Rethinking Your Gifting This Holiday Season

Gifts that spark imagination, inspiration

- Melanie Hempe

What parent doesn’t want to give their child gifts they will love? While digital screens and video games may be at the top of your child’s list this season, there are other great gift ideas when you think outside the box. Instead of following the latest tech trend, give gifts that empower your kids, grow their brain, teach responsibility and shape their character.

ART

Children are explorers, and art provides a world where they can color outside the lines and discover new ideas, create their own world, see that problems have more than one solution, and allow their imagination to flourish.

Gift ideas: art supplies, clay, sketch pads, stickers, Tinker Crate, and craft kits.

MUSIC Music makes everything more fun, including cleaning your room and shooting hoops in the driveway. It is soothing for the soul and awesome for those neuronal connections. Play it often in your home and make music a part of your child’s — and your —daily routine.

Gift ideas: instrument, music lessons, CDs, portable speaker, and headphones.