Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.
Like so many other parents I am OVERWHELMED. I have to much STUFF in my house. Not stuff that I purchased. Most of it is gifts, purchased lovingly for my children, my spouse or myself by family members who mean well. But kids are SO fickle and the trends change so quickly its breaking my heart to continually go through and donate or toss all of these wonderful things. Don’t get me wrong, they are wonderful and we are so appreciative.
We’ve cut back ourselves with the Christmas 5 Gift Challenge, but am now expanding it to Birthdays and Anniversaries, and even to the gifting of people outside of the family and here’s why:
My kids are AWESOME, and yours are too. I mean I am REALLY REALLY enjoying them. It took our unbelievable trip to Disney this past winter to solidify that for me. Now I am working with Scott Walters to plan a short trip over the summer with them, and cannot wait to plan our next big one. Know why? ‘Cause they are getting older every day, and this stage won’t last and I want to enjoy every second, and enrich their lives. I want to travel with them, I want to learn with them, I want to smile with them and here’s how I plan to.
Typical toy gifts are going to turn into gifts of experience. Get to know people’s kids and learn what they love. Big into sports? There are affordable options for that. Same for Art, Dinosaurs, Music, Theater, all of it. For Christmas this year we got the kids tickets to see Kiss at MSG. WHY? Because (E) fell in love with Scooby Doo Kiss, and (A) has loved the songs Black Diamond and Beth for years. Its also their “farewell” tour, no time like the present. For our 15th wedding anniversary this year instead of gifting items to one another RNYD and I are taking the kids to a water park, cause as a couple, they are our greatest accomplishments.
Need Ideas? Happy to provide them, send us a message (and no they aren’t all sponsored, just trying to be helpful). What’s an amazing side effect of this new trend? For so many of the ones that you can do as gifts for birthdays of friends also puts money back into the small businesses in your community. You can purchase an experience for a friend for the same $20-25 you spend on a Barbie or Lego set and the child gets to “DO” something.
I am aware that this means that it might be more demanding on the parents of recipients, demanding of their time and energy, so of course take that into consideration when you go this way. If you are choosing something on a specific date, be sure to check with them first, but gift certificates somewhere that they will enjoy are generally great because you can do it when you get a chance.
You can also check to see if the child is saving up for something special. For Christmas many of our family members sent the kids Disney Gift Cards so that they could purchase some special items while we were there. I had one friend who’s daughter desperately wanted to purchase an American Girl Doll that was “Truly Me”. They are expensive, so she was saving. I was MORE than happy to purchase a gift card to the store for her to reach her goal. When she received the doll, she sent us an amazing video thanking us for helping her reach that goal. LOVED that idea.
BUT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT YOU WANT IS RUDE– Yeah I know, so if its important to you, ask people, what are they into? Ask if it would be ok. Get to know them. Maybe even plan the day so that your child and theirs can go together and enjoy the experience. If you are asked, be honest, help them out, and help yourself out (less clutter, less cleaning).
Ok Ok so I am talking a lot, but what are my ideas?
Locally there are so many fun places you can get experiences-
Birthday Party Level:
Sparkle Up, Matisse Chocolatier, Create Space, Jills Ceramics, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Legoland NY (coming soon), The Castle, Nickel O Farms, Sky Zone, High Exposure, Palisades Climb, Rye Playland, Land of Make Believe, Turtle Back Zoo, Girl Again Westchester, Renaissance Faire, Movie Tickets, Book signing opportunities (so many in northern jersey), Maybe Equipment they need for an activity.
Bigger Ticket:
Bronx Zoo (new dino exhibit too), Westchester Broadway Theatre, Liberty Science Center, Museum of Natural History, Trolls Experience, Tickets to a live show (paw patrol, Jurassic World, Disney on Ice, Marvel Live), Tickets to go snow tubing, Midieval Times,
Largest Ticket (obviously meant for family or for you to give your children):
Broadway Show, Concert tickets, American Girl Store, Waterpark, Lessons/Activities, Camps (or parts of camps), Weekend Getaway, Diggerland, Hershey Park, Gift Certificate for a Photo Shoot (yes, my photographers said some tweens and teens are asking for them- see our directory).
This of course is yet another opportunity for writing in our books “The Adventures of the Johnston Clan” and was partially the inspiration for our #RNYMBucketList for the spring and summer. I am trying to encourage writing for journaling, for fun with the kids. So much of their writing time in school is so regimented (it has to be I know and understand that), but they need to know that it can be enjoyable too. I mean their mother is a part time Blogger.
Some of these items don’t even cost money, just your time. Put down your devices and enjoy each other, make a memory, remember how much you enjoy one another. I know I plan to.
