. But for everyone else, these ideas are still fun!

Cheese Making Kit

Kids can make their own cheese! Eat it plain, with crackers, or make pizza. This cheese-making kit includes everything you need, including a thermometer. If the cheese is too hot, you might want to grab an inexpensive pair of gloves, too.

Dutch Oven Cooking

It outdoors and involves food. That’s a win-win in my book. To get them started dutch oven cooking, give them their own Dutch oven, a Dutch oven cookbook, heat-safe mitts, and a chimney charcoal starter. Boys and girls alike will love learning this skill. Triple win!

Stocking Stuffers

In addition to those already mentioned items, here are a few more good choices for the stuffing of the stockings.

Whistle

Small but loud, a whistle has many uses. Kids can put it on a keyring, a backpack, or wear it around their neck. This thing blows 120 decibels, so if they become separated from you, they can alert you to their location. Or warn of danger. Review the L.O.S.T. rules in case they ever do get lost.

Pocket Knife

Even young children can be taught to use a pocket knife safely, and it’s a skill that will serve them well into their adult years. To go with it, consider wrapping and putting under the tree one or both of these books: Swiss Army Knife Camping & Outdoor Survival Guide: 101 Tips, Tricks & Uses or Swiss Army Knife Whittling Book. Use your judgment as to your child’s readiness, of course, since I don’t know your precocious child.

Signaling

Signaling is all about how to communicate when typical modes of communication are either not available or not safe to use. Kids love this “secret code” type of thing! Start with this simple introduction to Morse code. 

Related Gift Ideas Content

• Adventure & Survival Books for Kids
• Clever Gifts for Your Non-Prepper Loved Ones
• Gifts for Preppers: Practical, Creative and Buy-It-for-Life Ideas
• Great Gifts for the Prepper-Minded Men in Your Life
• Recommended Survival Books

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