Fall is creeping in: the weather is cooling, the leaves are beginning to fall and crinkle on the ground, and it’s beginning to start getting darker a little bit earlier already. Fall is my favorite season, but it means that holiday shopping is right around the corner.

As a ever-aspiring minimalist, I have grown to love giving gifts way more than receiving them. I have learned to really put a lot of thought into my gift giving – giving people things that I think they would really use and appreciate.

As a child, I loved getting gifts. I remember opening the door to the office at my Aunt Mary & Uncle Vince’s house, and seeing a never-ending tower of gifts for just me. It was surreal. As an only child, my experience at home and my grandparents home was just as similar. Most of the gifts I received I had to end up leaving behind in Cleveland to play with next time. I put my happiness in material items and it only got worse as a pre-teen.

While battling addiction and at times homelessness, I sold or lost almost every possession I owned, and I developed a new mindset. Things come and go. At the end of the day, they don’t matter. Those items I once had are long gone, but I’m still here standing. I couldn’t even tell you most of what I had, because none of it truly mattered then, and it surely won’t matter when I do die.

When I had children of my own, I realized early on that it was unlikely that I was ever going to be able to give them the same lifestyle that my parents had given me, and that’s okay. We love the life we’ve created and honestly, they would just break everything anyway. From all the items they received last Christmas, I don’t think they have a single item left that they didn’t break or lose, or quickly realize was junk. That makes me sick thinking how much time, money, and stress was wasted last Christmas with nothing to show for it. I don’t want to continue this pattern of consumerism and gluttony. We already have far more than we need, we don’t need to just continue adding without purpose.

I wish we could go completely gift-free, but  I also don’t want to be a total Grinch and steal the magic of Christmas from my children, and I thoroughly enjoy giving gifts. I know there are families who have happily completely done away with gifts, but I’m just not there yet.

So I compiled a list of all the best ideas that I can think of that would make great gifts with purpose that we have either loved receiving, or would be happy to receive.

Gifts For Minimalist Children

• Savings Bond – Help set the financial future of the child, with the security of it not being able to be touched until a certain set upon date (Examples: high school graduation, 18th birthday, moving into first apartment or home).
• Memberships – Zoo, Museum, Local Amusement Park, Aquarium, Parks pass, etc.
• A special outing – Trip to see a ballet, a sports game, a play, a trip to visit a museum or aquarium that is in the next major city for a change of scenery, a trip to a water park, a tea party, a movie, or a scenic attraction.
• Ohio Great Parks Pass, or similar {varies by location}.
• Books, a gift card to a local book store in your area, or pay off library fines.
• A Little Free Library to do together as a family
• Legos, wooden blocks, magnatiles, konnects, etc. {TIP: Avoid gender specific toys, plastic or over-stimulating toys, or toys with many little pieces. Choose toys that promote creativity and problem solving. The possibilities with those are endless and you can never have too many!}
• Edible Arrangments, or similar.
• Lessons – music, gymnastics, sports, dance, etc.
• A personalized blanket.
• Science experiment kits, or science subscription kits for homeschool.
• Other monthly subscription kits, like KiwiCo. Little Passports. TinyValues. EdZooCation. Raddish Kids. Annie’s Creative Girls Club. My Artist Box. {It seems like they have one for literally anything you can think of these days and length of time is customizable.}
• Craft supplies or art kits
• Children’s cooking/ baking accessories or tools. Child size aprons. Children’s cookbooks.
• Stargazing Kit
• A metal detector for finding treasures
• Family friendly games or puzzles
• Gift Certificate for homeschool curriculum. Those materials can really add up quickly.
• Gift Certificate for a year of streaming  Disney+
• Outdoor play equipment: climber, playhouse, trampoline, playground, bicycle, chalk, jump rope, bug catcher, etc.
• Hygiene products: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, fun loofa, a special bath bomb from Lush or local soap artisan, hair brush, hair ties, detangeler, etc.
• Diapers or training pants + wipes, if using.

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov