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If you’re looking for great gifts for a child with cancer, you’ve come to the right place! This gift guide provides ideas for young cancer patients through teens.
Working with children with cancer and their families, I’ve seen firsthand the gifts for children with cancer that are helpful, provide comfort, and are genuinely appreciated.
Whether you want to send a gift to celebrate big milestones, like finishing radiation treatment or chemotherapy treatments, or simply want to bring a smile to their face during a difficult time, sending a thoughtful gift is a great idea.
You don’t want to waste your time or money on gifts that can’t or won’t be used. So after you review this list of gifts to avoid, check out these items I recommend as the best cancer gifts for kids.
In general, when thinking about get-well gifts for a pediatric cancer patient, there are 3 main categories that the best thoughtful gifts can fall under: Practical, Cozy, and Distraction.
Practical gifts, while not the most flashy, are still a great way to show you care. I’ll recommend a few practical items to include in a gift bag along with some fun gifts.
Kids can spend a lot of time in the hospital for tests and treatments, so they should be as comfortable as possible.
Hospital rooms can be quite cold, and most people love to snuggle up in something soft and comfy when they don’t feel good.
Comfortable and cozy items are the sorts of things that make a perfect gift to include in care packages.
Being hospitalized can mean lots of downtime between treatments and scans. Gifts that provide distraction help to fill the hours and give kiddos’ minds a break from worrying.
As a bonus, distracting gifts, toys, or activity books that kids can do on their own give an overwhelmed parent or caregiver time to rest or do any of the million things on their to-do list.
So, let’s get into it! Here are 71 gift ideas for young ones, kids, and teens dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Daily Needs: Practical Gifts
Cancer treatment can lead to all sorts of side effects, like hair loss, dry skin, nausea, vomiting, and trouble sleeping.
Including a practical gift or two in a cancer care package is a surefire way to ensure the gift will be used.
Queasy Drops
These nausea drops are great to keep on hand since nausea can strike at any moment. They work quickly and come in a variety of flavors.
All-Natural Herbal Inhaler for Nausea
Another option for on-the-go nausea relief. The essential oils used can also combat anxiety and stress.
Unscented Lotion for Sensitive Skin
This 100% plant-based lotion uses aloe vera and chamomile extract. It’s perfect for dry skin from the scalp to the toes. And since it’s unscented, it won’t bother anyone if their sense of smell has changed due to treatment.
Noise-dimming or canceling Ear Plugs
Hospitals can be loud, and sleeping while away from home can be tough. Enter these soft, flexible earplugs. I love mine and don’t travel without them.
I’ve included both a kids’ version and teen/adult version here, depending on the age of the child you’re shopping for.
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$27.95
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$21.95
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Eye Mask
Blocking out bright lights can help give kids and teens much-needed rest.
Whether you’re looking for a simple version, a themed eye mask, or a silly sleep mask, this will be a much-used gift.
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$9.99
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$8.99
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$10.99
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Comfy, Cozy Gifts
Comfort is the name of the game with these next gift ideas.
Think cozy clothes, fuzzy socks, plush blankets, or a cuddly companion to snuggle to help kids relax.
One kiddo I know was gifted multipacks of crazy grippy socks each time he had to go into the hospital.
He became known for his silly socks, and it was fun to watch as others would try to guess the kind of socks he’d have on the next time they saw him.
Body Pillow
Hospital beds just aren’t as comfy as beds at home. This body pillow can be used to make it a little more snuggly. This one comes in multiple sizes, making it great for kids of all ages.
Weighted Stuffed Animal
This little one can be microwaved for warm, soothing comfort and has a light lavender scent.
Weighted stuffed animals are similar to weighted blankets in that they are calming and can help reduce anxiety.
Hot/Cold Heart Pillow
The heart shape is an excellent reminder to a child that someone loves them and is thinking of them while they go through the long haul of cancer treatment.
This pillow can be popped in the freezer to cool it down or microwaved to provide warm heat, either of which can help soothe aches and pains.
Best of all, it smells like a cherry pie from its cherry pit filling.
Plush Bathrobe
There are many options to choose from when picking out a robe as a gift; you know the child will be warm and comfy whenever it’s worn.
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$24.99
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$24.99
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Fuzzy Socks
Colorful socks can brighten up a bad day. Be sure to get socks with grips on the bottom so the child doesn’t slide on the slick hospital floors or tiles at home.
Gifts That Provide Distraction
Many gifts for children with cancer can fall under this category, so I’ve grouped them in ways that hopefully make sense.
This section will list gifts for the youngest patients, then pretend play, arts and crafts, games, and electronics.
Gifts for Toddlers to Preschoolers
STEM Toys
Educational toys are great for this age group. This 3-in-1 STEM toy set turns a robot into a helicopter, truck, and ship.
Large pieces are good for little hands and kids can imagine any number of play scenarios with the machines they build.
Finger Puppets
For toddlers and older children, finger puppets are a great way to pretend and express creativity.
Young kids can also find it easier to ‘talk’ about scary scenarios, like having surgery or a biopsy, when using finger puppets. This can encourage them to talk through and process their big feelings in a safe way.
Educational Activities
This preschool activity kit has seek-and-find pages and dry-erase boards to practice writing and drawing.
Learning can be lots of fun, even while in the hospital!
Puzzles
Wooden puzzles are a perfect gift for littles because they have big pieces and can easily be disinfected to keep germs away. This set of 6 includes a storage bag for easy transport.
Busy Boards
Like a wooden puzzle, this busy board is easily cleaned, and the knobs, switches and lights keep little ones entertained for long periods of time.
Pretend Play
Dress Up Sets
The sky is the limit for the types of costumes available as gifts for children with cancer. I picked this one because they may like to dress up like their favorite doctor or nurse.
The set includes a stethoscope and other pieces of medical equipment.
Playing pretend with the bandaids and syringes can help lower a kiddo’s anxiety about having medical procedures done.
Play Food Set
Kids with cancer still like to do all the things other kids their age do, including playing house.
This food play set includes a storage container, making it easy to tote back and forth from home to the hospital without worrying about losing pieces.
Dolls
Dolls can range from plush dolls to realistic baby dolls to Pediatrician Barbie. Toddlers through older children enjoy pretending with dolls.
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$22.99
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$23.93
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$23.44
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Cars
Cars are another staple fun toy for kids. Here’s a set that carries the smaller cars inside, remote control cars, and a wooden train set.
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$24.99
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$24.99
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Foam Dart Guns
One of my favorite patients ever spent HOURS drawing targets and hanging them all around his hospital room. He even set up tournaments for his visitors to compete, providing everyone with some lighthearted fun.
Camping Set
What kid wouldn’t love a camping set, including a tent, gear, and working walkie-talkies???
It’s portable and small enough so it can be set up in the corner of a hospital room without taking up too much space.
A quiet, cozy space where they can get away for a little while.
Arts & Crafts / Creative Outlets
Magnetic Tile Building Blocks
Kids as young as 3 can build whatever they imagine with this massive set of magnetic building blocks.
The different shapes encourage creativity while learning about building and other STEM concepts.
Legos/Building Bricks
I’m amazed at the number of different Lego sets that are available now!
I love Legos for the endless number of designs that can be created from one set. I suggest gifting a generic set or something based on the child’s interest.
Be sure to let the child know that there are even more building design instructions that can be found for free online for even more creative play!
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$24.88
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$12.90
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$47.99
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$32.30
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You’ll also need a way to store the little pieces, and this has a building tray built into the lid.
Another option is these great lap trays. These are great for building bricks, Play-Doh, Kinetic Sand, etc., and help contain spills.
When it’s time for the kiddo to leave for a scan or treatment, the tray can easily be set aside, ready to be picked back up when they return to the room.
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$24.95
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$16.99
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Sketching/Drawing/Coloring Supplies
Since kids might be more sensitive to smells like paint during treatment, I recommend gifting colored pencils to create colorful designs.
Coloring books and activity books are always a hit.
Finally, these wooden picture frames give kids something to decorate. Inside, they can place pictures of friends, family, or pets to bring a little bit of home with them for their hospital stay.
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$19.99
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$22.21
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$9.99
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Origami Paper Kits
Origami kits are fun and challenging; kids can feel a real sense of accomplishment when they learn to create new figures.
There are even kits available with the papers pre-lined so that younger kids know exactly where to fold the paper to make the figure correctly and easily.
Sticker Books
Almost every kid loves stickers, so sticker books on a topic the kid loves are bound to be a hit. There are even some unique ‘paint by number’ books using stickers for older kids.
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$16.80
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$16.80
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$6.99
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Craft Kits
Craft kits bring a lot of fun and color to a drab hospital room, from jewelry or trinket boxes to rock painting kits and sun catchers.
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$11.89
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$8.99
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$7.99
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Sewing Kits
Examples can include latch hook kits, blanket-making kits, and even crochet sets.
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$25.99
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$16.99
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$16.99
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$22.99
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Friendship Bracelet Kit
Making bracelets can be an easy individual or group project.
Kids can express their creativity and gift bracelets to the new friends they make in the hospital.
This kit includes 2 storage boxes so the tiny pieces won’t spill everywhere.
Journals
The social worker in me has to recommend at least one gift that can help with the emotional processing of having childhood cancer. But gone are the days of plain, lined pages (although I do recommend one like that here for teens).
There are now journals on specific topics like gratitude or anxiety, and some give short prompts to write just a couple of lines each day.
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$5.24
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$24.98
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$6.80
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Games
Puzzles
Wooden puzzles are better than cardboard pieces because they can be easily cleaned, which is essential when trying to keep germs at bay. This cool 3D puzzle set makes 6 different dinosaurs.
Rubik's Cube
The Rubik’s cubes in this set can provide hours of entertainment for older kids, teens, and adults.
I love that this multipack has different-sized cubes that increase the difficulty when one level is mastered.
Multipack Card Set
This 6-in-1 card set contains classics like Crazy Eights, Old Maid, SlapJack, Memory, Go Fish, and Matching. The whole family can get involved, and kids as young as 3 can play.
Best of all, these games don’t take hours like some board games do.
Some can even be played individually, so adults don’t always have to be actively involved while their kid seeks entertainment.
Uno
Uno is a classic card game that now has many different versions. This set includes a storage tin that makes it easy to take the cards from home to the hospital.
Taco vs Burrito
This is a popular game that’s easy to learn and is entertaining for kids, teens, and adults!
Dominos
Another classic game that can be played alone or with others. This set has a nice carrying case as well to keep all of the pieces together.
Travel Board Game Set
Mini-sized (perfect for taking to treatments) games, including Chess, Snakes and Ladders, Backgammon, Ludo and Tic Tac Toe can entertain even the pickiest of kids.
Electronics
Digital Camera
A camera is a great way to capture memories, and this retro version with a printer and photo paper will let kids decorate their surroundings or create images for a scrapbook.
Walkie Talkies
Long-range walkie-talkies will let your kiddo talk to their new buddy a few rooms down or be able to talk with their adult when they step out to go to the cafeteria for a much-needed caffeine break.
Amazon Kindle
Books can instantly transport a child to another world where they can forget all about cancer for a while.
I love the Kindle because it has storage for so many books and is easy to transport. Long-lasting batteries will last through a whole day of treatment.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is great because it can easily travel between home and the hospital, it’s compact, and you can play single-player or multiplayer games on it.
Playing alone can help the time during treatment pass faster, and if the hospital has the ability to connect it to a TV, the joysticks on the sides can be removed, letting the child play a game against another kiddo staying in the same unit.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of games available for this system, so kids of all ages and interests can find a game they love.
Apple iPad
This tablet can literally be a lifeline for a child in the hospital or recovering at home.
From downloading social media apps to stay in touch with friends and family members, to books, movies, and games, this bigger-ticket gift is likely to be used daily.
Charging Cord
Don’t forget charging cords for the electronic devices!
Drone
This gift can’t be used at the hospital but would be perfect for a child recovering at home who wants to do something but may not have much energy.
This drone can do tricks and can provide a lot of entertainment with friends while still social distancing.
Gifts That Keep Giving: Subscriptions and Gift Cards
Gift cards and subscriptions are wonderful ways to brighten a child’s day during cancer treatment. Gift cards let them indulge in a little shopping spree or pick out exactly what they’ve been dreaming of.
What I love about gift cards as gifts for children with cancer is that it gives the kiddo the freedom to choose exactly what they want. This can mean a lot to them during a time in their life when almost everything feels out of control.
Another former patient of mine would search Amazon for hours, creating long wish lists. This provided much-needed distraction before she was to have painful procedures. She used the gift cards she’d received as gifts to buy an item off of that wish list.
She went into the procedure looking forward to receiving her item in the mail. She said it was a little reward to herself for being brave. I like that perspective.
Subscriptions for books, video games, or streaming services like movies or music can help fill the day with enjoyable distractions.
Making it Personal and Heartfelt
You can take some of the ideas from this list of gifts for children with cancer and create a DIY gift, too.
For example, you can sew a cozy blanket from soft fabric sporting the child’s favorite cartoon character, superhero, or sports team.
When sending or delivering a gift basket, include a personalized letter with some words of encouragement.
Let the child know you’re thinking of them, and hope that your gift provides a little comfort and makes them happy.
Gifts for children with cancer don’t have to be big or over the top.
Sometimes, the little things like cards and thoughtfully selected gifts can make a big difference in brightening their day.
Any of the items on this list would be appreciated.
If you’ve given a gift to a child with cancer, what’s been their favorite gift to receive? Share in the comments below!
