What to Buy: Holiday Shopping Recommendations for Every Age
Part of my problem with even thinking about heading out to the stores for Black Friday is that I haven't really given much thought yet to what I want to buy, and for whom. With 30 shopping days left, I need to sit down and make my holiday shopping list today.
Fortunately, my fellow Parenting and Family Guides have put together various holiday shopping guides. These themed gift lists are helping me brainstorm ideas, compare prices, and even get a little online shopping done before the big rush.
Thrifty Gift Ideas
- DIY Cheap Gifts for Everyone on Your List
- Retailers That Offer Free/Flat-Rate Shipping
- Give Cheap Gifts Without Looking Cheap
Shopping for Babies and Toddlers
- Inexpensive Baby Clothes
- Gifts for Grandbaby's First Year
- Commemorative Gifts for Baby's First Christmas
Shopping for Young Children
- Active Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Top Preschool Board Games
- Educational Toys for Preschoolers
- Electronic Gifts and Games for Preschoolers
- DVDs/Blu-rays for Preschoolers
Shopping for School-Age Children
- Active Toys for School-Aged Kids
- Electronic Gifts and Games for Kids
- Classic Toys for Today's Kids
- Books That Keep Kids Busy
- Educational Kids Games for Grade Schoolers
- DVDs/Blu-rays for Kids Ages 6-9
Shopping for Tweens
Shopping for Teens
- Christmas Gift Ideas for Teens
- Christmas Gift Ideas for Teen Boys
- Christmas Gift Ideas for Teen Girls
Shopping for Young Adults
- 10 Great Stocking Stuffers for College Kids"
- Holiday Gifts Under $30 for College Kids & Young Adults
Shopping by Interests
- Top Gifts for Crafty Kids
- Audiobooks Kids Love
- Building Toys That Promote Independent Play
- Shopping for Gift Cards
Shopping for Moms
- Thoughtful Gifts for Moms
- Surefire Gifts for Mom
- 10 Ways to Give Mom Gifts She Deserves
- Gifts Designed to Get Mom Out of the House
Shopping for Dads
Shopping for Grandparents
Shopping for Other Adults
- Best Boyfriend Gifts
- Best Girlfriend Gifts
- Luxurious Gifts for Single Parents
- Top Inexpensive Gifts for Teachers, Coaches and Parent Volunteers
Shopping for Entire Families
When You're Coping With Big Changes, Focus on the Concrete Details
When your life is in flux--because of a divorce, job change, or an impending move--and you need share with your kids the details of how some of the changes will affect them, make sure that you do your "homework" ahead of time. Approach the conversation ready to give them as much detailed, accurate information as you can, while also maintaining age-appropriate and respectful boundaries. (In other words, don't tell your kids more than they need to know, and stay away from details that could compromise their affections for the other parent.) For situation-specific tips, read:
Please Welcome Our New Legal Expert, Debrina L. Washington
Do you ever wish you had a legal expert on hand to provide guidance on issues such as child custody, child support, visitation, and more? I'm thrilled to announce that here at Single Parents at About.com, we do!
Please welcome Debrina L. Washington. Debrina is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and she runs her own virtual law practice in New York. She's also the mom of an adorable 2-year-old little boy! Learn more about Debrina by reading her bio here on the site.
Debrina's most recent articles include:
- Child Support Modification
- Child Relocation Guidelines
- Win Child Custody
- How to Obtain a Passport for Your Child
Please join me in welcoming Debrina to About.com!
Highlights for Single Parents: 19th Edition
This week's highlights include several hopeful stories, along with recent trends in child custody, one military mom's difficult choice, and the opportunity to win $10,000 from Fifty Cent and BET.
On the Blogs:
More Fathers Are Getting Custody in Divorce - Many successful businesswomen are now losing custody to fathers who work fewer hours. Lisa asks whether this is a raw deal or fair play. What do you think?
Ravens Players Provide Thanksgiving Meals to Single Parent Edgewood Families - Ben Grubbs, along several Baltimore Ravens teammates and members of the U.S. Marines, are scheduled to serve Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday to 100 Baltimore-area single parent families.
In the News:
Mom Chooses Son Over Service - Fearing her ten-month-old son would be placed in foster care, single mom and army SPC Alexis Hutchinson refused to deploy to Afghanistan after her mother backed out of her agreement to care for the boy.
Event Helps Single Mothers - An organization called "The Caring People" raised more than $60,000 to help support single mothers and their children!
From Section 8 to Single Mother of the Year - The story of how one single mom turned things around for herself and her young sons.
50's Money for Moms Contest - Three lucky single moms will win $10,000 from Fifty Cent and BET. Could you be one of them?
Photo © njgphoto of www.istockphoto.com.
Thrifty Thursday: Access Wal-Mart's 32-Page Black Friday Ad
I don't ever recall seeing Black Friday ads earlier than Thanksgiving Day before. However, many stores--including Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Sears, and JCPenney--have already made their Black Friday ads available online. You can see and print them through the free web site www.BFads.net.
Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel:
When Your Child Complains About Your Ex
"Daddy, Mommy is so unfair! She never lets me use the TV, ever."
"Mommy, Daddy is so mean. He yelled at me, and made me go to bed 15 minutes early again."
Sound familiar? When your child complains to you about anyone she perceives as being unfair or mean--whether it's her best friend, a teacher, or your ex--it's bound to get your defenses up. More than anything, you just want to stand between your child and that person, in order to show your baby that she's safe and loved.
While that's a valiant response, it's also an emotional one. If you really want to help your child, you have to set aside your own emotions for a moment and get to the bottom of what's really going on.
Start by asking for the facts. Probe for the truth with questions, like "What happened first?" "What did you do next?" "What were you doing just before this all started?" Try to resist the urge to make value judgments about what the other parent did. You can assure your child that you hear her by saying, "I can see that that upset you."
What Do You Do to Make Small Holiday Gatherings Special?
This past weekend, my 6-year-old asked me to get out her favorite Nativity set. It's been amusing to watch her weaving the wooden figures into her regular play, right alongside various Disney princesses and her favorite Littlest Pet Shop animals. And while I was digging around in the boxes of holiday decorations, I came across a bonus: wooden Christmas ornaments we meant to paint two years ago, and never got around to.
I'm excited about the find because it gave me an idea: we're going to spend Thanksgiving evening making Christmas ornaments! It's just one little way to make our small holiday celebration feel more "special."
What about you? What do you do to make small holiday gatherings special--for you and your kids? Share your thoughts below, or tell our readers about your favorite holiday traditions by participating in the latest "Readers Respond" feature here on the site: What Are Your Favorite Holiday Traditions?
Highlights for Single Parents: 18th Edition
This week's highlights include a hopeful story about how one dad reunited with his daughter, child support amnesty programs, and more.
On the Blogs:
Woman Finds Long Lost Dad By Googling Herself - The story of how one dad used the Internet to reconnect with his daughter after thirty years of not knowing where she was.
When a Single Mom Gets Sick: What Type of Sick Person Are You? - Christina shares how single motherhood has changed how she responds to her own bouts with illness.
In the News:
Limited Amnesty for Child Support Debtors - The Clark County (NV) District Attorney's Office is running a five-day amnesty program for parents who owe back child support.
Philadelphia Offers Arrest Reprieve for Parents Behind in Child Support - A similar program is being offered in the Philadelphia area, temporarily granting those behind on child support payments amnesty from being arrested.
Photo © njgphoto of www.istockphoto.com.
Thrifty Thursday: Take Advantage of Free Shipping This Holiday Season
In addition to price-matching, you can also save money this holiday season by shopping online stores that offer free shipping. In fact, many of the stores that offer free shipping, or flat-rate shipping, have adjusted their shipping policies to be even more beneficial to consumers.
For example, Barnes & Noble now offers free shipping to B&N members who spend just $10, Overstock is offering $1 shipping through November 25, 2009, and Yankee Candle has reduced their flat-rate shipping to just $5 for orders under $100.
For a list of additional retailers offering free and flat-rate shipping, read Get Free Shipping During the Holiday Season.
Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel:
- Single Parents' Thrifty Thursday Blog Archive
- Check Grocery Coupons for Savings on Gifts
- Check Out Clearance Racks with Your Teens
- Save Money on Baby by Decluttering
- American Girl Offers Budget-Conscious Gifts
- Free Shipping from Online Vendors
- Plan Now, Black Friday Deals Already Circulating
- Shop Early for Savings on Holiday Gifts
Do You Speak Your Child's Love Language?
I've been thinking recently about how we parent our children differently as they grow older. We still love them like crazy, but as time passes, we step back a bit and let them try out their independence. No matter how old they are, though, some things don't change: they still need to be loved, and to know they are loved.
That can be a little tricky, though, because sometimes you may think you're communicating love--particularly in all the things you do for your kids, day in and day out--but they're looking for love to come in a different form. Gary Chapman, in his book The Five Love Languages, points out that we all feel love in different ways. You may have one child who feels most loved when you spend chunks of one-on-one time with her, and another who feels most loved when you affirm him with words.
Chapman also points out that some kids feel most loved through physical touch, such as hugs and wresting; through service, such as making their breakfast every day; or through gifts.
The trick is to find out what each child's love language is, and look for ways to weave that into your interactions, so that what you're intending to communicate really does get through.
For more on The Five Love Languages, read Communicating in Your Child's Love Language or Parenting With the Five Love Languages.