If there is a child in your life, it's very likely that a gift giving occasion looms on the horizon. Whether it's Christmas, Channukah, Easter, a birthday, a milestone like Bar Mitzvah or First Communion, or another special day, deciding what to give a child can be difficult.
Glittering aisles at the toy store or local department store are so filled with toys that do almost everything that making choices can be difficult. Trendy toys are not always the best option and many children have multiple toys. There are other gifts, however, that any adult can give a child that will make special memories and may last a lifetime.
Think Outside The Box And Be Creative
One gift that many children would enjoy is to be given free rein with Mom's camera or the camcorder for older kids. Let kids express their own creativity with a camera or make their own mini-movie. If a gift purchase feels right, choose an inexpensive camera for a beginning. Provide film and with a little instruction, let their imagination work.
Offer the child an opportunity to do what he or she wants. Whether it's a trip with Grandma to the beauty parlor, a walk in the park with Grandpa, a fishing trip, a long car ride, going to the movies or perhaps a nearby amusement park, let the child choose and share the fun. A special outing can mean more than a boxed toy - it's a gift of both your time and love.
Let kids be kids. For one day or a few hours or a single afternoon, let the kids run wild. Allow messes, silly games, and behavior that normally would be taboo - like splashing in the tub or eating in the living room. Parents who are strict about healthy snacks might consider giving in just once to let their child enjoy an ice cream sundae or large slice of cake. Don't allow anything that could be dangerous and don't let things get out of hand. Most kids will toe the line parents set if they are allowed to get a little geared up as a treat.
Enjoy the season - whatever season it may be! A sleigh ride in December can be a delighful event. So can ice skating, a carriage ride, or a trip to the pumpkin patch to select a special jack-o-lantern. Consider a trip to a farm that grows and sells Christmas trees. Many offer the chance to cut down your own tree, something that many kids love to do. Take in a ball game or visit a nearby historical site or plan a picnic. Go see the holiday lights or look for spring flowers.
Make family traditions. Having special rituals can be a way to connect all members of the family together. Whether it's a special meal each Friday evening before the Shabbes candles are lit, collecting an ornament each year for each family member, a birthday tradition of baking the cake together, or an annual trip to the zoo to mark a special day, rituals make memories. Adult children will look back with warm affection for those traditions created together.
Reading, Writing, And Photographs
Write a letter and make it an annual event. Write a letter to your child and tell he or she what they mean to you, what strengths they possess and what thoughts you want to share. An open, personal letter will become a keepsake to be treasured and it's an opportunity for parents who say things they might normally be bashful to say.
Introduce your child to the past with stories from your own childhood. If possible, take your child to visit your old neighborhood or make a special trip to see your hometown. Get out the photo albums from the past and share the pictures. If you have heirloom photographs from earlier generations, introduce your child to their ancestors. Share the old stories that have been handed down through the generations and teach history through family experiences.
Read together. Young children love to be read to but so do older children. Read a special story or novel aloud to the family. Stretch it out over several days during a special holiday time. Suggest books to read that you remember with fondness or read the same books so that you can talk about them. If you and and your child are both reading a Harry Potter book, you'll find common ground to discuss and enjoy.
Special gifts from the heart are as diverse as Americans. Before you buy the latest Barbie or DVD movie, use your imagination to give a lasting gift.