Comments on: Giving Experiences This Holiday Season

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:24:37 +0000

Just saw this on Austin Kidbits, in case anyone is interested, since it’s kinda relate:

Saturday, December 5th: Take your fancy Nancy to The Driskill Hotel this weekend for a special Mother Daughter Tea. An assortment of custom blended teas and scrumptious treats will be served from 3 – 5 p.m. in the Grand Lobby.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:33:09 +0000

I love the idea of giving a year’s worth of experiences. A present for each month of the year (or several months bulked together) with a special planned experience for the family. For example, a box labeled January could include a trip to the ice skating rink with a brochure or picture of the rink and a pair of mittens. A box labeled for a warmer month could contain tickets to the zoo or museum with some cheap binoculars. The premise is to show your child you are setting aside a day for an experience together. Including tickets/brochures/info pamplets/small gifts about the experience works to excite the kids. I remember opening a present containing a flashlight one year, and feeling a bit disappointed until my dad told me to check the battery compartment and I found a map/date/info packet of the camping trip that was already planned. Putting aside a day a month to bank experiences as a family is something most of us are already doing. This is just a special way to present it and cut down on the toy chaos in the process!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:12:42 +0000

Lori, I think adding volunteerism into your holiday traditions is a great idea! And I definitely agree that the holidays are a great time to purge since you know some new things will be entering your house.

By: livemom

livemom — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:24:16 +0000

This is a great post, Nicole. I really like the idea of giving experiences, especially as my eleven year old is outgrowing toys. I have a tough time thinking of things to buy for him now, but I can easily think of several experiences that he would enjoy. Thanks!!

I think the holidays are a great time for cleaning out all of the old toys and donating them…. it gets the house cleaned out and allows others who don’t mind buying used for Christmas presents an opportunity to “recycle” something rather than buying new.

By: lori

lori — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:23:38 +0000

sorta related, but not really…we have big plans to make volunteerism a big part of our family celebrations/outings for the holidays in coming years. we hope to get the tradition started the year that quinn turns 3, starting with helping prepare and serve at the caratas thanksgiving food line. volunteerism is something that was important and enjoyable for me before i had kids, and i want to get back to it and teach my children to enjoy and value it as well.

i love the idea of the carriage ride. i also like the idea regarding the children’s museum. a zoo membership is something we’ve also considered…it benefits the rescue animals, and we seriously love the austin zoo and go many times each year. i wonder if the blanton has yearly memberships…that’d be a great experience, too…maybe for older kids.

we also are planning to ask indulgent grandparents to help with the cost of a class instead of with large toys that clutter and get played with for a short while before they are ignored.