Better Gift Giving

Celebrations shouldn’t be measured by how many packages weigh down the gift table, whether the pile of presents is bigger than the tree, or if you have something to open on every night of Hanukkah. By embracing quality over quantity, the excitement of gifts can last long after the paper has been torn off.

The commercialized holiday culture encourages everyone to focus on buying stuff for our kids and ourselves. But many traditions instruct us that true joy and purpose come from focusing on the needs of others and embracing family traditions. 

Consider having themed family get-togethers while working on a charity project together, making homemade presents or baked goods for others, playing games and decorating, rather than gift giving. Putting on holiday plays or talent shows and caroling are great ways to get the kids involved! For celebrations like birthday parties, minimize the hassle of cleaning up by encouraging guests to give alternative gifts like pet food or supplies for your local animal shelter’s wish list or supporting your favorite charity.

Check out the gift guide for ideas on meaningful, alternative gifts. You can also use the SoKind registry to explore and create alternative gift wish lists. Encourage the whole family to create wish lists to make sure everyone receives gifts they actually want.

 A White Elephant Party is a fun way to share gifts without going overboard. Each person brings one wrapped, secondhand item in good condition to the party, and all the gifts are arranged anonymously on a table. Everyone draws numbers to see who gets to pick first. The person with the lowest number chooses a gift from the table and unwraps it. The second person can either choose another unwrapped gift or “steal” the first person’s gift. If a person’s gift is “stolen,” they get to choose another gift from the table. Continue opening and “stealing” each other’s presents until all are opened. Some people will love their gifts, some may not, but everyone gets to enjoy the game.