It was 10:01 on “Super Saturday” and I was weaving aimlessly through the isles of our local Target store.  Just like every year, I imagined that  I needed to buy just one more thing for each of my boys (OK, they are men now, but still…) Just as I came to my senses and realized that my young men would be fine with less crap than more, I spotted a  3 dollar Hula Hoop.

Bingo.

Have you ever seen anyone playing with a Hula Hoop without laughing?

The following is the list of tried, true and affordable holiday gifts that kids of all ages and abilities will love:

1) A Hula Hoop

2) A Bulletin Board.

You can make one yourself with supplies from the hardware store. I am not a very arts and crafty kind of person, but I am a market type. When you give a child a bulletin board, it’s all about the presentation. Tack (or I guess glue dots are safer) a few things on the board first to make it look cool. After all of the holiday craziness has subsided, get out a stack of old magazines and have your kids cut out words and pictures to put on their  very own Bulletin Board.

3) White paper and watercolors.

Here again, it is all about presentation. Set the water colors and paper on a table with brushers, cups of water and paper towels for spills. My parents gave me this gift at least 5 times, and they would put out a flower arrangement for me to paint still-life style. I think I’ll ask my kids for this for Christmas.

4) A rubber playground ball and some chalk for Four Square or Kick Ball. You’re going to have to sell this a little by running outside a showing your kids how YOU used to play these games.

5) A Bongo Balance Board. This is the most expensive item on my list a t around 80 bucks HOWEVER, it’s the kind of thing that the kids play with for a while and once they get to be good at it, they lose interest. Put it away and get it out in a few years, and everyone is excited about it again. Our Bongo Board has been rewrapped 4 times and it’s always a huge hit. (Maybe I’ll challenge my sons to use the Bongo Board while they are using the hula hoop.)

So if you haven’t started shopping, or you are too broke to shop, or if you don’t need to shop but can’t help yourself,  remember:

a) A holiday gift does not have to cost a lot to be a big hit

b) Holiday gifts that get kids up and moving are ALWAYS a big hit

c) You might have just the right gift up in the attic–you know, the Yamaha Keyboard, the Karaoke, Machine,  the Autoharp. Get them out, shine them up and wrap them up!

Happy Holidays

xoxoLaura

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If you haven’t read Laura’s book yet, you should. You can find it at your local library, or order it HERE. 

 

 

 

 

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