Gifts with a goal

We have tried to bring more purpose and devotion to our holidays and celebrations by focusing on quality over quantity- and gifts that facilitate growth instead of idle entertainment.
It is a challenge to thoughtfullycome up with a meaningful gift that doesn't feed the toy horde and uniquely fits each child's interest- to encourage and develop it.  In trying to brainstorm with my sister some ideas, I started to compile a list and thought I would record it here for future reference and in the hopes it might be helpful to you.  Age appropriate of course.
We give three gifts on Christmas that correspond with the gifts of the magi: gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Their myrrh gift is something for their bodies (scarf, pajamas, necktie, etc), the gold gift is something to develop their interests (in place of a glitzy toy), and the frankincense is something of a spiritual nature (scriptures, scripture markers, a copy of our testimony, cd of recorded inspiring stories, CTR ring, etc).

 

Above all, we hope to emphasize and celebrate with purpose the meaning of the special day- whether it be Christ's birth, a family member's birthday, or another holiday.  It's somewhat hard at first to drastically minimize the amount of gifts you give and you might need to ground yourself from shopping the week preceding Christmas (the buying fever seizes me each year that time) but the rewards will come over time as you see your child make plans with, use, and value the wise gifts that enrich his/her heart and mind.
      ....as a quick side note, we do fill up a stocking with consumable gifts like oranges, pretzels, nuts, toothbrush, socks, new shoelace, chocolate, and a candycane.

• whittling knife, wood, & designs (citrus reamer, wood kitchen spoon, play car, whale, etc)
• carving set
• the best toys (wood blocks, hankerchiefs, etc instead of that toy horde)
• a model kit (pinewood derby car or raingutter regatta from scout shop)
• a rag doll and a couple changes of clothes
• a new dress with matching doll dress
• timeless book(s) with a handwritten note inside
• a cookbook for you to cook together from
• a cut out pattern you could sew together and child could wear (cute apron, warm hat, etc)
• sewing basket & list of clothes to mend with parent plus a couple simple useful patterns
• a gift certificate to go do something child is excited about and a bookmark to remember the event by
• a worthy music CD- or a compilation made by you
• a flower press & collecting book
• modeling clay (not playdough)
• a family board game
• puppet theatre (paint a white sheet, cut a hole out for the stage, and put a tension rod through the seam to hang in hall/door when using)
• some homemade crayon shapes (use candy molds to make beautiful melted multi-colored crayons)
• a pillow, blanket, or stuffed animal from cast off favorite clothes
• paper doll outlines printed on cardstock for her to color & cut out
• some indoor herbs or plants- especially kinds they can use to cook with you
• a personal calendar with family pictures
• some birdseed ball kits for child to make & hang outside a window
• an original poem for child, framed
• rechargeable batteries & recharger- we had a child PINE for this gift!
• quality art materials (drawing pad, numbered pencils, colored pencils, brushes, paints, canvas, etc)
• knitting needles or crochet hooks with yarn & pattern
• an outdoor seasonal toy (wagon, kickball, sled, baseball, glove & bat, frisbee, etc)
• tackle box to go fishing with Dad & own fishing rod following year
• kite kit
• simple tool box & plans to make something with parent (birdhouse, cutting board, shed/ box for outside toys, bookshelf, etc)  OR a list of things to fix around house with parent!
• canning jars and berries to make special jam preserves with parent
• bee hive & bee keeping class/book- with certificate to purchase bees once ready
• microscope & recording notebook
• telescope & recording notebook
• papermaking kit
• basketball hoop (used ones often on Craigslist)

 

....I hope to keep adding to this list and invite you to share ideas for me to add!!