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Giving
more than
toys
by Tash
Hughes
I
always
planned on
giving my
children a
lot of
home made
toys and
experiences,
rather
than
showering
them with
piles of
plastic
toys.
Despite
such
plans, our
house is
over run
with the
toys and
stuff that
they have
collected.
People are
generous
to
children
and enjoy
giving
them
pleasure,
and
there’s no
greater
pleasure
than
watching
them
unwrap
presents!
Given that
many
family
homes are
overwhelmed
with
toys,
there is a
challenge
for
parents,
grandparents,
family and
friends to
find
alternatives
to adding
more.
You don’t
have to
skimp on
the price
of gifts
to reduce
the
overload
of things
they
posses,
either.
Here are
some ideas
that have
been used
with my
children
with great
success.
Outings
Children
love
spending
time with
people
they like
and can be
very
excited
about
trips
without
Mum and
Dad. So
instead of
giving a
child a
present,
you can
give
them an
invitation
to
somewhere
special.
You are
only
limited by
imagination
as to
where you
can take
them…
-
A
picnic
in a
nice
garden
or
beside
a
great
playground
-
Visit
a
museum,
aquarium,
art
gallery,
zoo,
children’s
farm
or
similar
-
Watch
a play
or
movie
together
-
Out to
a
restaurant
for
lunch
or
dinner
– why
not
brunch?
-
Fishing
or
yabbying
-
Camping
or
caravanning
-
A trip
in a
train,
boat,
tram,
bus or
horse
drawn
carriage
-
For a
bike
ride
to
somewhere
new
-
Play
at the
beach,
a lake
or a
swimming
pool
-
Watch
a
favoured
sport
or
activity
Practical
items
Ok, we all
remember
being
disappointed
with
clothes as
a gift,
but young
children
are
usually
happy with
clothes
and many
teenagers
would like
them as
long as
you select
them
carefully!
There are
other
practical
gifts to
give than
clothes,
however…
-
Encourage
a
green
thumb
and
give
gardening
things.
You
might
give a
small
tree
or
bush,
the
tools
to
tend a
garden,
seeds,
gloves
or a
window
box.
Maybe
you
could
give
the
child
a
patch
of
garden
at
your
house
for
their
specific
use,
and
teach
them
about
plants
and
gardening.
-
Sports
uniforms
and
equipment
is a
great
gift
as it
shows
you
know
the
child’s
interests,
as
well
as
ensuring
they
can
continue
with
it.
-
Beach
towels
are
always
popular,
but
you
could
also
consider
some
fun
everyday
towels.
Young
children
love
owning
their
own
items,
and if
you
give a
towel
in
their
favourite
colour
or
showing
a
loved
character,
older
children
will
also
be
pleased.
Lessons
Children
can be
involved
in many
activities
these
days, but
most of
them
aren’t
cheap. Why
not offer
to give
some
lessons as
a gift?
-
Pay
for a
term’s
ballet
or
piano
lessons
-
Take
the
teenager
out
for
some
driving
lessons
or
practise
-
Give
some
time
to the
local
sports
club
so
fees
can be
kept
low
-
Pay
memberships
at a
club
or
group
for
the
child
to
belong
to
-
Take
the
child
to one
of
their
activities
each
week
-
Teach
the
child,
and
maybe
some
friends,
one of
your
skills
Experiences
These will
take more
of your
time than
your
money, but
the time
will be
well spent
in
building a
relationship
that will
last years
longer
than any
toy would
have…
-
Leave
home
early
and go
somewhere
special
to
watch
a
sunrise
together
-
Spend
a day
in the
kitchen
together
cooking
–
forget
the
mess
and
have
some
fun!
-
Devote
a few
hours
to
listening
to the
child’s
favourite
music
with
him or
her
-
Leave
the
city
behind
and
watch
the
stars
-
Do
something
not
usually
allowed
(check
with
the
parents
first,
of
course!)
such
as
eating
a
whole
tub of
ice
cream
or a
whole
cake
in one
go,
order
two
desserts
at a
restaurant,
watch
2
movies
in a
row or
-
Roll
down
some
hills
or in
a pile
of
autumn
leaves
Pets
A pet is
definitely
different
to a
plastic
toy - the
child can
play with
the pet,
depending
on what it
is, and
can learn
respect
for other
creatures
and
responsibility.
However,
if giving
a pet to
child
other than
your own
be sure
that the
entire
family
will
appreciate
it - if
the parent
s are
allergic
to cats
for
instance,
they won't
want their
child
having a
kitten and
families
that
travel a
lot may
not be
able to
care for a
pet
properly.
-
Be
creative
- how
about
some
hermit
crabs
or
terrapins
instead
of a
puppy?
-
Pet
accessories
are
another
gift
option
- a
new
lead
or
ball
will
encourage
the
children
to
play
with
their
pet
-
Paying
for
dog-obedience
school
or a
class
about
caring
for
animals
is a
fantastic
gift
for a
new or
budding
pet
owner.
-
Spend
time
with
the
child
making
a home
for a
pet,
whether
its a
building
a dog
kennel
or cat
run,
setting
up an
aquarium
or
choosing
a cage
for a
bird.
-
Make
it a
family
effort
for a
birthday.
So
Grandma
gives
the
animal,
Aunty
gives
a book
about
caring
for
that
animal
and
Uncle
gives
the
tank
or
lead
or
other
necessary
items
for
keeping
the
pet.
This
gives
the
child
the
best
chance
of
caring
for
their
pet
and
also
makes
each
gift
part
of
something
more
rather
than
individual
toys.
Tash
Hughes is
the owner
of
Word
Constructions
and
assists
businesses
in
preparing
all
written
documentation
and web
site
content.
Tash also
writes
articles
for
magazines,
newsletters
and
websites.
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