MAKING THAT GIFT…AND CHECKING IT TWICE…
By Janna Barrick, M.S.,OTR/L
Gifts from the heart are often well remembered and treasured; therefore, buying the latest, trendiest toy for your child need not always be the goal. When selecting or making a gift (or when considering some of the highlighted alternative suggestions included below), carefully consider the age, safety needs, and skills of the recipient before making or purchasing. Like the toddler who prefers playing with the container or wrapping paper to the gift itself, children can learn from experience and modeling to appreciate gifts with fewer “bells and whistles,” along with the idea of economizing.
Homemade gifts
Handmade or homemade gifts have long been given by children to the adults in their lives, but children also may enjoy being the recipient. This is also an opportunity for them to appreciate the thought and work someone has put into a gift for them.
To encourage your child’s taste in a wider variety of appropriate music, consider making them a mix CD of favorite holiday tunes, introduce them to some oldies but goodies, and even familiarize yourself with some of the latest music that is appropriate for their age. Present the CD along with a personalized decorated case! Purchase an inexpensive MP3 player and customize it with some appropriate tunes to teach your child responsibility for her first new player along with some rules for use.
Grandparents and extended family may not be the only ones who enjoy photo gifts. Many websites, such as Snapfish, Shutterfly, Kodak Gallery, CVS, and Walmart sell gift items, or you can buy a kit and print out your own. Note that many of these websites have promotional codes, make sure to organize your order before placing it to make sure you don’t pay shipping and handling for multiple orders. Consider purchasing a mini tree and making photo ornaments of family members, memorable moments, and pets for your child to decorate. This can also reinforce who’s who before visiting extended family or family members your child doesn’t see often. Your child may even enjoy a calendar or planner of his own with photos of family trips and holiday celebrations, including important family dates and birthdays to increase social awareness.
To build skills in a variety of areas (and to save money), consider an activity-related gift that will keep your child busy during the cold winter months. Personalize a plain journal with paint, rhinestones, patches, or scrapbooking embellishments for your young writer to create and practice handwriting skills. Assemble some of Mom’s and Dad’s old clothes, along with thrift store or clearance finds into a dress-up box. Rather than buy pre-made craft kits, purchase supplies in bulk for a craft box or make craft kits of your own to keep your child and extended family busy. The internet is a great resource to print off directions and find supply lists. For the up and coming foodie or chef, enlist the child to help you assemble gift mixes in a jar (brownies, cookies, soup, dips, hot cocoa), and keep a few for your family to enjoy later. To increase organization skills, buy fabric or other paints, and use them to customize plain shelves, bins, tote bags, shoe or other canvas organizers for bedrooms. Older children help you decorate or even construct them.
Non-toy options
One of the gifts I remember most is not a toy that I received, but the experience of attending a local concert with my Dad. Look into tickets for concerts, plays, shows, or museums and make a special day of the experience. If purchasing for another family, of course consult with the parents ahead of time. Give your child the gift of learning a new activity or craft by providing them some of the supplies to learn in a kit, along with a coupon of “lessons,” for knitting, scrapbooking, cooking, making jewelry, or sports with you, a relative, or family friend. Depending on the child’s interest and cost, look into the cost of a trial or a few local lessons as a gift.
While some non-toy gifts may seem boring, for the child who already has everything or for teaching lessons in saving and investing, the following gifts may be great “life lessons.” Purchase a savings bond to earn some interest and eventually double the invested money, which can be used toward higher education. Set up and/or contribute toward the child’s college savings with a 529 plan. Some of the newer types have options for grandparents and other individuals to contribute one-time gifts (which are tax deductible). In what activities/subjects does your child have an interest? Research and discuss possible charities or causes for your child to contribute to and support. For tweens and teens, consider the pre-paid credit cards (such as “Visa Buxx” or “Mastercard Allow”), which teach them how to be responsible with a card without the risk to their credit rating.
Most of the toys and activities examined in this article are available at your local toy store, general/multi-purpose store, or online. These toys and activities are in no way affiliated with the author, and are suggestions.
Seeking expert advice
An occupational therapist may provide your child with opportunities to succeed in many areas of daily life. If you find that you have many concerns about your child’s handwriting grasp, legibility, sensory skills, or fine motor coordination, please request a referral from your doctor for occupational therapy services. These services are generally available in outpatient rehabilitation clinics in your community.
© 2010 Janna Barrick, M.S.,OTR/L
Janna Barrick is an occupational therapist specializing in Pediatrics for Tx:Team partnered with Frederick Memorial Hospital's outpatient clinics located in Frederick, Maryland. JBarrick@fmh.org.
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