Gift Ideas for Your Child
Gift Ideas for Your Child
As we approach the holiday season of gift giving there are many things to consider. As I listen to parents who are thankful for the gifts their children receive, many of them are also attempting to do things differently with their own family unit. Some themes that are running through my conversations are:
Simplify
Less Plastic
Multi-purpose
Imaginative Play
Outdoor Play
Independence
As an educator who has worked with children for well over 20 years, I offer these suggestions to you as parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles. Take them or leave them, as they are suggestions only. However, I will say, that these suggestions, do prompt creativity, foster independence, and allow for many extensions of play. These suggestions do grow with your child and they can be purchased at a minimal expense. Some of these suggestions would be described as “loose parts”. Items such as pom poms, twine, and elastics. Some of these suggestions would be described as “practical life”. Items such as hole punches, bowls & spoons for transferring practice, creamer & sugar dish for pouring practice, weigh scale, work gloves, scoops & buckets. Some of these suggestions would be described as “imaginative play”. Items such as classic story books (stories that have values and lessons contained within) dress-up clothes in an old trunk (clothes, not costumes, cowboy hats, boots, dresses, vests, jerseys, coats), puppets & a mud kitchen. Some of these suggestions would be described as “experiences”. Items such as a trip to Science World, or a session at Wonder & Awe Forest Play, or Winter Adventure (sledding followed by an outdoor campfire and hot chocolate or a bowl of chili).
My invitation to you is to remember that it is okay to change up the gift giving experience for your family. It is also okay for you to let the people who love your child know that you doing things differently. These suggestions are tried and true. Children love playing with these items over and over and their play changes as they grow older. May this season of gift giving be joyful and not stressful. Notice the delight of your child who has a cardboard box, crayons, tape, and scissors, and listen as they build their rocket ship, or pirate ship, or dollhouse. The gifts your giving your child are ones they will carry with them for life.
