3 Surprising Best Gifts For Kids

Each day provides its own gifts. – Marcus Aurelius

Wouldn’t it be great to give a gift with lasting benefits and no need for batteries and electricity? In fact, wouldn’t it be great to give a gift that isn’t dependent upon an electrical device not crashing? Down below are 3 of the best gifts to give that have lasting, unmeasurable effects. If you want to make a difference in your child’s life, give the following gifts:

1. Books

Books foster the love of literacy and reading. Books don’t require anything except a willing reader to turn the pages. They are renewable and reusable. 🙂 (I know, I know, books are boring. They aren’t the gift that all the tech savvy parents or just plain savvy parents give. However, books build bridges for children that can’t be built anywhere else. Research proves that reading helps kids make sense of the world socially, and that kids that read have more empathy for others. This is just the tip of the iceburg of benefits. Reading makes your kids smarter and increases their vocabulary.) Reading rocks.

When I was growing up, every year for Christmas, my grandma gave me books. It got to the point that I didn’t even want to open her gifts, because I knew it would be just another “boring” book. I didn’t appreciate them. I do now. In fact, I still have some of the books my grandma gave me. She always wrote a personal message in the front cover. Now, I love to see her penned words to me and reflect on the memories of the time I had with her. I cherish and treasure the books.

Now, I know that books aren’t as appealing as the latest and greatest gadget on the market; books aren’t big and shiny filled with status, but books are filled with promises for those that read them.

My grandma has been in heaven for 16 years, but she still lives with me in the books she gifted me. She left a piece of herself by penning a sentiment in the front cover of the books she gave me. Be sure to write a sentiment in the books you give too. You will leave a lasting impression, a legacy. Who wouldn’t want to give a gift like that?

Give the following types of books: picture books, e- books, gift cards for books, recipe books, magazine subscriptions (yes, it counts as a book), Bible, fiction, non-fiction, comic books, self improvement, reading apps, book apps, etc.

2. Writing Supplies

Giving tools to write encourages your child to write. Give them sparkly pens, colored pens, elegant pens, pencils of every kind including mechanical with lead refills and eraser refills. Give them different sizes of journals. Let them write on the notebook feature of an i-Pad or i-Pod. Give paper of all shapes, sizes and colors. (I love to write on different colors of paper. Purple is my favorite. I like to write in spiral bound journals with quotes printed at the bottom of each page.) One thing I know for sure is the following: Children won’t write if they don’t have plenty of supplies. Thus, provide the supplies. Some journals are so elegant just beckoning someone to pen their thoughts. Giving these items as a gift will encourage a writer you may not know is inside of your child. Plus, writing is a life skill. This gift encourages learning a skill that will be used for life. 

3. Time

Time is the greatest gift to share with each other. ~Quvenzhane’ Wallis, 10-year-old Oscar-nominated actress

In this busy, busy world, all our children really want is our time. Time to listen to them. (I mean really engage and listen not just nod our heads and say, “Uh huh.” I’ve done this more times than I care to share, because I’ve been preoccupied by all the other demands and responsibilities in my life. However, if I don’t listen to them, where will they go to be heard? I’d much rather be available for them than them turning to the wrong crowd.) My children often say to me, “You didn’t listen to me.” Thus, the greatest gift we give our children is our time. Invest in listening to them. REALLY listen to them. Also, invest time to do fun activities such as family game night or going on a walk. Take time to read with them or aloud to them.  This is such a special bonding time.  (It is beneficial to do this even when they are able to read.  Often times, people stop reading to their children when their children begin to read. No.  Keep reading to them so they keep developing language skills and the love of reading.)

These gifts create memories that will last a life time. Long after other gifts wear out, break, lose their new appeal, or are given away, the gift of time creates memories that are never thrown away.

What do you think? Will you give your kids the best gifts ever? I know you want what is best for them. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

♥Pamela

Please share this article with others that you think would benefit from these tips. Also, please ask any questions that you may have about teaching children reading or writing. Leave your questions in the comments. I’ll answer. 🙂

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Photo credit:  1.  christmas-kid.com  2.  2pixgood.com   3.  unknown  4.  washingtonindependencereviewofbooks.com  5.  smartspeechtherapy.com  6. Unknown