When it comes to buying gifts for kids, especially at this time of year (Christmas), people tend to get caught up in a hectic pace that can be hard to get out of at times. But at their core, the holidays are about being kind to each other by giving, sharing, and taking gifts from others.
At Christmas, it’s pretty common to fill the shopping cart, either in person or online, with toys, electronics, and gift cards for younger family members. Seeing the joy on their faces makes the experience even better. The parents worked hard to make that one day special by planning, saving money, and spending a lot of time. Why not look at these problems in a different way?
A loving grandmother posted an idea for a gift online and shared it with the internet some time ago. Since then, the idea has gone viral because it is about spending time together. Darlene Howell Waller was looking for something she could give her grandchildren that wasn’t a toy. Darlene Howell Waller’s original Facebook post has since been taken down. She said that they have everything there is to offer!
As a grandparent, she wanted to give them the valuable gifts of time spent with her and memories they would always remember. Waller came up with an original way to package gift cards and experiences. She called it an “adventure box.” A few do-it-yourself projects he saw on Pinterest inspired her to do it.
Waller wanted a treasure chest, so she went to a craft store and found one there. She then decorated it and put something interesting inside. Each envelope had one activity for the family to do together, and many of them could be done with “Nonna.” Each envelope was labeled with the month’s name from the calendar.
The gifts included things like going to the movies, having a picnic, playing laser tag, riding horses, going to a pumpkin patch, and going to the beach. Waller said in a post on the ByFaithShe blog that after each of their monthly adventures, they would take a picture and put it back in the box to remember it.
In the package that Nonna gave her grandchildren, there was a letter in which she explained what the box was for. A lot of people liked the smart idea on social media, and they talked about how they could make it work for their families and their money.
Many parents want to plan activities with their kids after being inspired, like going fishing, hiking, watching fireworks, playing mini golf, or having a s’mores night. Several people said that they would pay for events and other activities throughout the year to spread the costs out more evenly. Giving it to them once a month in the form of a gift, like an “adventure box,” can be both a nice surprise and a touching way to show how you feel.
What can be done with it is pretty cool. Waller pointed out the importance of time in the blog post where she talked about her own childhood and made some observations:
If we looked back on our years, we don’t remember the gifts that were given or WHO gave them. But for me, time spent together are some of my sweetest childhood memories. I remember the family vacations, the Saturday trips to the grocery store, the lake and camping adventures with my family, the fun we had in the tree house that my dad built for me. But I couldn’t tell you a single gift that was a ‘thing’ that I remember receiving.
Shouldn’t the holidays be a time to spend with family and friends? You can make one of these for your kids, your parents, your partner, or anyone else in your life. Try to think of something new!
What do you think about what this grandmother did that was nice for her grandchildren? Would you be willing to try this out if it would help your family? What kinds of things would you put in your own treasure chest?
