If you have all your Christmas shopping done, then you can stop reading right now. Actually, come to think of it, no, you can't. Because this column might actually have some good ideas for you - especially if your purchases for kids so far lean heavily towards toys.
Yes, yes, I know that toys are inevitably going to dominate wish-lists to Santa - and, as a consequence, parents' credit card bills. And I know that, as the parent of a two-and-a-half-year-old, I ain't seen nothin' yet when it comes to what's going to be on some wish lists of the future.
But, much as I'm as fond of the latest toy craze as the next person (yes, I confess, I bought my wee bean an Anna doll from Frozen), I also think it's important to offer our kids some gifts that aren't made by Fisher Price or Disney. Which is to say: non-toy gifts.
Yes, they exist. Curious about what parents do when they want to offer up some non-toy gifts, I put a call out on Twitter and got some great suggestions back from New West parents. Thanks to that conversation, plus my own brainstorming and some input from friends, I've compiled a list of some ideas to get you going on the quest for non-toy gifts for the young folks in your life.
Here are a few ideas - with an emphasis on things that are available right here in our own backyard.
1. Take them to the theatre: Why give a "thing" when you can give an experience? I'm sure there's not a kid out there who wouldn't value an afternoon or an evening out with mom or dad (or grandma, grandpa, aunt or uncle, as the case may be). And you don't have to look far afield to find some good ideas: Royal City Musical Theatre (www.royalcitymusicaltheatre.com) is already selling tickets for its spring production of My Fair Lady at Massey Theatre, and Align Entertainment (www.alignentertainment.ca) is selling tickets for its February production of The Addams Family musical at Michael J. Fox Theatre. Or, if your child's a little younger, Carousel Theatre on Granville Island (www.carouseltheatre.ca) has a whole season full of theatre appropriate for the young set - some of their productions are even geared for kids as young as three.
2. Get musical: The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (www.vancouversymphony.ca) offers a Tiny Tots concert series for the wee ones, and a Kids' Koncerts series for the four- to 11-year-old crowd. A subscription to one offers a great way to expose them to classical music right from the get-go. Closer to home, the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra (www.newwestsymphony.net) has a regular concert series, by donation, at the Massey Theatre.
3. Keep them active: Both New Westminster and Burnaby's parks and recreation departments offer a host of sports and activities, with programs, lessons and drop-in sessions for fitness, swimming, skating and much more. Why not buy a course or pay for the cost of a series of drop-in sessions? Check out www.newwestpcr.ca or www.burnaby.ca for all the details on what's available near you.
4. Get them involved: Whatever your child's interest, there's sure to be a school or a program of interest to them. So why not sign them up for a course of dance lessons, music classes, soccer, swim lessons, or whatever interests them? Or try out something they may not have thought of before - like Vancouver Circus School (www.vancouvercircusschool.ca), which has a home at River Market.
5. Get them cooking: Anyone who's watched too many episodes of Master Chef Junior (guilty as charged) knows that young kids can cook up a storm if given a chance. So why not let yours try? Invest in some cooking or baking equipment for them, or sign them up for a cooking class. Check out local city parks and rec offerings (www.newwestpcr.ca, www.burnaby.ca), or see what's on offer at some of your favourite local businesses. At River Market, for instance, there are drop-in River Critters baking classes on a regular basis that offer a fun and low-cost option for the tiny ones (www.rivermarket.ca). Or, check out Posh Pantry in Burnaby Heights (www.poshpantry.ca) - they have classes throughout the year, and I just spotted a Kids' Cooks 3-day baking series (Dec. 29 to 31).
6. Get eating: Restaurants of all kinds offer gift certificates and gift cards, so why not tuck one into your child's stocking? Let them have "date night" with mom or dad (or a favourite aunt or grandparent) and be in charge of the cheque. As a bonus, it gets you spending more time together.
7. Get fresh: While you're thinking foodie, why not introduce your kids to the joy of local at its best? Royal City Farmers Market (www.rcfm.ca) has winter markets on the first and third Saturday of the month at River Market, and it offers gift certificates. Give your junior foodie one and let them spend it as they see fit - and make an outing of it by enjoying River Market and the Westminster Pier Park/waterfront stroll while you're there.
8. Give them the gift of adventure: Buy them some new gear to take part in an outdoor adventure - from hiking boots and camping gear to fishing equipment to skis and snowshoes, the possibilities are endless. Then, follow through by taking them out to enjoy the equipment - and the time with you while you're at it.
9. Make a donation to charity: Kids can understand the concept of giving pretty early on - so why not introduce charitable giving into your Christmas? You can look close to home (think about the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, the Lower Mainland Purpose Society) or farther afield - international organizations like World Vision and Plan Canada have Christmas gift catalogues. Or, why not "adopt" some wildlife through an organization like the Vancouver Aquarium (www.vanaqua.org). The possibilities are endless - pick a cause that speaks to your child's interests and passions, and you can get involved in it together. If you live in New West, then use our very own Guide to Giving - in the Dec. 12 and 17 editions of The Record - to help you pinpoint a cause that matters to you both.
10. Get them a magazine subscription: Shoutout to Mona Boucher, who offered up this suggestion on Twitter. There are all kinds of kid-friendly publications out there, but the one that's earned the most votes from parents I know is the Owl family (www.owlkids.com) - Owl, Chickadee and Chirp, depending on the age of the kid in question.
11. Get them reading: Books, books, books. Brand-new or second-hand, books make awesome gifts. If you don't know what books they'll like or what they already own, gift cards to bookstores work as stocking stuffers, too. Or, if you haven't already done so, get the youngster in your life a library card and make a regular outing of library trips together - you can get a lot of mileage out of that free little card!
12. Give them a night at the movies: What kid doesn't like the chance to go to the movies? For local audiences, there's Landmark Cinemas at New West Station, or the Silver City Cineplex at Metropolis at Metrotown. Get a gift card that will allow the kids to pick their own show and their own snacks, and take a friend.
13. Get arty: Put together your own collection of art and craft supplies and package it all up in a nice Rubbermaid-style bin for easy storage, and you can provide hours of amusement for any kid. The possibilities are endless: paints, papers, glitter, stickers, markers, crayons, pencil crayons, gems, beads, craft sticks, pom poms, craft glue, and on and on and on. And hey, while you're at it, throw in an easel and a smock for the budding Rembrandt in your house.
14. Get handy: If you happen to be good with your own hands, then why not make a special gift for the kids? Handmade pyjamas and slippers, a hand-knitted hat or scarf or a homemade rag doll will be all the more special to kids than the store-bought equivalent. (This from a woman who still has a 35-year-old homemade doll in a place of pride on her shelf; trust me, these presents last!)
15. Get out and about: Why not just make a present of an outing? Pick a local destination - Fraser River Discovery Centre, Burnaby Village Museum, Burnaby Art Gallery, Burnaby Lake, or farther afield to destinations like Science World or Vancouver Aquarium - and make it the focus of a day out. Let your kid plan the agenda, and treat them to dinner at their restaurant of choice after the fact. As an added bonus, destinations like Science World and Vancouver Aquarium offer memberships - get them a membership, or get a family membership, and you can enjoy unlimited visits together.
Well, there you have it: 15 ideas for kids' presents, and not a toy in sight.
Why not try out one of these ideas this year? And, if you have an idea of your own, be sure to let me know - email me at [email protected], or find me on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
