Simple Gifts for Children

‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain’d,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be asham’d,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come ’round right.

-Joseph Brackett

Let’s take a step back for a moment to a time when simplicity was appreciated-to when Christmas lists didn’t contain video games, iPods, iPads, and the latest gizmos.

Today’s gift guide features children’s gifts that do not require batteries, a charger, or limited screen time. Best of all? They will be enjoyed by children and children at heart alike!

We were first introduced to Keva Contraptions at a traveling exhibit at the Rochester Museum and Science Center a couple of years back. My boys played for hours with these American-made wooden planks. They still do. Using their imagination and building skills, these planks are truly a gift your children will enjoy.

mindware.com, $49.95

I used to sneak into my brother’s room to borrow his Spirograph when I was a little girl. I was so happy to see that this set is available once again. My ten year old son is a very logical and analytical kind of guy who doesn’t particularly enjoy art. He does, however, love his Spirograph.

amazon.com, $24.99

Kids LOVE to experiment. I think of my own 8 year old in the kitchen mixing baking soda and vinegar and watching it fizz and foam all over my kitchen counter. They are naturally curious beings and if they’re learning while playing, all the better. Enter Explorabox. Complete with different themes, these are science experiment materials shipped in a box to your home at an affordable price. Your children can learn about magnetism, chemistry, and more. The Small Things kit even includes a microscope!

Plus, your purchase will do good. The kit cost is a tax-deductible donation of $25 and the proceeds benefit under-privileged children by providing them with hands on science.

explorabox.org, $25

Books make wonderful gifts. One of the best children’s books ever written, in my eyes, in the Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. It is an enjoyable story which provides a very important lesson to children of all ages.

barnesandnoble.com, $13.59