Dear GNM Parent (Yes, I’m talking to you),
Hello. How are you?
I started to do a post about this but there was just no magic. So what’s an online Mom to do? Well, this online Mom is taking advantage of the fact that I have access to a pool of really smart, really creative, really caring folks in this online community of ours. I’m writing to request your help.
Apparently my creativity is on hiatus. Or maybe it melted with the recycled crayons we made this morning. Will you help me? You see, I am trying to encourage my boys (5 and 6) to make some gift coupons for the adults that they know and love. You know, in effort to shift the focus from getting to giving.
Here’s the question: what the heck do they put on the coupon? It must be free or almost free (they don’t get an allowance yet). So far my ideas are an ice cream cone and a car wash. Yeah, that’s it. I am so lame.
Please help!
Love,
Meg
[tag] coupon gifts from kids, holiday gift, parenting, free gift[/tag]
Photo by Andreas Reinhold via Flickr.
12 responses so far ↓
Erica Douglas // Dec 13, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Help with a household chore or in the garden.
A homebaked treat once a month.
A letter with photos for relatives living away (to be sent monthly).
A home made calendar ready for the new year.
Annie // Dec 13, 2006 at 3:01 pm
My husband and Iused to present “coupon books” to each other for Christmas and
Valentine’s day.
Some of the coupons:
—ditto on the household chores (”Good for one ‘Get out of dishwashing free one night.” or “clean my room for one trip to the ice cream store”)
—for Christmas, one new/gently used toy for a favorite charity
—make breakfast for Mom/Dad/family member day. (And you’ll eat it, even if the toast is burnt and the eggs are runny.)
Mike // Dec 13, 2006 at 6:33 pm
Free ticket to a play or concert performed by the kids.
Erica // Dec 13, 2006 at 6:38 pm
Awww Mike I love that one….I remember when I was kid (not that long ago!) we used to put on shows at christmas time…we even provided refreshments in the interval
Stu Mark // Dec 13, 2006 at 7:44 pm
As the kids are 5/6, here are a few of my ideas:
Shoulder/Foot/Back Rubs
Sweeping
Artwork
Game (as in, hey, Uncle Al, let’s play checkers)
Learn, then Tell Three Jokes
Whitney // Dec 13, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Hugs and kisses after a hard day
One day spent teaching a grown up something fun- playing their favorite game, blowing bubbles, a whine free trip to the grocery; running a bubble bath for mama; build a bird feeder w/ PB, bird seed and pine cones for the back yard, match up the socks, read a book, trip to the museum, lots of things are doable. The theme I stick with is having the adults get a chance to see the world through the kid’s eyes, or get help with something they might not ordinarily do. My kids love washing the car when the weather is warm- hard to do in Jan. and this can be a good gift. Helping a grownup make and package cookies for teachers. Taking kid art, adding a nice message on back, and make that a christmas card.
Megin Hatch // Dec 14, 2006 at 1:10 pm
You guys rock… not that I didn’t already know that! Thank you for all of your ideas!
The other thing I have been struggling with is if we should give the kids coupon books. The struggle lies in the- does my kid really need a coupon to do things with me. I think I decided to do it and here’s why: it makes 1 on one time less of a battle for the brother left behind. I’ll do things like: lunch with mom, dinner with dad, round of mini golf, game of chess, bike ride, etc.
Erica // Dec 14, 2006 at 3:17 pm
I like the coupon book idea, It shows that experiences can be as good a gift as a toy etc…I think when Erin’s older we’ll make it a regular stocking filler
Stu Mark // Dec 14, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Megin,
Oh yeah, of course a coupon book is really needed. You’re not a dumb parent, you know how to motivate them and have fun. I haven’t met a parent yet who didn’t appreciate a young child who gave them a coupon good for “One free shoulder rub at the end of a long day”. I mean, it doesn’t matter what the coupon is for, it’s a tried-and-true parenting method from way back.
Also, Megin, your ideas of Lunch With Mom and such are even better because they are incentive-based. Every since I read that section of Freakonomics by world-class economist Steven Levitt, I have been focused on incentivising every parenting opportunity I can find.
Amy // Dec 15, 2006 at 12:29 am
Drat. All my ideas are taken.
Alice // Dec 19, 2006 at 6:38 am
No real ideas. But I just wanted to say that you’re so hard on yourself!! I think it’s great that you’re doing this and remember that you’re a great mom. =)
Littlemummy.Com » Blog Archive » P is for Presents // Dec 25, 2008 at 2:59 pm
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