Shabby Chic Boho Trying to find the perfect gift for the next holiday that is surely right around the corner, or looking for something suitable from your children’s ever-growing wish list, might seem impossible at the most or frustrating at the least. You want their eyes to light up while feeling a sense of happiness in yourself simply because you made them happy. And yet, you really do not want to spend your hard-earned money on another piece of tech, or a video game, or the latest trend that will go away in a week. Instead, find something different that they will cherish and appreciate.
Let Them Explore New Activities
Activities are wonderful. They run the gamut from low-level beginner classes to advanced and everything in between. If your child has expressed an interest in dance, for example, consider giving them a session of dance classes from a local dance studio. They can explore different types of movement while getting their wiggles out. This applies to kids, regardless of their age. Many tweens and teens might be excited to try hip-hop classes or get in on the latest TikTok dance craze.
If your child enjoys watching feats of strength online, perhaps a ropes course or physical fitness challenge class might be a perfect match. Sometimes, kids do not realize what they will like until they try it, and if they have enjoyed watching others do something, they may benefit from it as well, or at least learn something in the process.
Teach Them a New Skill
What a gift it is to learn something, especially when it is a skill that they can use throughout their entire life. Look for classes they can take, individual lessons, or teach them yourself. Top off the lesson with a gift that correlates with what they learned.
If you are on the fence about whether or not this should be considered a gift, think about the things that your parents knew that were passed down to you. If they had not given you that knowledge and learned skill set, where would you have gotten it from? Learning is a gift.
Look at some of these ideas for inspiration:
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- Cooking Lessons: Apron, baking tools, family recipes, cookbook
- Carpentry Skills: Work gloves, specialized hand tools, protective eyewear, toolbox
- General Repairs: Work gloves, toolbox, standard hand tools, such as screwdrivers, hammer, tape measure, wrench, laser level, studfinder, multi-tool, etc.
- Gardening: Gardening gloves, seed packets (include their favorite fruits, vegetables, and flowers), basic gardening tools, such as a hand trowel, and pruning shears, etc.
Learn Something Together
Perhaps there are things that the two of you have in common, such as shared interests. Yet neither of you knows how to do it. When that happens, you have a perfect gifting opportunity. Look for ideas, such as frequent comments about knitting or crocheting, painting, weaving, pottery, or toilet flapper repairs (truly). Try to find something that would be beneficial for both of you and interesting at the same time.
Sign up for an all-day class together on a Saturday or look for weekly lessons that will work around your already busy schedules. It is not enough to talk about the idea of giving them a gift of learning; it is important that you follow through, find a class, and sign up.
Explore Your City Together
Whether you live in a huge, bustling metropolis or a small town, you should explore the area together. Of course, it will always be easier if you have a lot of options, like what a big city will provide.
Check out the local tourism office and create a custom map, complete with all the stops you want to make. Look for the “best of” categories in your city and try to hit them all. Find the best breakfast spot, the best donuts, the best museum, and you get the idea. Make sure you take photos and a few selfies at each location.
Collect receipts, ticket stubs, paper maps, and anything else you would like. When you return home, print out some of the pictures to create a collage along with the receipts and maps. Frame it for your child as an extra-special way to remember your day together. It should be noted that you do not need to wait for a special occasion to do something like this with your child. Make it an annual event and think up new categories together, or go out exploring whenever you feel ready for a local adventure.
Travel Further Afield
Travel is the ultimate gift. From exploring a foreign country to visiting the next state over, there are endless possibilities for travel. If your child is older, ideally in college, you might want to let them go on a trip solo. Otherwise, make it a parent-child bonding trip or a family adventure.
Since travel is so expensive, it is not unreasonable to give it as a gift. However, you can add fun elements to the experience, such as new luggage, a travel backpack, or a fun new luggage tag set. Converting money into the destination country’s currency also makes a great gift and gets them excited about the trip.
Find travel destinations that will make everyone happy and have a lot of fun things to do. Ensure you explore the rich history and cultural institutions of wherever you go, and partake in the local cuisines, too. Your children will remember this special gift for the rest of their lives.
Give Them Your Time
Without a doubt, one of the best things you can ever give your child is your time. While this might not make any gift lists or actually be something you give them in writing, it is important to mention, nonetheless. As you go about any of the other activities on this list with your child, be sure to be present and in the moment with them. Avoid spending too much time on your phone and silence any unnecessary notifications. Make sure your child knows how important they are to you by focusing on your time together.
Giving gifts takes on a whole new meaning when you forego the traditional gift list. Be creative and think outside the box. Come up with experiential ideas and activities you can do together to learn new things and make memories together.
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