1.
Museum or
Zoo Membership
Give
the whole family a gift they will love all year long: a membership to a
local zoo or children’s museum. Most memberships include free admission
as well as unique opportunities to attend members-only events, and give
parents and kids the chance to have a regular family outing without
breaking the bank. (SD)
2.
Reusable Tote for Library Books (or Groceries, or Pool Toys, or…) - $27.50
One
of the great joys of having small children is the weekly trip to the
library to pick out stacks of picture books, to come across old
favorites and find new classics to enjoy. Encourage parents to make
good use of the local library with a stylish, reusable tote for getting
the books home. (SD)
3.
J.S. Bach Cello Suites - $23
Parents
and children alike will enjoy these evocatively beautiful cello pieces
over and over again. Wonderful to put on during creative activity,
before bed, or simply to listen to together in the car, this recording
is great way to introduce parents and children to the pleasure of
enjoying great music together. (SD)
4.
Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes: A Cookbook for Preschoolers and Up, by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson - $12
Moms
and dads who love to cook frequently find themselves with little
“helpers” on hand in the kitchen. Give them this marvelous cookbook –
by Moosewood Kitchen author Mollie Katzen – to inspire them to create
in the kitchen with their children! Recipes appear in words and
pictures, and are geared as much towards the pleasure found in the
process of preparing food as in the final outcome. (SD)
5. Babysitting
Parents
of toddlers and preschoolers have their hands full – give them some
time off with an offer of babysitting. If the child is a younger
toddler dealing with separation anxiety, arrange to come over after he
is asleep so that the parents can have an evening out. For older
children, offer to take the kids on an outing for a day so mom and dad
can have some down time at home. (SD)
6.
Gift card to a local children’s bookstoreIndependent
children’s bookshops are a wonderful resource for busy parents who want
to introduce their kids to the best in children’s literature but don’t
have time to wade through the piles of books competing for attention in
big-box chain stores. The sellers at these independent shops are
knowledgeable about the world of children’s lit, the selections are
frequently well-edited, and the stores themselves are often fun to play
in. (SD)
7.
Bottle of wineIt’s
8 pm, the kids are in bed – even if they can’t leave the house, give
Mom and Dad a date at home over a good bottle of wine. They can toast
each other, their children, and your good taste. (SD)
8. Homemade “Toddler/Preschooler-Friendly” Map
Similar
to the “baby friendly” map above – simply buy a map of your town and
mark the best attractions for families and small children. Some sites
to scout out and include: zoos, parks, wading pools, indoor play areas,
children’s bookshops, good toy stores, library branches, and coffee
shops with toys or play space. (SD)
9.
Netflix subscriptionJust
because they have little ones, parents don’t need to miss great film.
With a Netflix subscription, parents have access to thousands of films,
documentaries, TV shows on DVD, and more, mailed straight to their
home. Watching a movie after the kids go down can be a great way to
reconnect, spark conversation, or just have some down time together.
(SD)
10.
An invitation to TumblonHow
about a personalized invitation to Tumblon? On Tumblon, parents can get
customized developmental information, track milestones, record stories,
share photo and video, and get recommendations for the best toys, gear,
and books as well as contribute their own. Introduce parents to the
Tumblon community, and give them the resources they need to encourage
and celebrate their child’s growth. (SD)