I’m not very good at Christmas. In fact, my friend Stevie insists on calling me the Grinch. It’s not that I’m grumpy (I am a bit). It’s more that I would prefer Christmas to be more meaningful, less commercial and quite frankly, shorter. When all the shops put their decorations up in September, it doesn’t get me in the festive spirit. It just annoys me.
So when Christmas does arrive, I tend to look for meaningful gifts that are beneficial to someone. Whether that be an educational toy, a charitable donation or an experience. So here is my meaningful Christmas gift list and your chance to win a copy of Wise Words For Kids from The Book Of Everyone.
SmartGames and SmartMax
BrightMinds
Red Letter Days
Spa Breaks
CalAid
Book of Everyone – Wise Words For Kids
1. SmartGames and SmartMax
SmartMax are construction toys containing magnets and large pieces. They are the perfect way to get children interested in construction at a young age. Their large size allows little hands to build things without any help. 
SmartGames are puzzle games that are great for children and adults alike. Some of their games are for specific age groups, but many are aimed at everyone. There are different levels so that when you work out how it’s done, you can keep taxing your mind by tackling a more difficult challenge. We enjoyed the Three Little Piggies and the Smart Car. 
2. BrightMinds
If you enjoy educational toys, you’ll love the BrightMinds website. It only sells toys that encourage learning and development as well as being fun. I personally feel that this should be true of all toys so it’s the perfect place to shop for Christmas presents. If you love the sound of BrightMinds and fancy winning a £50 voucher to spend on their website, check out my review and giveaway. 
3. Red Letter Days
I’ve always been a fan of spending money on doing things rather than having things. Red Letter Days are the perfect gift for anyone who takes this approach to life. They provide a wide range of experiences for all ages, ranging from afternoon tea to bungee jumping to driving days. You can even enjoy a three course lunch for two at Gordon Ramsey’s Savoy Grill complete with champagne. What a perfect gift!
4. Spa Breaks
Whilst we’re on the topic of doing things rather than having things, this year I had my best birthday yet as an adult. I spent the day at the gorgeous Malvern Spa with my sister. A spa voucher is a perfect Christmas gift and my favourite thing about it was that I was able to enjoy my sister’s company all day. In our busy lives, it’s so rare to spend a whole day together. The Malvern have some amazing seasonal offers at the moment and if you’re in the West Midlands I can highly recommend it. You can also find spa breaks all around the UK via the SpaBreaks website.
5. Support A Charity
A couple of years ago, I had to buy for my brother in our family secret Santa. As one of five siblings, we do this every year so that we only have to buy a gift for one person rather than bankrupting ourselves buying four gifts. I found a couple of little things I knew he’d like, but with £5 left to spend of our £25 budget, I was stuck. So, I turned to Good Gifts. Through their website, you can buy something for someone who needs it in your recipient’s name. The charity gift for my brother was a resounding success, with all of my family saying that they’d appreciate a gift from Good Gifts too.
This got me thinking that there are so many charities that could do with donations at this time of year. I always donate to animal charities when I can, and they struggle a lot around Christmas with the tragic influx of unwanted pets. This year, CalAid are in desperate need of support. They help thousands of refugees and donations help them to provide basic supplies. They have an Amazon wish list, which includes items priced at under £2 such as a foil emergency blanket. This is a similar price to a Christmas card but so much more worthwhile.
6. Book of Everyone – Wise Words For Kids
A few weeks ago, I reviewed The Book of Everyone. It’s a brilliant book that can be tailored perfectly to the recipient, telling them all sorts of facts about themselves that they didn’t know. Wise Words for Kids is the latest offering from Book of Everyone. It’s full of funny, inspirational and heartfelt advice from adults to children. You can even personalise it with your own advice. To win a hardback copy of Wise Words for Kids that you can personalise yourself, you can enter via the Rafflecopter below. Please read my competition terms and conditions before you enter. Why not check out my other comps too? There are some great prizes available!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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