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