Meaningful Gifts for a Child
Activities and Outings for Grandparents, Godparents, or other Adults
Oct 21, 2009
Grandparents, godparents, or other adults who care for a child may struggle in giving gifts that will mean something after the season has changed and the child has grown. The following gift ideas for special children include gifts of time, sharing, and educational opportunities that will change a child's life.
Free Gifts for a Child
Gifts that children want, such as video games or the latest clothes, can be expensive. Rather, one might set aside some time to spend with a special child and share experiences together that the child will always remember:
- Set aside time weekly or monthly to take a walk, share a meal, or play boardgames together.
- Attend a seasonal festival or activity, such as a pumpkin farm in the fall or a botanical garden in the spring, to enjoy the changing seasons together.
- Plan a picnic or hike at a local, state, or national park.
- Sign up for a community or church program and attend together.
- Raise money and participate in a charity event or walk.
Invest in a Child's Future
One might also invest in educating a child in exploring and engaging the world around him or her. The following educational gift ideas are designed for adults in any income bracket and can be adapted to one's personal taste and needs.
- Offer to help a child with homework or to study for a major test or finals. Provide snacks, music, and an environment to make the activity enjoyable.
- Invite the child on a family vacation or camping trip.
- Take the child to a local museum, art gallery, or business for an educational trip.
- Invite the child to a restaurant that serves food from a different culture and experience the new culture together.
- Enroll in a foreign language course and learn a new language together.
- Assist a child in making college visits or choosing a future career by visiting a business or career professional of interest to the child.
- Invest money in a college or life fund for the child.
- Make the child the beneficiary of a will or life insurance policy.
How to Give Non-Material Gifts
Children often expect physical presents on a holiday or birthday, and there is indeed social pressure to conform. One might have a conversation with a child if he/she is old enough and explain the gifts selected as well as present the gift in a creative way. For example, a godparent might choose to share a Friday night pizza party and movie night at home once a month with a child instead of giving a Christmas present. The godparent might share this information with a child by including a coupon for twelve pizza parties in a homemade card and placing that under the Christmas tree.
Another idea is to schedule a time with the child around a holiday such as Christmas and surprise the child with the activity. After the activity, explain that this was his/her Christmas present.
With some creativity and prior planning, family members, godparents and other supportive adults can give meaningful gifts to children that children will remember and cherish.
For other meaningful children's activities, one may enjoy the Free Fall Activities, Ideas to Enjoy Autumn on a Budget. For godparent prayer support, Prayers for Godparents and Godchildren, Prayer for a New Godparent and More may be of interest.
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