I was back on Global’s The Morning Show today with Carolyn MacKenzie and Cheryl Hickey to share educator-approved holiday gifts for kids. To prepare for this segment, I did a social media callout to my fellow educators and they had some great recommendations which I have incorporated here with my own.
We ran out of time to talk about ideas for experience gifts, so I recorded a little “bonus” Morning Show content which you can find below.
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A recap of my suggestions:
FOR PRESCHOOLERS:
- TOYS THAT TEACH ABC/123 ARE GREAT, BUT FINE MOTOR SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR STARTING SCHOOL
- PLAY DOUGH/CLAY AND ACCESSORIES, ALSO KINETIC SAND (MUCH LESS MESSY THAN REAL SAND) – THESE CAN ALSO BE HOMEMADE GIFTS
- BATH TOYS (CUPS/SPONGES, ETC.)
- PUZZLES (CHUNKY WOODEN ONES); LET CHILD GET FRUSTRATED AND WORK AT IT!
- MELISSA AND DOUG TOYS GREAT FOR FINE MOTOR & ORAL LANGUAGE SKILLS TOO
STEAM EDUCATION:
- SCIENCE– “MY FIRST CHEMISTRY KIT”, “PHYSICS WORKSHOP”, MICROSCOPE WITH SLIDES
- TECHNOLOGY– CODING: FISHER PRICE CODE-A-PILLAR (POPULAR IN KINDERGARTEN), THE APP KODABLE, OSMO IS A KIT THAT WORKS WITH YOUR IPAD TO COMBINE DIGITAL WORLD WITH HANDS-ON GAMES
- ENGINEERING– “INTRO TO ENGINEERING KIT”, “ELENCO SNAP CIRCUITS” TEACH BASICS ABOUT ELECTRICITY, BUILDING WITH MAGNATILES AND MAGFORMERS
- ARTS – SOME KIDS LIKE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS AND MAKING SOMETHING PRESCRIPTIVE, CAN’T GO WRONG WITH OPEN-ENDED ARTS AND CRAFTS SUPPLIES, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, DOLLS/FIGURES OR PROPS FOR DRAMATIC PLAY
- MATH – DIY BAKING KITS – DRY INGREDIENTS W RECIPE (A FAVE WITH EVA), LINK BETWEEN LEGO AND MATH SKILLS (JUST DON’T TAKE THE INSTRUCTIONS AND DO IT FOR THEM!), GAMES LIKE SKIPBO, UNO AND MONOPOLY DEAL (I PREFER OVER BOARD GAME AS IT’S QUICKER AND TIDIER!)
- MANY EDUCATORS RECOMMEND KIWICO SUBSCRIPTION BOXES WHICH DELIVER A MONTHLY STEAM PROJECT RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR
BOOKS:
- THERE ARE LITERACY GAMES LIKE SPELLIGATOR AND ZINGO BUT CAN’T BEAT A REAL BOOK!
- DON’T BE A BOOK SNOB – IF CHILD ISN’T INTO CLASSIC LITERATURE GRAPHIC NOVELS AND NONFICTION GREAT TOO; EVA LOVES DIY/BAKING/QUIZ BOOKS
- DIVERSITY: THINK “MIRRORS & WINDOWS” (KIDS SEEING THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN BOOKS & KIDS SEEING REST OF WORLD REPRESENTED IN BOOKS) E.G. HAIR LOVE BY MATTHEW A. CHERRY & WHEN WE ARE KIND BY MONIQUE GRAY SMITH
- FOR PERSONALIZED IDEAS: http://WWW.READINGROCKETS.ORG/BOOKFINDER; INPUT AGE, FORMAT, TOPICS OF INTEREST AND IT WILL GENERATE BOOK LIST FOR YOU!
- IF SHOPPING FOR TEENS OR GROWN KIDS: NEW SCHITT’S CREEK BOOK BEST WISHES, WARMEST REGARDS (DAN & EUGENE LEVY)
EXPERIENCE GIFTS:
WE’VE HAD AN “EXPERIENCES OVER THINGS” MOTTO AT OUR HOUSE FOR A WHILE, AND EXPERIENCES CAN HELP KIDS BUILD VOCABULARY & BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE WHICH CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT AT SCHOOL
- TICKETS (CONCERT, SPORTING EVENT, PLAY, ATTRACTION)
- LESSONS/CLASSES (MY GIRLS: COOKIE DECORATING CLASS)
- TIME TOGETHER (OUR FAMILY: “COUSINS’ DAY” INSTEAD OF CHRISTMAS GIFTS – E.G., ESCAPE MAZE, BOWLING, MOVIES, MEAL)
- GUESS WHERE TRIPS – PICK A TRIP AND THEY SEND YOU OPEN ENVELOPES THROUGHOUT THE DAY GUIDING YOU TO NEXT SURPRISE DESTINATION, LOTS IN ONTARIO PLUS VANCOUVER, CALGARY, WINNIPEG AND HALIFAX
- GIVING BACK: VOLUNTEERING TOGETHER, CHARITIES LIKE CHALICE WHERE YOU CAN PROVIDE LIVESTOCK OR HYGIENE ITEMS FOR FAMILIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES OR PURCHASES THAT SUPPORT A CAUSE LIKE CUDDLE + KIND DOLLS WHERE EACH HANDKNIT TOY PROVIDES MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED