20 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget

Posted on Dec 9, 2015 | 0 comments

Tis the season to be jolly!

I love this time of year, there is magic in the air, goodwill towards strangers and love all around.

When I think back to my childhood holiday memories, the best memories are of our family holiday traditions. Sure, I remember the Christmas I got a specific gymnastics leotard I really wanted, or the time I got a clock radio that I had been wanting for 8 months but beyond that, I don’t really recall many of the gifts under the tree.

What do I remember and value the most from my childhood?

Here are 20 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget – because I sure haven’t!

Time. The gift (and it is a gift) of spending time with your children is invaluable, irreplaceable and magical. Put down the phone or tablet, make eye contact and give your child the gift of YOUR time spent on them.
Confidence. People who learn to value themselves early on are more successful in life and have an easier time respecting and sticking to their values.
Trust. Learning to trust oneself and a few special people early on in life will help your child become an honest adult who is secure enough to do anything they want to do in life. It also creates a bond that can never be broken.
Safety. Every night, as I tuck my children into bed, I remind them that they are safe and loved. Giving this gift of safety to our children gives them the confidence to go out into the world and accomplish great things knowing that no matter what happens, they have a safe place to come back to.
Travel. Taking time out to travel with your children is one of the best gifts, right up there with love. Family travel alone will teach your children everything on this list and is a great way to bond and grow together as a family.
Laughter. Laughing is what makes it all ok. So laugh together as much and as often as you can!
Room to make mistakes. We all make them because it is how we learn. A mistake is not a failure, it is an opportunity to learn and grow. The gift of this perception at an early age will put our littles on the path to create the unimaginable!
Exercise. Our body is our temple, without it we have nothing. In order to be healthy, we must exercise and doing it as a family makes it more fun! The earlier we get our kids used to exercising, the better for their health.
Eating together. Having one meal a day together in a relaxed environment provides an opportunity for the family to grow their relationship and sends the message to our children that they are important to us, thus building their self-esteem. I love remembering all of our family meals growing up.
Wonder. Encourage your children to ask questions and see the beauty in everything. There is so much to be curious about. Learn to be patient when they ask loads of questions and do your best to answer them. If I can’t, I direct them to google!!
Learning. I learn something new everyday because learning is so much more than just going to school. I love finding new things out and I encourage my children to do so also by sharing and comparing things we have learned. It is a priceless gift to pass on the ability to always be open to and see something new and to go learn about it.
Appreciating. It is a lifestyle choice and one that leads to true happiness. Giving the gift of showing our children how to live a life of gratitude and appreciation will put them on the path to success.
Caring for our Earth. Our Earth sustains us and must be treated with respect. We are taking away any hope of future for our children if we fail to give them this one gift.
Kindness and compassion. Because things are not always what they appear to be, sometimes kindness and compassion can change an entire life.
Consequences. For every action there is a reaction. Children need to learn this, they are not born knowing it. Discipline should be consistent and positive, to help them learn, never withheld or abusive.
A Happy Home. To know that you always have a happy, safe place to return to is, perhaps, the wind beneath our wings.
To love and honor their other parent. No matter what your situation is, the other parent of your child is half of your child’s universe. Respect them, be thoughtful of them, if only for the sake of your child’s mental health.
Creating. We are capable of creating anything we can imagine. Encourage your child to imagine and create what is in their hearts and minds.
Uniqueness. We are all given special gifts unique unto us. Help your child find theirs and focus on what they are good at, instead of harping on what they are not.
Love. True Love really is all you need and is the greatest of all of the gifts you have to give.