- Ginny Hendricksen, last updated January 7, 2023
Picking out children's gifts can feel overwhelming. There are so many options out there to consider! What should you buy your kid, your friend's kids, or your grandchild that will be cherished?
On top of that, there are a billion and one occasions that warrant a present. I need to buy great gifts often for children's birthdays, Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, baptism gifts, graduation gifts, and more.
Technology, online shopping and fads make the old days of shopping at Toys-R-Us seem like the simple good old days. Even with changes in the way we shop, we still face the same problem. How do we find meaningful gifts for children that are good for them... and that they will actually like?!
In the age of Star Wars Lego sets, VR glasses, Hot Wheels, and robots, a book may feel like a lame gift in comparison.
I say - Be bold and go against the grain in today's technology-driven world. The perfect gift for grandkids does not need bells and whistles. The best gifts for your friend's kids do not need to be expensive or fancy.
Think back to what it felt like to be young. Boiling lava covered the floor. An old refrigerator box was your entire house, and the rock in your pocket was your new pet. Shadows talked, clouds were animals, and if you laid on your back you could imagine yourself walking on the ceiling!
The best gifts are the ones that whisk adults away with kids on their imaginary adventures.Â
Books do not require batteries, power cords, cases, or costly in-app upgrades!
Reading books before bed has several benefits for children, according to parents, pediatricians and sleep experts. It improves their vocabulary, helps them get a good night's sleep, and strengthens their bond with their parents.
Books don't encourage violence or damage kids' eyesight.
Kids learn by example. They can learn vicariously from watching characters experience situations in a book. They can watch from the outside how situations play out, instead of just hearing about life from grown-ups.
Books do not require grown ups to figure out a user manual or do any assembly.
Picture books are super for kids of all ages. At first grown ups read books to the little ones. Later kids can practice reading books they are already familiar with.
Books are 100% portable (especially eBooks). You can take them to a park, the beach, a restaurant, the doctor's office, on road trips, on a flight, etc.
You can save picture books to read to the next generation. Reading a story to a child that someone read to you when you were small is the coolest feeling.
Read alouds support child development. Have you noticed how kids frequently ask questions during story time? Listening to books strengthens concentration, boosts creativity, and gets them thinking critically.
When a child connects with a story, they can hear it or read it over and over and over and over. This is a great bang for your buck and a massive value for the long term.
Don't get me wrong, outdoor playtime and exercise is essential for everyone. Unfortunately as we all know, the weather does not always cooperate with our best laid plans.
If you happen to live in a rainy place, I know your pain. I lived in Belgium for 15 years. In case you're unfamiliar with Antwerp, it rains an average of 111 days per year there. I remember well going bonkers sometimes trying to keep our little ones occupied indoors when it was wet outside.
Building blocks end up all over the living room. Electronics tend to loose charge in critical moments and cause meltdowns. Preschoolers can't play video games and confuse board game pieces for candy. Rainy day activities require 100000 DIY craft supplies, or destroy your kitchen.
Most parents try to limit their kids' screen time, but so often struggle to control how much they watch videos.
Books are a high quality way for friends and family members to connect with kids. They are particularly handy for adults who are not sure what to do when they spend time with kids. I bet grandparents who haven't babysat or put a little one to sleep in 30+ years can relate to this situation.
When my kids were little, I bought new books for them regularly (and I still do). Some were excellent and some we strongly disliked. Most books fell into one of two camps:
Group1: only fluff, offering little educational or ethical value. These were cute and fun but felt like a waste of time.
Group 2: not so whimsical, more like a textbook on social issues. These bored the kids and were too opinionated for my liking.
I figured if this bugged me, there must be other parents, grandparents and educators who feel the same way. With The Koshi Books, I want to strike a happy medium between education and fairy tale.
I aim to entertain kids and bring up real life issues, but then get out of the picture. My vision is that these books can help adults and kids open a dialogue about issues on their own terms in their own way.
If you feel like I do or know someone who does, I invite you to check out Dragons of Diversity, on Amazon.com. This rhyming picture book stars an adorable baby dragon named Koshi who needs to find his way in a new land full of dragons. Featuring stunning, vivid illustrations that transport the reader to another world, it is sure to delight the youngest age groups. Dragons of Diversity encourages kids to think about people's differences, making friends, and their own identities.
My dream is to see The Koshi Books and other picture books at the top of holiday season gift guides for kids. I believe books (including those about mythical creatures) should be ranked by stem toys and savings accounts.
Parting comment: Buy the child in your life a brand new picture book. Encourage them to build a blanket fort and deck it out with sleeping bags and stuffed animals. Switch on a night light, open a picture book, and savor the magical moments.