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The Christmas shopping season is approaching at an
alarming rate. I'm already thinking about holiday gift guides for the blog and what this season's hottest gifts will be. The
shopping stresses and general panic about what to buy your loved ones will set in soon, if it
hasn't already. In addition to Christmas, my oldest daughter turns 16 next year, and I'm already thinking of a unique and special gift for her. Luckily when it comes to buying for your
children, they usually tell you exactly what they want in no uncertain terms.
But when you want to buy something that's more than a toy or video game,
what exactly do you buy that means something special to them, not just
now, but years down the line?
Buying An Experience
We all know children can be very difficult
to buy for. Buying them an experience of a lifetime guarantees that the gift will be a memorable one. While a
vacation or a trip to a theme park is a great experience, it doesn't necessarily make the child feel that it’s a gift specifically designed for
them since it may involve a trip for the entire family. You can help them indulge in a
hobby they have an extreme passion for. If they are keen fishers,
for example, then you can buy them any
top of the line fishing rod with a weekend experience away somewhere. Or if they are a musician, help them realize their dreams by booking some studio time and
recording their efforts onto a CD, but also using a distribution company
like Nationwide to make up a few
copies to give to family and friends. My youngest daughter has already told us that for her 18th birthday, she wants to go skydiving. She surely isn't likely to forget that gift for her entire lifetime. An experience is more
fulfilling than items, so if you want to make your child feel special, this
is a great option.
An IOU
Yes, it may sound somewhat silly, but the fact is that with the stresses of
modern life and the fact that parents are so busy, it's only the holiday
seasons where everyone spends quality time together. So you, as a parent,
may feel that you are not giving them the attention they need. A big reason
why parents buy their children lots of material gifts is because they are
trying to give their children the best
to compensate for what they may perceive to be their misgivings. Whether this is true or
not, it doesn't matter, but if you are trying to reset the balance, this
may be a cute little gift that they can use at any time to get some quality
time with you when they need it the most. For example, an IOU for a young
child could consist of a card just saying “I owe you one bedtime story”
which you will have to honor. And don't just make it one card, make it 52!
That way, you will always have some
quality time
throughout the year.
It's the little things that mean a lot, and while most children will beg
for toys, they will soon be forgotten by the time the next Christmas or birthday rolls around, so why not give them an experience they'll never forget?
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