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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW Roseburg shooting victim describes gunman's rampage ... Guest Opinion: Plaza fencing is ugly and wasteful ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Require national service ... Roseburg shooting victim describes gunman's rampage ... Guest Opinion: Plaza fencing is ugly and wasteful ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Require national service ... Gift of time: Instead of presents, share experiences with kids Comment By Melissa Erickson More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Melissa Erickson More Content Now Posted May. 20, 2015 at 12:20 PM By Melissa Erickson More Content Now Posted May. 20, 2015 at 12:20 PM » Social News Have you ever had to get rid of perfectly good items just to make room for more toys? If so, you may be experiencing gift overload. While your kids want to open up gifts on their birthdays and holidays, the best gifts don’t have to be physical presents. Instead, give the gift of adventure, experience, family time and bonding. “Somehow the focus has slipped. We talk about the present and not the people,” said parenting expert Michele Borba, author of “The Big Book of Parenting Solutions.” “If you want to create memories, do something together. Presents are forgotten the next day.” ‘Invest in the child’ Growing up, blogger Christella Morris of crawltheline.com remembers spending quality time with extended family on weekends. For many families, that’s difficult or almost impossible to do these days. Now Morris is the mother of two young sons. When birthdays rolled around, friends and family members called and asked what size clothes or what types of gifts to buy them. They showed up gifts in hand, and her sons became shy around the adults because they didn’t really know each other, she said. Caught up in a consumer culture where we buy things for others to make ourselves happy, Morris had the idea to start a new tradition, asking not for gifts but for time together. She won’t dictate a no-presents rule, but she’d rather you invite her son on a trip to the zoo than buy him a lion stuffed animal. The gift-giving opportunities are endless, from just hanging out together to going on a bike ride, seeing a movie or heading to the park. “If you enjoy something, show my kid. Do you like to go bowling? Take him bowling. Like to knit? Show him how,” Morris explained. If time is an issue, the gift could be a contribution toward a music lesson or a sports camp. “Instead of investing in a toy, invest in the child,” Morris said. These personal experiences are a good way to get back to when families had more time to spend together, making connections and getting to know each other as individuals, Morris said. “Experiences don’t break, they don’t wear out, they don’t go out of season,” said Renee Robinson, author of “Seeking Christmas: Finding the True Meaning of Family Traditions.” “Experiences create memories, which we carry with us for life. Memories add a richness to our lives, they tell the story of our lives. As parents we have the opportunity to impact the writing of our children’s lives by giving them the gift of an experience.” How to start To make this idea work, plan ahead and inform relatives, Borba said. “Let everyone else know so they’re aligned.” Kids will get on board, Borba said. “Have them prioritize. Ask them to write down what one or three things they would like to get,” she said. “Start early; even young kids can understand the concept.” Since we live with a “buy, buy, buy mentality,” watch your words and the advertisements kids see on television. They probably won’t even notice a new Lego set is available if you don’t mention it, Borba said. Don’t forget about charitable causes such as donating to your school library. “Kids really love to give to others,” Borba said. “Too many gifts, and children can begin to appreciate very little,” Robinson said. “They don’t see the value in individual gifts when they receive mountains of gifts.” By Melissa Erickson More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Melissa Erickson More Content Now Posted May. 20, 2015 at 12:20 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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