Gifts that Create Family Traditions
Gifts That Create Family Traditions
Remember the gifts that were sooo exciting on Christmas morning, but you (or your kids) forgot about them soon after? As my boys have gotten older, we have been looking for fun traditions that we can look forward to every year. It’s feels like the holidays come too fast and we can get busy. A good gift can actually be the beginning of a tradition. Think of a snowy adventure (hopefully Colorado will have snow), decorating the house together, or spending some time making seasonal art and baking cookies.
Here’s a curated list of five woman-owned, small businesses with the perfect tradition-making-gifts for this year.
Start a holiday baking tradition
Some of the strongest holiday memories begin in the kitchen. A child on a stool with flour everywhere and getting out grandma’s metal cookie cutters are our favorites. Some recipes aren’t written down and could use an upgrade. Maybe we could try something yummier!
Cassavaberry makes gluten free, grain free and plant based baking mixes, including chocolate chip cookies, brownies and an all purpose mix that can be used for pancakes, waffles, muffins, banana bread and more.
Instead of simply putting another present under the tree, give a baking mix along with a handwritten coupon to make something together. The recipe is only part of the gift. The real gift is having a reason to gather in the kitchen.
Give Them a Reason to Bundle Up and Go Outside
Winter has its own kind of magic when we get outside and enjoy it. Our family memories include looking at holiday light displays, super cold Wisconsin ice skating, and building huge snow forts.
A beautiful handmade hat can become another invitation to an experience. b.e.happe Designs handcrafts knit pom hats and slouchy beanies for adults, babies and children. They even make coordinating parent and child hat sets.
Wrap one with a note announcing a family winter adventure or choose a day for a new sledding hill. Your family may not remember all of their holiday gifts, but they will remember the year everyone put on their warm hats and went sledding together.
Make Art with Soap, Water, and Wool
Making something by hand is a nice way to spend an afternoon together. It gives everyone something to focus on while leaving plenty of room for fun and conversation.
At Sharon Schatz Design, my Beginner Wool Felting Kits are made for people who have never felted before. The Hearts, Flowers and Leaves kits use wool, soap and water to create felt, followed by cutting and optional embellishing with beads and thread. No felting needles are needed.
They also work well as a family project. Set everything out on the table and let everyone choose colors and decide how they want their pieces to look. Parents can help younger children with the cutting, and most projects can be finished in about one to two hours.
The felted pieces themselves can even become part of your holiday traditions. Hang them on the tree, tie one onto a package, or tuck them away with the decorations and bring them out again next year. It’s a simple project that gives you something you made together and something you can keep.
Create Something They Can Erase and Make Again
We love their artwork, but not everything children make needs to be saved. Sometimes it’s just fun to sit down, color and see where their imagination takes them.
Miminoo makes reusable silicone coloring mats for children ages three and up. Kids can color the scenes with dry erase markers, wipe them clean and start over as many times as they like.
They’re an easy activity to have around during the holidays. Put one on the table while everyone is waiting for Christmas dinner, bring one along to Grandma’s house, or sit down together and make up stories about the pictures as you color.
When you’re done, simply wipe the mat clean and put it away. Bring it out again for the next holiday gathering and start all over.
Turn Christmas Pajamas Into the Activity
New pajamas on Christmas Eve are already a tradition in many families. Bee Colorful Co. makes bamboo children’s pajamas that add something different to the tradition: the designs are made for kids to color themselves with fabric markers. Once colored, the designs are permanent, so every pair ends up a little different.
Instead of simply handing out the Christmas pajamas, make coloring them part of the evening. Put on some Christmas music, make cocoa and spread the markers out on the table. Everyone can settle in and work on their pajamas together.
Later, when those pajamas come back out of the drawer, they’ll be a reminder of the Christmas when your child got to make them their own.
The Gift Isn’t Always What’s Inside the Box
Sometimes a gift is really a reason to spend time together. A cold outside adventure, a baking mix, a felting kit, a coloring mat or a pair of pajamas can turn into something your family looks forward to year after year.
Come bake with me.
Come outside with me.
Come sit at the table and make something with me.
When you shop small and handmade this holiday season, look for gifts that invite you to do something together. The best part may end up being the time spent.
FAQ
What are good experience gifts for children?
Experience gifts don't necessarily have to be tickets or trips. A baking project, craft kit, outdoor adventure or creative activity can turn an ordinary afternoon at home into an experience.
What are good screen free Christmas gifts?
Look for gifts that encourage children to actively participate, such as art and craft projects, baking activities, imaginative play and outdoor activities.
How can a Christmas gift become a family tradition?
Attach an activity to the gift. Rather than simply giving a craft kit, for example, choose a day to make it together. Repeating that experience each holiday season is what turns a simple activity into a family tradition.
Why shop small for Christmas gifts?
Shopping small lets you discover products created by independent makers and family businesses, while your purchase directly supports the people behind those businesses.