| Because children and teens are always growing | | | | transfer two hours long costs about $25 and, |
| and changing, finding suitable holidays gifts | | | | unlike the rest of those formats, will last |
| for the younger people in your life can often | | | | the rest of the child's life and will still |
| by challenging. If you choose the latest hot | | | | be around for his or her grandchildren to |
| toy, music CD, or popular electronic device, | | | | see.(4) A homemade gift certificate for an |
| chances are your gift might be something they | | | | experience, rather than just another object |
| already have or a duplicate of another gift. | | | | to gather dust. If it's for an activity that |
| Even if they love the gift, it's something | | | | can only be done in the spring or summer, and |
| everyone else has, too, and chances are, a | | | | not in the winter, the anticipation of the |
| year from now, they won't remember who gave | | | | event for months to come adds to the |
| it to them. Make your gift a memorable and | | | | excitement over the long term. Or make it |
| lasting one, not necessarily the most | | | | something the child or teen has always wanted |
| expensive or what's currently "cool". Here | | | | to do, like trying snowboarding or taking |
| are five ideas for novel gifts (at least in | | | | guitar lessons. And just be sure to make |
| this day and age) that give a growing young | | | | good on the gift certificate when and as |
| person benefits that could go on and on:(1) | | | | promised.(5) If your child or teen struggles |
| A book with a meaningful or life-changing | | | | with schoolwork or thinks that all things |
| message, especially for teenagers. Think | | | | academic are distasteful, find a |
| back on those books, fiction or non-fiction, | | | | product....be it a book, software, or other |
| that have most influenced your own life and | | | | item....that makes learning fun. Educational |
| your own thinking. Find a new copy, and | | | | games abound today, if you know where to find |
| share it with a growing mind in a world that | | | | them. Search on the internet under |
| beckons youth with shallow distractions. | | | | educational games, learning tools, or |
| Write of your own feelings about the book | | | | homeschooling catalogs, just to start. Long |
| inside the front cover and why you want to | | | | before I became a homeschooling mom, I found |
| share it. Date your entry. Even if the | | | | great holiday presents for my son and other |
| recipient doesn't read it right away, one day | | | | young family members in homeschooling |
| that book may be his or her only link to the | | | | catalogs. Be the person who teaches the |
| mind and heart of the giver and, as a result, | | | | young person in your life that learning and |
| will be treasured along with the benefits | | | | boring are not synonyms.Another doll, another |
| gained from actually reading it.(2) If you | | | | outfit, another DVD....all of these won't |
| have little ones in your extended family, and | | | | make of a difference in a young person's |
| you live far away from them, make an audio CD | | | | life. Find a gift with lasting impact. Even |
| of yourself reading stories appropriate to | | | | if it doesn't seem as appreciated right now |
| their age level. Then, you can be there | | | | as the Lego or the i-Pod, someday those will |
| reading them a bedtime story, even when | | | | be in a box in the attic while the effects, |
| you're a thousand miles away. Better yet, if | | | | the memories, and the results of your |
| you're an aunt, uncle, or grandparent, make a | | | | "thought-full" holiday gift will live on and |
| tape or CD on which you tell stories from | | | | on.Linda Popolano is a homeschooling mom and |
| your own childhood in which you include your | | | | an Independent Consultant for BRIGHT MINDS |
| siblings' or your grown children's | | | | The Critical Thinking Company at Home. To |
| experiences from the years before the gift | | | | find out more about their award-winning and |
| recipient was born. If you're really | | | | fun-to-use learning tools for all ages and |
| ambitious, you can produce your own family's | | | | grade levels, please visit her website at |
| oral history.(3) Take your old family still | | | | and e-mail her to learn about special holiday |
| photos, 16 mm films, and VHS/camcorder tapes | | | | discounts. You can also sign up for her |
| to a photo/film shop that offers transfer to | | | | monthly newsletter at to keep up to date on |
| DVD. Photos and film without sound can have | | | | new products, homeschooling tips, etc. |
| themed music of your choice added. A DVD | | | | |