Photo by Steve Holmes Photography.
This time of year, as we busy ourselves with the usual holiday hustle and bustle, we often find ourselves perplexed by one simple question: “What do I get my son/daughter/grandchild/niece/nephew/friend’s child/(insert other young person monikers here) for the holidays?” We all want to find the perfect gift. Something they will treasure. Perhaps something that will inspire them to clean their room without being asked for once. One can dream…
Did you know that on average Americans will spend $976 on holiday gifts this year? If that seems high to you, you’re not alone. The good news is that you don’t need to spend that much to make your 2019 holiday season memorable. In the spirit of the holidays, and in the interest of making the most of our holiday budgets, we’ve compiled a list of five gifts that will elicit the exact response you’re looking for.
“Disney’s The Aristocats KIDS” November 2018. Photo by Steve Holmes Photography.
1. Go see a show. Price range: $20-$40
There’s growing evidence that gifting experiences is far better than gifting material things. The fact is that most children don’t need another toy which will likely end up in a big pile in the middle of their bedroom floor. Giving them an experience, like taking them to the theatre to see a performance, can leave a lasting impression and could even spark an interest in learning something new. Attending any of the many family-friendly performances at MoCo Arts is a wonderful and inexpensive experience you can share with your child. And they make GREAT stocking stuffers. The fact that the performers are children like them will make this experience even more meaningful. You’ll find MoCo’s 2020 performance season schedule and ticketing information here.
2. Get that show on DVD. Price: $25
There’s a lot to be said for giving the gift of time. Spending time together is more valuable than ever in this high-tech, fast-paced world we live in. Giving your child a DVD from a performance you’d seen together is a great way to strengthen the emotional bond you share. Even if you didn’t attend the live performance, there is great value in setting aside some time for you to watch a DVD together. Making room in our busy lives to spend time with those we love is the best gift we could ever give them. It has a lasting impact on any child. Giving a DVD of a performance that your child was in would also make a wonderful gift for family members that couldn’t make it to the live performance. It’s a thoughtful gift that will last for years to come. Fortunately, MoCo works with KeeneOnline to create beautiful and professional videos of every performance – all of which are available on DVD at MoCo Arts.
3. Register them for a dance or theatre class.
Price Range: $108-$405
This one’s a little more expensive, but this isn’t just a one-and-done type of gift. This is a lasting gift that will keep your child engaged for several weeks and will help them develop skills that will benefit them far into the future. There’s a mountain of evidence out there to support the idea that participating in dance and/or theatre classes has benefits for children that reach far beyond the studio or the stage. It builds confidence, encourages socialization and teaches children how to work together to accomplish a shared goal. It’s even been proven to improve academic performance and curb behavioral issues. The dance and theatre programs at MoCo Arts have been life-changing for many families. And through our tuition assistance program, there are options to fit any budget. You’ll find the complete schedule of classes, and registration information here.
4. Give them new dance gear. Price range: $10 – ??
If your child dances, then there is always a call for new gear. We all know how fast they grow… you wake up one morning to find that what fit them yesterday is a little too tight today. Never fear – MoCo Arts has partnered with Windham Movement Apparel to make sure you have what you need to keep your little dancer outfitted and ready to go. WMA will be opening their Mobile Boutique twice each month at MoCo Arts, starting in January. You’ll find the pop-up schedule here. For holiday delivery, you can order from their website and have it delivered to your home. Gift certificates are available as well. Place your order by December 14th for delivery in time for the holidays and get free shipping on your order with promo code: FREESHIP.
5. Make a donation in their name. Price range: Whatever you’d like!
Making a donation to a cause your child is passionate about is a beautiful way to honor them. This is a great gift for an older child that will see the value in paying it forward. Of course, you can donate to MoCo Arts… your gift of any size will help us continue to offer over $79,000 in tuition assistance each year and provide transformative arts experiences to children throughout the Monadnock Region. But for this gift to be truly meaningful, it needs to be meaningful for your child. If they love MoCo, then there you go! If they are passionate about wildlife, or the environment, or anything else, it’s easy to find a worthwhile nonprofit organization that would be very grateful for your donation. A good place to start to find a charity that will resonate with your child is by visiting guidestar.org. You can search by name or keyword and get information about hundreds of thousands of U.S. nonprofits. That may sound overwhelming, but their interface is very user-friendly. It’s a great place to learn about the nonprofit sector, and there is a wealth of information available to help you make the right choice for your charitable giving.
And there you have it. Just think about that big adorable smile spreading across the face of that special child in your life when they open one of these presents. #NailedIt.
