THOUGHTFUL GIFT IDEAS FOR PARENTS WITH SMALL KIDS
Families with young members and new additions need all the assistance they could get, so making time for them and offering support are still the best gifts one could offer. But for something material, presents that help alleviate some of the daily stresses, or at least don’t add to them, would certainly be very much appreciated.
Art mat
The Toki Art Mat carves out a space for your kid to make a mess while doing creative sensory play without messing up the floors and the walls beyond it. Made with nontoxic material, it is lightweight, portable and waterproof. It allows kids the freedom to learn through play without giving parents the added headache of extensive cleanups afterward. (Available on lazada.com.ph)
Kids’ ergonomic chair
The easier things are for the children, the easier it is for parents. And with Toshi Gray Ergonomic Chair’s strong base and soft cover providing maximum comfort and support, schoolkids engaged in hybrid or remote learning can navigate school life at home with ease. (Available on smarttoysph.com)
Surface cleaner
Kurin is super ionized alkaline water that’s extremely effective in sanitizing, disinfecting, degreasing and removing unwanted odors from any surface. The negative ions in Kurin causes the surface of an object and dirt to repel each other, making cleaning faster and easier. While bottles are labeled for different purposes (all-purpose, fruits and vegetables, kitchen and bathroom), all variants contain the same eco-friendly, noncorrosive cleaning liquid that was developed using the same Japanese innovation. (Available on kurin.ph)
Travel bidet
Being able to bring your own portable bidet can make you feel more secure while traveling. The knowledge that, when the need arises, you can clean your (or your kid’s) bum quickly and thoroughly even in public restrooms has a way of putting the mind at ease. Toto Travel Washlet’s compact, modern design and carry case allow for much-needed discretion. Just make sure it has a battery, then all you need to do is squeeze and spray—and, please, sanitize right after. (Available on amazon.com)
Card game for parents and kids
The Parents Are Human card game uses prompts to help parents and their kids get to know each other and delve into deeper conversations than they would normally have. This bilingual game (English plus another chosen language, available in Filipino) helps children view their parents as actual living, breathing people—more than just guardians, primary providers and authority figures—and perhaps help see things from each others’ perspectives. (Available on parentsarehuman. com)
Online subscriptions
One thing that took me by surprise when I became a new nursing mom is how not being able to do much else other that stay in bed and breastfeed my baby would take a toll on me. It was like my brain was screaming for activity even as I lay quiet and still.
What saved my sanity was being able to read on my phone—not doomscrolling on social media, but binging on novels and comics that kept my brain working but not overthinking.
Online book subscriptions (Scribd) that give the recipient access to any type of reading material and genre they enjoy would make the perfect gift for any avid reader. But these could be a godsend to essentially immobile breastfeeding moms and even dads trying to get the baby to stay asleep.
Audiobooks (Audible, Scribd) and online classes (Masterclass) also make for good options, though the necessity for earphones or ear pods to keep the room quiet for the sleeping infant might complicate things.