This weekend can feel like a whirlwind — the sales, the reminders, the urgency, the expectations.

If you’ve felt stretched, distracted, or unsure what “enough” even looks like… you’re in good company.

But here’s something quietly fascinating: child development research shows that kids don’t remember the price tags of the holidays. They remember the tone.

They notice the small things we barely register: how rushed we seem, how we decide, how we give something away, how we pause for a moment of joy.

Those tiny cues become their blueprint for what this season feels like. Rather than doing more, simply start noticing the moments that matter.

And that opens the door to a calmer, more creative, more heartfelt kind of giving.

That’s why we pulled together 12 unique gifting ideas that lighten the load and bring back meaning so that your kids will remember what true abundance really is.

12 Gift-Giving Ideas That Make the Season Feel Abundant

Curated for parents who want more heart and less hustle.

1. The “Experience / Create / Grow” Method

If the gift overwhelm is real, this little framework brings instant clarity. Choose something your child can experience, something they can create, and something they can grow with. It simplifies decisions, keeps gifting intentional, and somehow makes the whole season feel a lot more grounded.

2. Parent-to-Child “Power Coupons”

Kids adore the feeling of having their own little “magic passes,” especially when they can use them throughout the year. Think: staying up late one night, picking the family dinner, choosing an outing, skipping a chore, or cashing in a one-on-one date with you. Add an expiry date — learned from many parents the hard way — and watch how much they treasure the control and anticipation.

3. A Learning Experience They’ll Remember

Some gifts don’t end on December 26th. A digital drawing class, coding starter course, kid-friendly photography workshop, or even a Kidpreneurs mini-course can spark a new passion. These kinds of gifts turn into confidence boosts, completed projects, and “look what I learned!” moments that last longer than toys ever do.

4. Mini Makers Kits

There’s something magical about handing a child a small box filled with the exact materials to build one tiny creation — a monster, a robot, a mini world, a puppet. These kits don’t need to be fancy; pipe cleaners, pom-poms, cardboard, and stickers are more than enough. It’s the invitation to create that feels special.

5. The Two-Gift Swap

A gentle twist on White Elephant that keeps the fun but loses the chaos. Everyone brings two small gifts: one lighthearted or silly, one sweet or useful. Swap, trade, laugh — the joy is in the experience, not in landing the “best” item. Kids love the unpredictability, adults love the low stakes.

6. Pair a Moment With a Memento

Some gifts work best in tandem: the moment you create together, and the tiny item that anchors the memory. Bake a recipe together and gift a mini apron. Take a holiday lights walk and pair it with a new cozy mug. Go on a first hike and add a small patch. When kids look back, it’s the story they remember.

7. Family Audio or Video Messages

A simple 20-second message can mean more than any wrapped gift. Record a little holiday greeting for grandparents, cousins, or friends — or make a fun, edited video using a Canva template or a Tribute-style montage. These become keepsakes people replay long after the season ends.

8. Handmade Gifts (Perfectly Imperfect and Truly Loved)

Handmade gifts slow everyone down in the best way. A knitted scarf, a hand-painted ornament, a batch of “our family’s signature cookies,” or even an AI-assisted illustrated card made with your child’s ideas — these gifts carry time, effort, and a whole lot of heart.

9. Signature Gifts (Your Family’s “Thing”)

Some families become known for a particular kind of gift, and it makes gifting feel light instead of overwhelming. Maybe this is the year your family chooses puzzles, cozy items, books, DIY kits, or art materials as your theme. A theme signals: this is who we are, and this is how we give.

10. The Giving Tree Tradition

There’s something deeply grounding about choosing a tag from a Giving Tree — often representing children in foster care or families who need support — and letting your own child help pick the gift. It makes generosity tangible, personal, and real. And kids remember it.

11. Experience Swaps With Friends

Instead of exchanging gifts that end up in drawers, swap experiences you can enjoy together: a cookie-decorating date, a movie night, a nature walk, or an afternoon of crafting. Parents love the simplicity; kids love the togetherness.

12. The Year-Ahead Spark Gift

Sometimes one small gift sets the tone for the whole year ahead. A journal that invites reflection, a plant they’ll care for, a hobby kit for something new, or a “you’re ready for this” milestone item. These gifts feel like gentle nudges toward growth.

A Gift That Creates Connection

If you’re looking for something memorable to give a fellow parent, a grandparent, or a favorite teacher, the Hare on the Chair Holiday Quest is one of our favorites.

It turns December into a meaningful adventure of bonding, “hero moments,” and playful reflection.

It’s the kind of gift that brings families closer — and becomes part of their holiday rhythm.

🎁 Gift the Holiday Quest today.

This season is also a beautiful time to notice the young creators and entrepreneurs around us — the kids dreaming up businesses, projects, and ideas that light them up. A small bit of encouragement can spark confidence they carry for years.

If you have a favorite meaningful gift idea or a tradition your family loves, come share it with us in the REK Facebook Group. Your story might inspire another parent who needs it.

Here’s to a season filled with gentle abundance. The kind your children remember long after the gifts are opened.

Your friends at REK,
Adam & Matthew Toren, Sylvia Tam, and Tammy Vallieres