Holiday Hints: Life Skills

We created our Holiday Hints to highlight developmentally beneficial tools for young children.

Instead of selecting less meaningful toys this holiday season - or leaving gifts from loved ones to chance - start here!

This list is simply a guide. You definitely don’t need to purchase these specific items to see the benefits. You can find similar options on Amazon, at Target, at resale shops, in family storage, etc.

We’ve created an alternate, toy-based universe for children.

Can you see it?

Children want and need to enter into the human experience.

They want real life. Real experiences, with real tools.

Can you start to shift away from a state of perpetual play?

Purposeful work can be even more fun and fulfilling.

These tools are a great way to start.

And some of them make wonderful stocking stuffers.

Help your child learn to care - for themselves, their home, their family, their community.

Life skills will last much longer than the latest toy or gadget.

And the developmental impact is tremendous. Some of the outcomes over time:

• Greater concentration and independence

• Sequencing and motor skills

• Conscious regard and capacity for contribution and stewardship.

We hope you’ll consider the gift of meaningful work this holiday season.

And if you think a scrub brush or a peeler won’t be interesting to a three, four, or five year-old - think again!