December 22, 2015
Last minute gifts that promote spending time together
Who doesn’t love gifts? It’s fun to shop for people, find something truly special, and surprise them with an object you know they’ll enjoy and cherish. But there’s another side of gifting — one that can promote time spent together over things. These types of gifts bring you closer together and focus on a relationship rather than just hurriedly purchasing something to fill a quota under the tree. Need some last-minute gifts for the loved ones in your life? Here are some ideas for experiences you can share together:
Get outta town! A gift certificate to B&B or interesting hotel nearby will allow you to get out and do something special together. Planning or booking it ahead of time forces you to take the time off, regardless of whether or not life tries to get in the way.
Book a class together. Is there an activity your child has been wanting to try? Or maybe there’s something new and different in your community, like indoor rock climbing or a unique dance class. Book an afternoon for you and your child and follow it up with a special meal or snack together. It’ll be something you remember long after Christmas is over, and you’ll both be so grateful for the opportunity to get out and experience something unexpected together.
Make an experiential gift certificate book. Create a collection of gift certificates for experiences your loved ones can redeem: a meal together, a special shopping trip, a movie night, massage, or date night. Curating a collection of gifts based on the things they love will show them how much you care, and the lengths to which you are willing to go to share their favorite activities with them.
Get out and explore your town. Make a list of all the places in your town you haven’t been to but would like to go: museums, theatres, parks, concert venues. Surprise your loved one with an opportunity to experience one of those places together. Maybe that’s a theatre tickets at a show they’ve always wanted to see, tickets to a concert for a band they love, a museum day for a special exhibition that you know is right up their alley. Active cultural experiences are always an exciting way to spend time together. Plus it’s great to get out and explore where you live!
Think outside the box this holiday. You don’t have to go overboard or spend hoards of money…but thinking of ways to bring you and your loved ones closer together is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give.
