When Christmas is close and the toy aisles are picked over, it can be tempting to grab whatever is left. But a last-minute gift does not have to mean another plastic toy that loses its appeal by January.
Activity gifts can be easier to choose, easier for parents to appreciate, and more memorable for kids because the fun continues after the wrapping paper is gone.
Think about what the child gets to do
Instead of asking what object a child wants, ask what kind of experience would be fun: baking, decorating, searching, building, performing, reading, or playing with the family.
- A baking project
- A decorate-your-own dessert
- A family scavenger hunt
- A Christmas story and activity
- A movie-night experience
- A creative kit that is used up as it is enjoyed
Choose something adults can join too
A non-toy gift is especially valuable when it creates time with parents, grandparents, siblings, or cousins. Kids do not have to be entertained alone for the gift to be successful.
With The Tomte Cake Set, children can listen to the story, help prepare a house-shaped cake, decorate it, and participate in hiding and finding Tomte. Different ages can take different jobs, which makes it useful for a household with more than one child.
Last-minute gifts can still become traditions
Some of the best family traditions begin accidentally. If an activity is a hit this year, the family can choose to repeat it next December. That gives a simple gift a longer life without turning it into more everyday clutter.
Make the gift easy for parents
If you are buying for someone else's child, avoid giving an activity that requires a long list of extra supplies unless you provide them. Include the instructions, recipe, or basic materials needed to get started.
The Tomte Cake recipe is available online so families can plan the baking portion before their activity night.
Give kids a memory instead of one more thing
The closer Christmas gets, the more useful it is to simplify. A gift that encourages a child to make, decorate, laugh, and spend time with family can feel far more special than a rushed toy purchase.
Find more screen-light family Christmas ideas in Bätter!.