The Gifts That Keep on Giving, Make the Holidays Unforgettable

Ah, the holidays! That magical time when school vacation begins, the house fills with  laughter (and maybe a little chaos), and we get a glorious reprieve from the morning  scramble of packed lunches and missing homework. For parents who’ve been juggling  the daily school routine, this break is a gift in itself, a chance to slow down, breathe, and  actually be with our kids without the homework battles and bedtime negotiations that  come with the school-year grind. 

As we dive into the gift-giving season, it’s the perfect moment to rethink what truly  makes a gift special. Sure, our kids’ eyes light up for the tangible stuff, that trendy toy,  those shoes they’ve been dropping hints about, or that popular new game. But here’s  the beautiful secret, the gifts that really stick? Those are the ones that create  connections, spark memories, and weave the fabric of family traditions that last a  lifetime. 

Gifts with Heart and Soul 🎁

Let’s talk about the kinds of gifts that become part of your family’s story, the ones your  kids will still be talking about when they’re grown. 

Some of the best gifts don’t come in boxes at all. Consider giving the gift of time  together, tickets to a holiday show, a special parent-child date, a family game night  tournament that becomes an annual tradition, or even a weekend camping trip. These  experiences create memories that outlast any toy. Plus, during holiday vacation when  everyone’s home together, you have the perfect opportunity to start something new.  Maybe this is the year you all learn to ice skate together, or finally tackle that  gingerbread house competition you’ve been talking about. 

Teaching Kids to Give from the Heart 💞

This holiday season, help your children experience the joy of giving meaningful gifts  themselves. Maybe your daughter wants to give her sister or cousin something truly  special, a necklace or bracelet that they can wear every day as a reminder of their  bond. Here’s where the magic happens. Let your child be part of making it happen. If  they can save $25 from allowance or small jobs, you can match their savings or help  them reach their goal. The process teaches them that special gifts require effort,  planning, and sacrifice and that makes the giving even more meaningful. When your  child gives that carefully chosen gift knowing they worked hard to afford it, they’re giving  a tangible symbol of love, effort, and devotion. And here’s the beautiful part, that  necklace or bracelet can be passed to other family members carrying the story forward  through generations. 

Creating New Heirlooms Together  

The holidays offer the perfect opportunity to create something special as a family.  Maybe you all work together to make ornaments that get added to the tree each year, or  perhaps you start a holiday journal where everyone writes one memory or grateful  moment before New Year’s. Consider starting a “Holiday Recipe Book” where each  family member adds their favorite treat, complete with silly notes and memories  attached to each recipe. These created-together treasures become the heirlooms of  tomorrow. 

The Gift of Presence (Not Just Presents) 💝

Love, compassion, and support are still the most valuable gifts of all. A child who  receives these gifts will thrive and grow. Your unconditional love, compassion, and  support are as necessary as air to breathe and water to nourish. These gifts provide our  children with the security and confidence to venture into the world and live life to the  fullest, ready to handle anything that comes their way. 

Making the Most of the Holiday Break

Being a parent is a 24/7 responsibility with very little downtime. Guiding them and  providing unwavering support in a calm, confident manner can be exhausting. On top of  that, being a proactive and responsible parent means consistently maintaining  boundaries and enforcing rules which, let’s be honest, doesn’t make you quite as  popular as when you’re going out for ice cream or staying up late for a holiday movie  marathon. 

But here’s your gift this season, permission to embrace the break. School vacation isn’t  just for the kids, it’s for you too! Yes, you still need to maintain those boundaries and  routines (because nobody wants January to feel like climbing Mount Everest). But you  can also ease up a bit, stay in pajamas a little longer, and create those special moments  that make the holidays magical. 

This is your time to create balance, to remind your children (and yourself) why this  whole parenting adventure is so wonderful. Start a breakfast-for-dinner tradition on  Christmas Eve. Have a spontaneous living room campout. Let them help you make  cookies at midnight. These are the moments they’ll carry forward forever. 

This holiday season remember that you’re giving them something priceless, the  understanding that the best gifts come from the heart, require effort and thought, and  create connections that last forever. 

And for you, dear parent? Your gift is this precious time together, this break from the  routine, this chance to just be with your children. No spelling tests to study for, no  science projects due Monday. Just the gift of presence, connection, and those little  moments that count the most. 

Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season filled with meaningful  gifts, cherished traditions, and the simple joy of being together.

-Cinda Chatfield

The Behavior Guru