Some of the best Christmas gifts for kids are… FREE
I know it’s early… but I’m a planner. So Christmas is on my mind. And this year, in particular, I want to get Christmas gifts out of the way early. In December I’ll be doing the whole new baby thing, and I think leaving the house for shopping will be tricky at best.
So I’ve been thinking Christmas gifts, and I’ve been thinking kids. But because I’m me I’ve also been thinking about prioritizing and intentional parenting.
And it’s occurred to me that Christmas is a really great time to give your kids a few extra gifts. Free gifts. Things that made Christmas a magical time for us, gifts that really matter, and will continue to matter for the rest of their lives.
The best free Christmas gifts you can give to your kids:
These are gifts my parents gave to us as kids, and I am forever grateful.
Give your kids the gift of Your Time.
No computers, no TV, put away your phone.
Spend your time with them, and be invested in them.
Play a board game, go skating, bake cookies. (This is a good year to start some fun family Christmas traditions!)
Let your kids be the most important thing in your day. THIS is the stuff Christmas memories are made of, by the way. And speaking of –
Give your kids the gift of Fantastic Memories.
I promise, in 20 years, they are not going to remember the paw patrol puzzle or the Dora the explorer backpack the way they will remember getting to stay up late on Christmas eve and watch their favorite Christmas movie with mom and dad.
Or the way they will remember a special Christmas party they got to host just for their best friends. And they will remember it even more when you make these things into traditions, something they can look forward to doing with you year after year.
Childhood memories are something you only get one shot at creating.
Related: Christmas Eve Activities the Whole Family Will Love
Give your kids the gift of slower, lazier days.
I could pretty easily fill up every day of the Christmas season with rushing and shopping and parties and functions. And I enjoy all those things. (Well, sort of, I don’t actually enjoy the rushing. But I do enjoy the general busy of the season.)
Give your kids time to be at home, to sleep in, to learn that life can be lived at a more relaxing pace. Christmas doesn’t need to be synonymous for “busy”. (This can be a pretty awesome gift for you too, FYI.)
Give your kids the gift of Understanding How Blessed They Really Are.
Pack a shoebox for less fortunate children with your kids (with the Samaritan’s purse operation Christmas Child program) and explain to them that not all kids are getting a pile of presents under a tree, or even a whole Christmas dinner.
Teach your children to be grateful.
Teaching your kids how privileged they are will not only make them better people, but they will appreciate the gifts they get on Christmas day that much more. (If shoebox gifts are out of your budget this year, find other ways to bless a family closer to home! Maybe donate gently used teddy bears to a teddy bear drive?)
Give your kids the gift of Parents Who Aren’t Stressed By Bills in January.
If you’re spending way too much on Christmas, it’s not just you that’ll suffer in the new year.
Kids know when mom and dad are extra stressed. It takes away from their childhood. And it’s a high price to pay for a few extra gifts under the tree. Don’t do that to them.
Set a Christmas budget, and stick to it. Be open with your kids about the budget, and they’ll be getting the gift of understanding money too.
Related: How to Have a Fun FRUGAL Christmas.
Give your kids the gift of knowing that Jesus is at the Center of Christmas.
It’s pretty easy to put Christ on the back burner while we celebrate Christmas. (Ironic, isn’t it?) Make time to read the Christmas story, make time to go to Christmas eve service, make time to talk with your kids about who Christ is and what the Christmas season means for those of us who believe in Him.
Take the materialistic out of Christmas this year, and enjoy every minute of this season with your family.
Related: Christmas Stocking Tradition Ideas
We make an event of cutting down our Christmas tree. Bundle up, head to the local tree farm, find a good one, eat cookies, drink hot chocolate… it’s a bit more expensive than a grocery store tree, but way more fun!
And they will remember it forever! (and thank you for stopping by and reading 🙂 )
Ever since my daughter was three weeks old we have attended the Candle Light Service at our Church on Christmas Eve. A great way to celebrate Christmas without any additional cost. She is now graduating high school and still looks forward to this event. She meets up with old friends and brings new ones with her. We are truly blessed.
Hi Joyce – we always do a candle light service too- great tradition! It does sound like you are blessed 🙂
sometimes with children grandchildren and great-grandchildren
The holidays u are so tired that it is hard to really appreciate the season I am going to put some your practical advise to work thank u
Aw, yes it can be a busy time for sure – make sure you schedule time to REST!
Such wonderful gifts to give. We try to do most of this all year but it’s not always easy to keep a nice relaxed, family- centered, pace during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. We’ve started spending more time at home though and we plan family movie nights. I try to have almost all of my Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving so I can really be in the moment all December long.
Getting the shopping done to allow time to stay in the moment in Dec- what fantastic advice!! Shopping is one of the LEAST beneficial and most busy Christmas tasks I think!
This is the best!
I’m constantly telling my readers that kids would prefer parents who aren’t in debt! We choose to give our kids very little for Christmas because we view our savings, and paying off debt, as a gift to them.
Hi Hannah – thank you!! And I LOVE that there are bloggers out there putting this message into the world – just think about the difference you could make in so many lives if your readers follow your example and recognize the benefit to their children of NOT leaving them a legacy of debt!!
I am not promoting debt in ANY way by saying this, but my parents were VERY frugal and tried to save every penny. Why not save up specifically for Christmas spending? Do not go into debt, but be able to spend saved money on an experience gift (travel, performing arts, etc). What I’m saying… savings & paying off debt is great, but within reason. If all you do is save, save, save… the gift is more to yourself than to your kids. Looking back – I wish my parents didn’t buy us the cheap “stuff”, or even the nicer “stuff” for Christmas. Making memories is the best gift! But again, don’t do it by going into debt! (Hopefully this makes sense!)
Hi Mindy! That makes perfect sense – and it’s a great point 🙂 a person could also focus on making extra money just for spending at Christmas…
I will share a Mamaw’s memories. Every yr I look after Christmas to find wonderful interesting ornaments for the 3 grandkids. Each one different. Around Thanksgiving, they come to spend the night. They get the ornaments to take home for their tree and I sit with them to paint and decorate a photo ornament for my tree. When they are 18, they will have 18 of the store bought ornaments and the 18 photo ones with something special they were into that yr. They decorate my tree while they are here. Every ornament is special on my tree and I get to tell them the story behind each one. They now have a toddler cousin and I can’t wait until he is old enough to decorate his own photo ornaments. Until then, Mamaw did his last year but this time his 13 yr old cousin ask to do his. Maybe next yr, the other child will have a turn decorating for his cousin who lives far away. Decorating cookies or making ornaments with hot chocolate makes very special memories.
Hi Suze! What a FANTASTIC tradition… thank you for sharing!