The Best Gift, written in 2007

        This article was probably written as a call for content, I really do not remember.

                      
                 http://voices.yahoo.com/the-best-gift-697308.html?cat=25


                                                         "The Best Gift"
                                         What is the Best Gift for a Child??

Some things to think about as you may be in the process of buying gifts for your children and others.
Many people buy gifts at different times of the year so this is not just a "what to buy for Christmas article".

Okay, what I would like to suggest when your planning to go out shopping for your child or someone else's think about the quality or the item your buying. 

Are you buying a less expensive gift just so your child can say they received the most gifts. Sort of like a status quota.
But what are you saying when you give your children many presents just because you can? Also what happens when you are not able to buy so many gifts?

Will your child be upset when they don't receive any gifts, at all.

Also what is the point of all these gifts? Do the gifts that you give to your children or others help them in anyway, other than just instant gratification?

Also are your children even able to use or learn anything from the gifts you give them?

Could there be something else to think about besides buying everything in sight for our children?

Perhaps instead of investing so much in material things that really don't last. Maybe instead we should invest a little more in life skills.

Things like time management, budgeting skills, organizational skills, skilled trades.

Now don't get me wrong I do think there are many times when we should try and buy things for our children. But many of us, (myself included) do spend a lot more than we should many times.

Probably because the list of things to buy or that is on the market is growing every day, but the list of things recalled is also growing almost as fast.

Maybe simpler would better. Because with each additional purchase we make for our children or even for ourselves we are only adding to the things we also have to store, organize or in some way care for. We are also adding to our own stress when our children don't see the importance of putting away things properly in the same matter that we do. Which means that eventually we will end up having to either find new homes for all our kids toys or we put them up ourselves, or the toys end up lost or broken because the were not put away properly.

So what should we do?

Well maybe we should think a little about the things we would like for our children to know when they are grown. Seriously.

While our children are young they are going to have a lot more time to learn different skills than when they are older. So while it may not be the popular thing to do I believe it is beneficial to buy our children tools, and then either teach them to use these tools or hire someone else to.

The tools we buy for our children are all different. One year we may decide that our son or daughter needs to learn carpentry skills, (at least the basics) so we could buy them a few good quality tools, (according to their age) then maybe buy then the materials to make a few simple items, such as a small end table or chair, (you can even buy precut pieces so all they really have to do is put it together, which would be good for the younger ages especially.

Also we should buy good quality American Made tools that have are made to last. Then teach the proper care and storage of any tools. We not only over time help them to acquire tools they may need someday, but we also give them the skills to know how. Also we will be helping them because they will learn how to do things themselves, which could save them many repair bills later on down the road.

Other tools could include, crochet hooks, knitting needles, gardening tools, leather working tools, bead working tools,.

Just anything really that is within your reach as affordable that would benefit your child somewhere along the line. Any skill learned today could be something that either saves a life tomorrow or prevents debt in the future.

Some other gifts that can be given that are long lasting are music lessons, (even if your child is not wanting them, make them go) the reason why is because you will never regret learning to play an instrument when you get older but you may regret giving up.

If your child is physically able swimming lessons, self-defense lessons, dance lessons all of these are good.

But only in moderation.

Because you also want to give your child the gift of learning to relax. You don't have to do everything, and you can't please everyone.

The more different skills someone learns the less likely they are to have to become dependant on welfare.

The best gift you can give your child is a skill they can use, not a toy that will break or be recalled.