G is for Gifts: Themed Activities

What a perfect time of year to talk about Gifts! Of course, the mind quickly goes to the festive boxes all wrapped up under the tree and the fun (or stress) of finding the perfect something for the friends and family that you hold so dear!

So with that topic in mind what kinds of gifts are good for your children? Giving them items that foster their creativity, imagination and STEAM skills is much preferable to electronic gadgets and single purpose toys.  For example, craft kits, toy food, doctor kits and gifts like rocks and gems, building kits and blocks are great. 

If you want to practice sensory skills, gifts like playdough, slime, scented markers, magic sand and bubbles are great.

For gross motor skills you can gift a ball, a swing set, a rocking horse or classes at a trampoline park, bowling alley, golf dome or ice rink as examples that will help to keep your child(ren) active.

If fine motor skills are on the list, you can provide gifts such as puzzles, shape sorters, lego, stacking cups, board games and art materials for your child.

What kinds of gifts can your children make for people they love? bead bracelets? key chains? gift certificates for hugs or completed chores? tye-dye shirts? a Christmas ornament? Maybe they can bake cookies or prepare a meal for someone with their parents help.  Maybe they can gift an act of kindness. A card or drawing is often a precious gift as well.  Even a baby could press a hand or foot into a mould and parents could turn that into an ornament, garden stone or decor piece as a gift.  The options are endless from items that are free, found at the dollar store or purchased at great cost to the child but the value is found in the thoughtfulness above all.

What other kinds of gifts are there?  This is the most precious type...the intangible gifts.  They are gifts extended towards others, like forgiveness, kindness, love, mercy and compassion. These gifts make a significant difference in the lives to whom they are given.  

There are also gifts that can be God-given to your child....like the gift of singing, of joy, of a gentle spirit or an energized one!  We are all unique and have our own talents and gifts.  Celebrating these gifts is definitely important and helping the child(ren) in your life to develop and build on the foundation of these gifts is also key.

There is one other gift to mention here, the gift of salvation.  This is the reason we celebrate Christmas, and is the greatest gift of all.

I hope you accept God's gift to you today and I hope you share your gifts with the world around you throughout this year and for all those yet to come! 



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