“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” —Kahlil Gibran
I have countless holiday memories. Most of them center around faith, family, and traditions.
Very few childhood memories actually include the gifts I received. I distinctly remember the year that I got a blue dirt bike, the evening my brother and I received a Nintendo, and opening socks every year from my grandparents.
But other than that, my gift-receiving memories are pretty sparse. Which got me thinking… what type of gifts can we give to our children that they will never forget?
What gifts will truly impact their lives and change them forever?
To that end, here is an alphabetical list.
35 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget:
1. Affirmation. Sometimes one simple word of affirmation can change an entire life. So make sure your children know how much you appreciate them. And then, remind them every chance you get.
2. Art. With the advent of the Internet, everyone who wants to create… can. The world just needs more people who want to…
3. Challenge. Encourage your child to dream big dreams. In turn, they will accomplish more than they thought possible… and probably even more than you thought possible.
4. Compassion/Justice. Life isn’t fair. It never will be – there are just too many variables. But when a wrong has been committed or a playing field can be leveled, I want my child to be active in helping to level it.
5. Contentment. The need for more is contagious. Embracing “less is more” is the antidote. Therefore, one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is an appreciation for being content with what they have, who they are, and who they can become.
6. Curiosity. Teach your children to ask questions about who, what, where, how, why, and why not. “Stop asking so many questions” are words that should never leave a parents’ mouth.
7. Determination. One of the greatest determining factors in one’s success is the size of their will. How can you help grow your child’s today?
8. Discipline. Children need to learn everything from the ground-up including appropriate behaviors, how to get along with others, how to get results, and how to achieve their dreams. Discipline should not be avoided or withheld. Instead, it should be consistent and positive.
9. Encouragement. Words are powerful. They can create or they can destroy. The simple words that you choose to speak today can offer encouragement and positive thoughts to another child. Or your words can send them further into despair. So choose them carefully.
10. Faithfulness to your Spouse. Faithfulness in marriage includes more than just our bodies. It also includes our eyes, mind, heart, and soul. Guard your sexuality daily and devote it entirely to your spouse. Your children will absolutely take notice.
11. Finding Beauty. Help your children find beauty in everything they see… and in everyone they meet.
12. Generosity. Teach your children to be generous with your stuff so that they will become generous with theirs.
13. Honesty/Integrity. Children who learn the value and importance of honesty at a young age have a far greater opportunity to become honest adults. And honest adults who deal truthfully with others tend to feel better about themselves, enjoy their lives more, and sleep better at night.
14. Hope. Hope is knowing and believing that things will get better and improve. It creates strength, endurance, and resolve. And in the desperately difficult times of life, it calls us to press onward.
15. Hugs and Kisses. I once heard the story of a man who told his 7-year old son that he had grown too old for kisses. I tear up every time I think of it. Know that your children are never too old to receive physical affirmation of your love for them.
16. Imagination. If we’ve learned anything over the past 20 years, it’s that life is changing faster and faster with every passing day. The world tomorrow looks nothing like the world today. And the people with imagination are the ones not just living it, they are creating it.
17. Intentionality. I believe strongly in intentional living and intentional parenting. Slow down, consider who you are, where you are going, and how to get there. And do the same for each of your children.
18. Your Lap. It’s the best place in the entire world for a book, story, or conversation. And it’s been right in front of you the whole time.
19. Lifelong Learning. A passion for learning is different from just studying to earn a grade or please teachers. It begins in the home. So read, ask questions, analyze, and expose. In other words, learn to love learning yourself.
20. Love. …but the greatest of these is love.
21. Meals Together. Meals provide unparalleled opportunity for relationship, the likes of which can not be found anywhere else. So much so, that a family that does not eat together does not grow together.
22. Nature. Children who learn to appreciate the world around them take care of the world around them. As a parent, I am frequently asking my kids to keep their rooms inside the house neat, clean, and orderly. Shouldn’t we also be teaching them to keep their world outside neat, clean, and orderly?
23. Opportunity. Kids need opportunities to experience new things so they can find out what they enjoy and what they are good at. And contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t have to require much money.
24. Optimism. Pessimists don’t change the world. Optimists do.
25. Peace. On a worldwide scale, you may think this is out of our hands. But in relation to the people around you, this is completely within your hands… and that’s a darn good place to start.
26. Pride. Celebrate the little things in life. After all, it is the little accomplishments in life that become the big accomplishments.
27. Room to Make mistakes. Kids are kids. That’s what makes them so much fun… and so desperately in need of your patience. Give them room to experiment, explore, and make mistakes.
28. Self-Esteem. People who learn to value themselves are more likely to have self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth. As a result, they are more likely to become adults who respect their values and stick to them… even when no one else is.
29. Sense of Humor. Laugh with your children everyday… for your sake and theirs.
30. Spirituality. Faith elevates our view of the universe, our world, and our lives. We would be wise to instill into our kids that they are more than just flesh and blood taking up space. They are also made of mind, heart, soul, and will. And decisions in their life should be based on more than just what everyone else with flesh and blood is doing.
31. Stability. A stable home becomes the foundation on which children build the rest of their lives. They need to know their place in the family, who they can trust, and who is going to be there for them. Don’t keep changing those things.
32. Time. The gift of time is the one gift you can never get back or take back. So think carefully about who (or what) is getting yours.
33. Undivided Attention. Maybe this imagery will be helpful: Disconnect to Connect.
34. Uniqueness. What makes us different is what makes us special. Uniqueness should not be hidden. It should be proudly displayed for all the world to see, appreciate, and enjoy.
35. A Welcoming Home. To know that you can always come home is among the sweetest and most life-giving assurances in all the world. Is your home breathing life into your child?
Of course, none of these gifts are on sale at your local department store. But, I think that’s the point.
shabina says
Nice article, I agree with many of these suggestions. I am proud of the way I have raised my children and believe that that they have done the same for their children. I appreciate this article. Thank you so much!! Blessings
Reply
Razor says
I love this! Everything you said above are true. I specifically love #33. Undivided Attention. Disconnect to Connect. With technology, it’s hard to get our children’s full attention. Even adults are guilty of that. It is important to disconnect to technology and connect to reality. Time is precious and we must spend them with family.
Deb O says
#10. Every word of this is true. When a spouse is betrayed, it cannot be hidden from your children, and it will cause trauma, whether they show it or not.
Michelle Crawley says
I believe all that you have written is needs in everyone, but I think gratitude is an essential part of understanding and acceptance of others.
adil khalid khalil says
I really feeling great to have seen this page ,that overs help to parents and new couples in how to grow thier children, and to choose thier future dreams ,I do appreciate these advice you provide to us.
Adenike says
I totally agree with all 35 cos life is not what it use to be and it keep changing the only the children will remember is what the home for them while growing up.
Jayjay Armistead says
Last night my husband and I (bathed and ready for bed) got dressed and drove for 60 minutes so I could give our 40 year old daughter a hug and reassure everything would be OK after an tearful phone call.
My mum and dad gave the best hugs, I always felt safe and protected in their company, right up to their deaths 18 years ago. If I can provide that feeling in my children then my job as a parent is done.
Joanne says
oh my, what a lovely mom and dad you are! I’m so teary right now.
Lori says
I am in tears reading this. I hear there are parents who lose their children and I think it is the worse that could happen to them. I am so glad you have such wonderful parents.
Rani says
Bless u..m so glad I read ur guidelines on raising our future leaders.although I m a grandmother I know bringing up children is a challenge n such a joy. Peaceful parents are rewarded with Peaceful fun loving children.thank u
Jonathan says
Thank you. It is a nice article in parenting. I would add on what Tina said: Pray for / with jyour children. I felt the point 30 on spiritually not explicit.
It is also important to let them know that we are imperfect but that perfection exist and can be found in God through Jesus Christ.
GOURI CHAKRABORTY says
Bow your head down, put your hand on your heart and meet GOD whenever you want. You don’t h’ve to reach to GOD through anyone else’s faith. LUV
Giforue says
Thank you. Very helpful and insightful.
Jackie says
Sure wish I could say “I own every one of these gifts and my grandson (whom I am raising) is the recipient of this bounty”. But the fact that I don’t and he isn’t, is a big part of why I am here. Getting rid of the physical clutter will also help me get rid of the mental clutter and the obstacles which that places in my way and ultimately in his as well.
Thank you so much for the reminder! Everything I have read and watched so far is inspirational, and true. So, even though those ever present feelings of being overwhelmed abound ..I shall persevere ?….for his sake and mine! Thank you!!
Isa says
I too am a new grandmother and have found this so useful.I do sometimes despair how much children have now a days as I am of the postwar generation,also how much waste there is that is why I like being a minimalist and even before it was so fashionable to be careful and recycle I was doing this for over 5O years.
Tina says
If you are on the fence about too many toys, watch a you tube video of a storage locker auction. They are full of toys, video games and DVDs.