Our kids are bombarded constantly with advertisements of the newest and coolest stuff. We feel the immense pressure of keeping them on par with their friends so we succumb to their pleas of “I absolutely need to have that!” I am guilty as charged here, but I am working on giving my kids a lot more experiences and time than giving them things.
Studies have shown that you get more than your money’s worth with experiences. You get to relive them in your mind time and time again, long after the stuff is in a landfill somewhere. Getting your kids BOOKS falls under the experience category too! Books help them stretch their imaginations, something video games can’t match. Many experiences often come as shared experiences; you get to spend some quality time with your biggest investment (your kids) instilling your values and shaping their lives.
Shared experiences do not have to cost a lot of money; Cheap Summer Activities For Kids spotlights a few affordable ways to keep the kids engaged over the summer. Even if you are not planning a trip for the summer vacation, you can make the “staycation” fun for the kids by trying out 10 Tips for Around-Town Learning.
Here I am in my mid thirties and still find myself replaying fun childhood experiences in my mind as I look to make new ones for my kids. While storing your own family’s experiences in your mind, don’t forget to catch them on video and in pictures also!
Bola Ajumobi is a mom of 2 boys and owns Slimy Bookworm, an online children’s bookstore with the feel of being in your neighborhood independent bookstore. SlimyBookworm.com is committed to improving childhood literacy and donates 20% of profits to literacy efforts for the under-served.
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