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Meaningful Gifts for Children

Veronica
Nov 11
5 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

The Beauty of Childhood

If there's anything I have learned watching our children grow up, it's this: children are naturally curious, imaginative, and creative. I watched little fingers pick up rocks and bring them to life. I was invited to stuffed animal "weddings" and "baby showers." I saw them figure out ways to make sock puppets, paint, or play an instrument. Childhood was truly such a gift.

Childhood Plugged Up

Sadly, we live in a culture that seeks to profit off of childhood rather than embrace it. There's such a push toward consumerism and this idea that we need to be the best and do more before it's too late.

Children are shuffled from one adult-led activity to the next, and when that becomes too much, they are then placed in front of screens for hours on end. Childhood has been dulled. Children's senses have been numbed. So when they are finally "allowed" time for unstructured play, they fuss, cry, or meltdown. They don't know how to be bored. They no longer know what it means to play and be a child.

You need to know that the artificial world of media hits dopamine receptors far more than real life ever could. When children are constantly on screens, they become addicted to those "highs," so when they are taken off, they beg for something else to take its place. They beg for more screens, more snacks, more toys, often wanting the latest TV character figurines they watch.

This often affects their play, as they will seek to recreate the storylines they see on the screens, rather than bringing their own worlds to life. Without creativity and a means to explore their imagination, they soon become bored. And when this happens, they then ask for more, hoarding collections of things that become too much for their little minds to handle. It's a vicious cycle that ultimately leads to more dulling and numbing.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

Embrace Childhood

You can take back their childhood. You can bring more calm into your days and more joy into their hearts. You can make more time for play.

It may not be easy at first. If your child has spent a lot of time on screens or has been kept busy through constant activity, it may be bumpy during the transition. But as your child "detoxes" from the screens and the noise, they will be so much more in tune with their curiosity, imagination, and creativity.

And when that happens, childhood gets to flourish. Your child will begin to take the lead in their play. They will learn to problem solve and overcome boredom. They will begin to create more and enjoy the little things more. They will get to enjoy the beauty of being a child.

Here are a few things you can do to make it all happen:

Limit screen time:
For children under the age of two, it is recommended that they not have any screen time, allowing for proper brain development. After two, increments of 30-60 minutes a day is sufficient. Use discernment when selecting shows as many are highly stimulating, and although they may hold their attention, they cause much more harm than good. I have found this website and Instagram account helpful in finding slower-paced shows that are more appropriate for younger children.
Spend more time outside:
Take walks. Ride bikes. Garden. Visit parks. Feed peas to the ducks. Or simply take out an old sheet, place it on the grass, and read a book or have a picnic. Let your children be barefoot if possible. The more they are outside, the better it will be for their overall health and well-being.
Play games together:
Find simple games that you can enjoy with one another. (See list below!)
Share life together:
Include your children in the work you do. Assign daily chores. Teach them how to sweep and mop. Have them cook with you. Children long to be included in your world. Yes, it may take a bit longer to have them help, but it will be so worth it. Not only will you be spending quality time together, you will also be equipping them in confidence and independence.
Make time for childhood:
Allow plenty of time for free play. Your children do not need to be signed up for every extra-curricular activity that comes your way. It's okay to let them be bored. It's okay to have a simpler life. The more you embrace a slower rhythm for your family, the more your children will embrace the gift of childhood and find new ways to play and create.
Select toys that inspire curiosity, creativity, and imaginative play:
Be selective with the toys you purchase for your children. Remember, creativity and imagination are found inside your children. Toys and gifts should inspire what is naturally there--not seek to replace it and do all the work for them through buttons and fixed characters. Open-ended toys provide opportunities for growth and help children better understand the world around them.
Purge the excess.
There's something to be said about the amount of toys children have. Researchers discovered that children in cluttered spaces experience signficant stress responses equivalent to chidlren in refugee scenarios. Too much stuff, just like too much TV, leads to overwhelm and meltdowns. Purge what doesn't support the vision you have for your family, and keep things simple. Your child will fill in the gaps when they have more time and room to grow. I promise.

Meaningful Toys That Inspire

Over the years, I have sought to cultivate an atmosphere of joy and simplicity for our family. These are the gifts and toys that inspired the most curiosity, creativity, and imaginative play for our children. I pray they bless yours as well.

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