Top 3 Gifts for Kids.....

So every time I have to get a gift for kids I am always completely torn into a tatter from lack of uniqueness and from lack of understanding of what people really want.

I realized that there are gift standards that in today's world is better choice.

Challenge:
Keep away from bulky plastic toys!
Think Green!
Keep away from video games!

Benefits to staying within challenge perimeters:
Planet Earth lives a fraction longer. The breakdown of plastics is a big problem for health and for the landspace in landfills.
Children are stimulated with things that keep them active and they are more willing to enjoy time with family and nature.

With those things out of the way, here goes.

#1 on my list for any age:
a really good set of books, classics, or activity related books. Think about the books that are most treasured, or most useful....such as an Atlas for boys, with maps or a hard backed Dictionary that the whole family can use. Also of interest is the Book sets: Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Winnie the Pooh, E.B. White(charlottes web) or as mentioned in the movie "You've Got Mail" Noel Streatfeild's Shoe Books. Think about Books that are of interest to you and it will probably be a good buy for them too!


#2 Family oriented gifts:
Think about things that involve people to spend time together like a gift from an inside rock climbing company(like REI) you could even think about finding a museum membership for the family with multiple kids. Board games of challenge (my favorites are Connect Four, Battleship, Monopoly, and Scrabble (I know, I know I said no plastic.....they are still my favorites, but for challenge sake...stay away! except if you find it used...than its okay for Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose!). Also loads of fun are Yahtzee and Uno!
Sports items: soccer balls, volleyballs, footballs, basketballs, bowling balls! you get the drift!

#3 Learning toys:
Flash cards, Music that is stimulating or allows activity or sing-a-long. Books about colors, numbers, states, continents or the sport favorite....you get the drift.

Other options:
Gifts that keep on giving: Donate in the name of a family toward a charity, buy a tree, or purchase a star (I got this once from my sister and I totally cried). Sometimes you can make a basket of unique gifts that are food based like favorite jams, olives, maple syrups...etc. and still add a tree on top of this! Purchase an application for an upcoming run to include an entire group of friends (you of course can't force them, but if this is your thing?! why not!)

Personal Art: If you have kids sometimes the nicest gift can be a large good quality paper with the art combonation of the whole family in form of watercolor abstract. I did this a few years ago framed for all the Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles from my 2 year old. It was a big hit!
Also there are the photo books you can buy from places like Shutterfly and Snapfish that are very good quality. I suggest the hard cover book. One year I got the siblings of the significant other to give me all their art work, prof photography, and writings. I scanned it and had the book made in time for christmas....(warning, it is very difficult to get a group of 5 people motivated enough to send you their personal art in a timely fashion....start with plenty of time) I also did one of my 3 year olds arts and under her pictures I put famous quotes and sayings relevant to the theme of the image.....just ordered: