This year, Little O will not quite be 1 for Christmas. He’ll turn 1 shortly after, on January 8th. And so I’ve been thinking about what to get him this year. This is how it plays out in my mind: I think and plot and plan what wonderful toy to get Little O. I choose the best. In fact, I may choose several of the best and top-rated, because that is how I show my love for him. I wrap up his gift(s) and anxiously await my opportunity to give them to him. Then, Christmas morning, or on his birthday after he makes a mess of himself with cake, we present him with his perfect present. We try to teach him how to rip the wrapping paper… we await him finding the toy… and ultimately he just keeps on playing with that darned wrapping paper and ignoring our perfect, well-intentioned, expensive toys. Let’s face it. Besides breast milk and power sockets, paper is Little O’s favorite thing on the planet!
That’s why I think that this year, Little O will be receiving a large donation to his savings account for Christmas and a large donation to his savings account for his birthday. And there will still be a giant box wrapped with pretty, enticing paper. And inside, there might be a little toy. And he won’t experience less joy right now, but in 20 more years, he’ll really thank us for it!
I recently spoke with someone who realized one year that her kids had enough toys. Her house was full of toys. And inevitably, each Christmas, the kids would get new toys and become bored of them a few days later. So one Christmas she and her husband decided to do something different. I’d like to do something like this one day:
1) The kids woke up and there was brand new luggage for each of them. Their clothes were packed. And there was a box under the tree. Inside the box was a clue. Instructions that they were to go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. They left in their pajamas.
2) At G&G;’s house, Santa had left a new outfit for each of them, plus a clue to go to their aunt’s house, a few towns away.
3) After a couple of hours, they reach the aunt’s house, and receive games for their gaming systems. The next clue takes them to another town a couple hours away…
4) … and at that location they receive a new small gift and a new clue, which in this case took them to Las Vegas.
5) At Las Vegas, they stop at a fun hotel, and Santa has already visited their hotel room with more clues and instructions!
6) In the morning they pursue the next clue!
7) And then one more clue and…
8) They end up at Disneyland!!
Anyway, you get the idea. Basically it’s an elaborate scavenger hunt / road trip, with clues and small gifts along the way to break things up and keep them interesting. At the end of the adventure, you have family memories and a family trip for Christmas as opposed to new toys that aren’t needed and will soon be outgrown.
This is definitely something that I’d like to try with our family one day. Have you ever tried anything like this? What other non-traditional gift giving ideas do you have?
that is a brilliant idea. I love the thought of trips as gifts, especially when kids are no longer toy-oriented.
I love it! Mom & Dad win, the environment wins, kids win, everybody's happy.
brilliant idea for your little one. you've made up my mind on what to do for our new baby this year. I totally agree about giving trips. though that one is hard to beat. we're thinking of giving tickets to the sleepover night at Giants stadium this year. just not sure if spring time is too long to wait for little ones.
Last year we gave our kids a trip to Southern California – Disney, Sea World, Universal Studios, and the San Diego Zoo. We let them plan out the trip, which day we did what, and planned in lots of pool time at our hotel. It was both the best Christmas present and the best vacation we have ever had, even if we had to wait a few weeks past the holiday to enjoy it all.
Love the idea! I think for Christmas this year Lou (close age to little O) will be getting one large box with a small toy, and many packing peanuts, crumpled newspaper, etc inside.
ok so while i agree with this principle for older kids who really need nothing or the things they want are too expensive and I totally agree that we should be saving for our kids. i was just dying for my daughter's first bday so she would get some big girl stuff and now that she is 15 months old it has all really come in handy! There are never enough great board books – she can recognize actual words we read so much! Or Melissa and doug chunky puzzles, mega blocks, things that teach animal / world sounds, I swear she knew every farm sound within a month of her bday because of that little people farm. She pushes her little people bus all around the house and sings, her doll stroller, her water/sand/picnic table – I don't know I just love to play with her with this stuff, and I know it is just stuff and she has too much I am sure but she does learn so much from it! So I really think that one is a good age for some stuff that you can grow with – oh her little playground with slide and sandbox that her grandparents went together and bought her is something we do together everyday outside. so just to say there are some great toys for kids that don't get tossed aside after a few weeks.