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Gratefulness
Research, and life itself, show us that the more things we have, the harder it can be to be grateful. The holidays can present a challenge as we seek to to be generous with our children AND not overwhelm their ability to feel gratitude. The following are gift ideas which offer experience, connection and engagement — all qualities supporting gratefulness. May you too enjoy the gifts of a child’s wonder as we learn, play and grow.
When you give a child an experience, you give them a gift of memories that may last a life-time. Experience can deepen our connections, provide lessons and laughter — a gift for all of us! Try one of the following:
A nature walk (see Turn Any Walk into a Nature Walk for ideas) A trip to a fire station A trip to a water park (if this is a holiday gift and you live in a cold climate, give a coupon along with a bathing suit, goggles, or colorful beach towel to accompany it) A date to make crafts (include craft-making kit and/or supplies) A date to get up super-early to watch the next meteor shower (see NASA’s sky events calendar) A date to go camping (include a sleeping bag, flash-light or other camping need) An experience of generosity: give your child two $5, $10 or $20 bills. Invite them to keep one bill and give the other away (to a person, cause or organization)
Memberships and passes are the gifts that keep on giving. These can be fun experiences…multiplied. Consider passes to the following:
Nature Center Science Center Museums Theatre Aquarium YMCA
Movies Bowling Skating Miniature golf A concert Roller-skating A sports event
The gift of developing a skill, or the time and space to explore creativity or competence is a gift that can change a child’s life. Consider classes in:
Art Karate Dance Pottery Horse-back riding Sewing Outdoor Skills Chess Musical theatre Musical instrument
The following is a list of items which can be fun, uplifting and enrich children’s beings:
Books (draw inspiration from our list of children’s books which promote gratefulness) Calendar (help children learn to track their activities and record special dates throughout the year) Analog wrist watch (teach your child how to tell time) Piggy bank (great way to teach kids the value of money and increase their appreciation of what things cost) Photo album DVDs CDs of kids music Craft kits Science kits Art supplies Magazine subscription Bath Stuff (soap-making kit, bath-time body paint, crayons that write on shower walls, etc.) Stationary (spend time with your child using their stationary to express gratitude to all the folks who thought of them during the Holidays)
Educational App (to use on a phone, iPod or tablet) (CommonSense Media rates apps, games, movies and more)
Magic kit Cookbook & apron Gardening equipment Telescope Magnifying glass Magnet Globe
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I love this idea!
When I lived near an elementary school, during the school year, I try to go for my morning walk after the children are in school. One morning I was walking about 20 minutes after my local elementary school has started, I saw a young boy, who was heading to school, he was very late but just taking his time heading to school. He had a clear drinking cup and was looking through it at everything in his pathway – a post, leaves, the sky, trees, the sidewalk, grass, etc. He was using this clear plas...
When I lived near an elementary school, during the school year, I try to go for my morning walk after the children are in school. One morning I was walking about 20 minutes after my local elementary school has started, I saw a young boy, who was heading to school, he was very late but just taking his time heading to school. He had a clear drinking cup and was looking through it at everything in his pathway – a post, leaves, the sky, trees, the sidewalk, grass, etc. He was using this clear plastic cup like a magnifying glass or a kaleidoscope and he was learning so much as he discovered the world along his way to school.
I am sure he would be scolded at school by his teacher for being late to school, but I was so tempted to tell the principal that this young boy was already learning and discovering, even before he entered his classroom. I hope this boy will always continue to find ways to explore this amazing world we live in.
Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal
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