Too Young To Bet
Research shows that the earlier a person’s participation or even exposure to gambling is in childhood, the more likely they are to develop a gambling problem later in life.
For the holidays, birthdays, or other celebrations, make sure the gifts you buy for kids don’t include lottery tickets, video games with loot boxes or “In-game purchases”, or sports betting gift cards. Early gambling behavior among kids can lead to problem gambling later in life.
Gambling isn’t for kids.
Gift Ideas
for the kids in your life, from the kids in our life, that are sure to bring smiles.
Think about giving these gifts instead of scratch tickets or video games with loot boxes/ “in game-purchases.” Gambling isn’t for kids.
- Take them to an event- a concert, plays, musicals, a museum, monster trucks, play mini golf, go tubing, paint your own pottery, escape room, Fun Town, water park, movies, whatever they’re into. Create a memory together!
- Concert tickets
- Subscription boxes like kiwico.com. This one delivers hands-on, educational STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) projects and activities for kids of different ages, from toddlers to teens. There are also subscription services available for craft projects, cooking, and more.
- Magazine subscriptions- Zoobooks (animals), Sports Illustrated Kids, Chop Chop (cooking), Brainspace (math, science, language and art) Ask ( arts and sciences), Cobblestone (about history) etc.
- Waterbottles- Owala, Stanley, Hydroflask and Yeti are the cool ones right now
- Photo blanket
- Ear piercing
- Classes at a local gym, art studio, dance studio, soccer clinic, horseback riding, music, photography… whatever they are into.
- Gift Certificate to a book store
- Hoodies! With whatever they’re into on it
- Movie Theater gift card
- Kitchen tools and kids cookbooks
- Sports equipment
- Craft supplies and kits for craft projects (bead kits, crochet kits, paint by number, cross stitch, needle felting, friendship bracelet making, rug hooking, etc)
- Musical Instrument, music lessons, or custom guitar picks
- Temporary Tattoos
- Hair accessories, makeup, Lip gloss, lip balm, lotions, nail polish
- Bean bag or other cool chair for their room
- Weighted blanket
- Fun socks, slippers or PJs
- Headphones
- Wireless microphone or karaoke machine
- Bluetooth speakers
- Portable charger for their electronic devices
- Room décor like fairy lights, posters, decals for the wall
- A piggy bank or bank account (help them learn budgeting and saving skills)
- Music or Book subscription services
- Board games and card games (can help kids develop skills while having fun. Check out these card game ideas…https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/…/g62…/best-card-games/)
- Puzzles
- Yard games
- A digital camera
- Slime, modeling clay, play doh, and kinetic sand- calming, soothing, focusing and can stimulate the senses and kids creativity
- Legos
- Cozy blankets
- Fun beach towel
- Sled or snow tube
- Stickers
- Journals
- Fidgets – these fun toys can help keep hands busy and minds focused.
Learn About Your Child’s Brain Development and why early gambling can create problems later.
Want to Share Information About Youth Gambling With Others?
You can order these brochures about Youth Gambling for FREE from the Maine Prevention Store at Youth Gambling – Recognize the Signs – Maine Prevention Store.
