“On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me: A Partridge in a Pear Tree.” It’s finally Christmas! Although you may not have a true love, it is fair to say that a partridge in a pear tree does not sound like an ideal present. No need to fear! This is an extended version of one of our previous articles, Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas, for even more ideas to give to the people you appreciate during the merry season.
Image courtesy of Parrot Print.
Entertainment
Being socially distanced may get boring, but there are ways you and others can stay safe and entertained. Since many of us are doing online school, we tend to look at our screens for extended periods of time during the day. Although it is fun to go on social media or binge watch Netflix shows, there are other ways to relax that will not strain your eyes.
Books: Despite their simplicity, books are a great gift to give to others because we can learn so much from them. There are so many book genres, so you can find one to suit everyone’s taste. Here is a link to the top 50 bestsellers of 2020 for teen books to give you some ideas.
Stationery: You must be thinking about how stationery is possibly entertainment, but have you considered that it could be used for journaling? Journaling is a great way to destress while channelling one’s creativity. With a wide variety of stationery to choose from, they can make cute gift sets to give to your friends. Stationery of any kind is also very helpful for school notes.
Board Games: Although board games are not as popular, they are a gift for the family. You can bring back family game night and spend the evening bonding with your family members. Some suggested games are the classic Monopoly, Clue, the Game of Life, Codenames, Exploding Kittens, and more!
LEGO: Although we are no longer kids, LEGO sets are a timeless gift and source of enjoyment. There are sets for the Harry Potter and Disney series, as well as the classic building cities. The act of building LEGO and following instructions is surprisingly therapeutic—just be weary of keeping LEGO pieces off the floor to avoid stepping on the small pieces!
Technology
I think it’s fair to say that technology has been thoroughly integrated into our lives—it’s something that almost all of us use every day. Luckily, there are a lot of items that give us a friendlier user experience.
Speakers: If the person you are gifting to loves music, a speaker is the way to go—perfect for blasting Christmas music and getting into the jolly spirit.
PopSocket: I know I am not the only one who has dropped their phone flat on their face! A PopSocket is a great way to prevent that while making it more comfortable to hold and handle your phone.
Earbuds: These are essential for any student and are amazing for listening to music (to make you feel like the main character) while not bothering those around you.
The Essentials
These are some gifts that almost everyone will appreciate. They are smaller gifts that can be super fit for stocking stuffers.
FOOD: If you can’t tell by the capitalization, I love food because there are so many holiday versions of snacks during this time. The holiday packaging is a nice touch and can be easily found in supermarkets. If you don’t know what to get them, try and buy their favourite snacks to show them your appreciation!
Socks: This may seem like a lame gift, but everyone needs a pair of warm fuzzy socks that they can wear during winter (also, it is far easier to estimate the correct sock size for someone than their shoe size)!
Journal: Help your friends reach their goals by staying organized in 2021. There are many different types of journals, including ones that are customizable (like bullet journals) and ones that are preplanned.
Holiday Cards: This is like a DIY gift that I think everyone would appreciate, especially amidst the pandemic. Holiday cards are super personal and show that you care. If you want to, you could even sneak a gift card into it!
Christmas isn’t all about gifts, but presents are nice surprises to give to the people you appreciate. I hope you can use this list to get some ideas for gifts to give the people you care about. Remember to follow health protocols as you give these gifts. You may consider disinfecting the items and opt for shipping gifts or leaving them in front of people’s houses. I hope everyone stays safe during this time and has a Happy Holiday! I can’t wait to see what 2021 is like!
Article Author: Kelley Liang
Article Editors: Olivia Ye, Victoria Huang