Little girl with Santa
The holiday season is a time when we focus on giving and being generous amongst those we love most. What a fantastic focus! However, many of us end up burdened by more things in our homes on December 26. On Christmas morning, how can you reduce the amount of toys you give to your children? And how can you encourage your extended family members to do the same? We have a few ideas for you.
Start by creating a family culture that places value on experiences rather than things. This is something you probably already do. We all place a premium on spending time with our children, and in Naples, our environment lends itself perfectly to getting outside and experiencing new things together. It is relatively easy, then, to pursue adventure on a regular basis together as a family.
Here are just a few ideas we hope may inspire you to give the gift of experiences rather than things to your children this holiday season:
1. A Family Trip. Print out an itinerary and pictures, and wrap them up for your children to open on Christmas morning. Whether it is a weekend getaway to the Florida Keys, a staycation overnight to the Hyatt Coconut Point, or a week-long vacation to the mountains in Georgia, your children can get excited about a trip to someplace new. If you can plan to take the trip relatively soon after Christmas, that is a bonus!
2. Year Passes to a Theme Park. Christmas is the perfect time to give the gift of year-long passes to a theme park or water park. A couple of cost-effective options include Busch Gardens in Tampa and Sea World in Orlando. Other popular options are passes for Disney World or Universal Studios Orlando. Be sure to include a date when you plan to use the passes together for the first time as a family.
3. Florida State Parks Passport and Year Pass. The Florida State Parks system showcases “The Real Florida.” The parks range the gambit – from beachfront campsites to rustic cabins, historical sites, hiking, boating, tours, and so many other activities across the state. With 160 state parks, your family can enjoy getting its Florida State Parks Passport stamped each time you visit a new park. Plan to spend a couple of days right after Christmas visiting some of our local state parks in Southwest Florida. Options include Lovers Key State Park, Wiggins Pass State Park, Koreshan State Historic Site, and Collier-Seminole State Park (among others).
4. Classes or Lessons. Has your child been asking to learn a new skill, join a team sport, or take art or dance lessons? Use Christmas as the opportunity to help them pursue a new activity or improve the skills they already have through additional or intensive lessons. This is a great one to suggest to grandparents! Wrap up a card with the first class date and time, along with the materials or a piece of equipment they might need.
5. Concert or Theater Tickets. If your child has an interest in music, dance or drama, this is the perfect way to encourage that pursuit. Both the Artis—Naples as well as the Barbara B. Mann Theater in Fort Myers have lots of performances throughout the year, including musical guests and theater options. Is your child interested in any particular performer? There are several venues within driving distance in Tampa and Miami, and many popular artists and performers schedule concerts within a short drive to Naples.
6. Sports Event Tickets. Take your child to a professional sporting event. Purchase the tickets, and wrap them up with a team hat or t-shirt. A great local option is taking your child to an Everblades game (hockey) or a Miracles game (baseball). Both are cost effective, and many dates include special events such as fireworks, special half-time shows, giveaways, or deals that include concessions.
7. Day Trip to the Miami Zoo or the Museum of Science and Industry Tampa. Take a day to experience these fabulous attractions, both of which are within a short drive from Naples. Go on a day soon after Christmas, and wrap up the tickets with a stuffed animal or an official looking (homemade) museum pass.
If this topic resonates with you, and you want to shift the focus this Christmas season to experiences over things, start by talking with your children about how this Christmas may feel differently from holidays past. If you plan to give experiences rather than things, the amount of presents underneath the tree may change, or rather, the shape of the presents may be different. Don’t give up the experience of opening gifts, or of giving presents like books, clothing, or a couple of fun things you know your children will enjoy opening. Rather, shift your focus toward giving your children the gift of time together, while creating lasting memories, and investing in your children’s skills and passions rather than the hottest toys and gadgets this season.
Anna Futrell has a bachelor’s in English and Secondary Education from Wheaton College, and has written website content for various publications and businesses. Anna and her husband Jim have a daughter, Windley.