So, you’ve got the perfect present for your little tornado of joy — now comes the bit where you wrestle with tape, lose the scissors for the third time, and realise you’ve bought glitter paper that sheds everywhere. (Been there.) But honestly, wrapping gifts for kids is half the fun, especially when you lean into the chaos and creativity of it all. Whether it’s a birthday bash, Christmas morning, or a “just because” surprise, these wrapping ideas are designed to wow tiny humans and their grownups without making you lose your mind.
And the best part? Most of these ideas double as part of the gift or use things you’ve already got lying around — think kraft paper, cereal boxes, and rogue stickers stuck to the kitchen table. Let’s get wrapping.
Animal Face Wrapping with Paper Cut-Outs
This one’s always a hit, especially for toddlers and preschoolers. Wrap the gift in solid-colored paper (brown kraft works great), then cut out ears, a snout, and some googly eyes. Suddenly your square gift is a bear. Or a bunny. Or — if you’re feeling adventurous — a dragon. It’s like a DIY toy and wrapping paper in one.
You don’t need to be Pinterest-perfect either. Wonky whiskers? Even better.
Colour-In Wrapping Paper Made by the Kids
Let them decorate the wrap before the gift is even opened. Lay out a big sheet of butcher paper or kraft paper and let your little one go wild with crayons, markers, or paint. You can even write a big “Happy Birthday [Name]” in bubble letters and let them colour it in. It becomes a creative keepsake and a sneaky quiet time activity. Two birds. One roll of paper.
The Lego Brick Box
If you’ve got a Lego lover, this one’s a crowd-pleaser. Wrap the box in bright red, blue, or yellow paper and glue on matching paper circles to look like the top of a Lego brick. It’s simple, satisfying, and instantly recognisable — plus you can size it up or down for different gifts.
Balloon Surprise Wrap
Blow up a few balloons and tape them all over a wrapped gift — or better yet, put tiny toys or confetti inside a few of them and tell the kids they have to popthem to find the surprise. Messy? Yes. Fun? Absolutely. This one’s perfect for birthdays or party games, and makes the wrapping part of the celebration.
Kraft Paper and Crayon Combo for Toddlers
Toddlers don’t need fancy — they need texture and colour. Wrap their gift in kraft paper and then tape a few chunky crayons, stickers, or foam shapes right onto the top. You’ve basically given them a DIY activity to tackle before they even get to the main gift. Bonus: it works well for stocking fillers and classroom gifts too.
Dinosaur Egg Wrap
Wrap the gift in layers of crumpled newspaper, painted white or pale green, and crack open like a dinosaur egg! You can even draw little cracks on the outside with a black marker and include a small toy dino on top for effect. Ideal for any prehistoric-loving kiddos in your life (and fun for grown-up dinosaur nerds too).
Box of Faces (Sticker Edition)
Get a cheap sheet of silly face stickers or googly eyes and stick them all over the gift box — then let the child rearrange the stickers to make new faces before opening. It’s like wrapping paper meets sticker book, and honestly might buy you ten precious minutes of peace while the adults make tea.
Christmas Cracker Style Rolls
For smaller gifts like socks, toy cars, or art supplies, roll them up in tissue paper and tie both ends with ribbons to look like a giant cracker. These are especially cute as Christmas gift wrapping ideas, but also work as party favours or small birthday treats. Add a little bell or jingle tag to really jazz it up.
Chalkboard Wrapping Paper
Use black kraft paper and a white or silver marker to create a chalkboard effect — you can draw little doodles, snowflakes, birthday cakes, or even write a poem. For Christmas gifts, add their name in big letters and tell them it’s Santa’s secret note. Feels fancy, costs next to nothing.
Dress It Up Like a Toy
Wrapping creative gifts for kids doesn’t always need fancy paper. Dress up a plain box as a mini car, dollhouse, robot, or rocket ship using cardboard cut-outs, tin foil, bottle caps, or fabric scraps. When the wrapping becomes part of the play, it’s a double win. Especially for toddlers and preschoolers who might ignore the gift and play with the box anyway. (Let’s be honest.)
Puzzle Tag Surprise
Instead of a regular name tag, cut a photo of the child or a cartoon image into a puzzle piece shape and stick it on top. Let them match the pieces before they can open it. A fun way to slow down the present frenzy just enough for you to take a few photos.
Bonus: Build-A-Box Craft Kit
Wrap a plain gift box and top it with a mini craft kit — a few popsicle sticks, stickers, glitter glue pens — tied in ribbon or popped into a paper envelope on top. You’re giving the joy of unwrapping and something to do afterward, which is gold during holidays when kids are stuck indoors and bouncing off walls.
Whether you’re making wrapping paper with kids or crafting up a DIY gift set for their cousin’s birthday, it really doesn’t need to be perfect. A little colour, a little effort, and a whole lot of joy — that’s the magic. And if all else fails, let them help and call it “abstract design.” Works every time.