My daughter just turned two recently, and this is probably the last Christmas for which she will not have a very specific Christmas gift list. From what I’ve heard about kids at this age on Christmas morning, after opening all of her thoughtfully selected and carefully wrapped gifts, I can expect her to toss them aside and begin playing with the gift boxes instead. You experienced parents, do I have that about right?
So I was thinking. Don’t you remember as a kid the hours of joy boxes (especially big discarded appliance boxes) gave you? I’ve come up with a practical solution for Christmas this year; I’m going to do my toddler’s gift shopping at U-Haul. For a reasonable amount of money I can get her a really nice selection of small, medium and large boxes, as well as some bubble wrap and a roll or two of packing tape.
What do you think? No fighting the crowds at the mall while “Wonderful Christmastime” plays for the 37th time over the muzak. No wrestling some over caffeinated parent for the last “Elmo Live Encore” doll. No 2am bleary-eyed construction of complicated toys that are always missing a crucial part. And best of all my little bundle of joy will get exactly what she really wants for Christmas… the boxes.
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Carl Thress
August 27, 2010 at 3:37 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Pure genius.
admin
August 27, 2010 at 4:04 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Right? Thanks for stopping by, Carl. Have a great weekend!
David
August 27, 2010 at 3:52 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I am an adult and I love to pop some bubble wrap from time to time.
admin
August 27, 2010 at 4:04 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
LOL… much cheaper and likely more effective than Prozac! Have a great weekend, David!
Danielle
August 27, 2010 at 8:14 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
One of my family friends actually sent their nieces and nephews a HUGE roll of bubblewrap… like the size of three four Molly’s! They had a blast (in th pics) with it!
adaddyblog
August 27, 2010 at 8:21 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
See… maybe I’m not so crazy after all. Okay, I probably still have a screw or two loose, but it’s true about kiddos liking the boxes and stuff. LOL. Have a great weekend!
Rachel
September 1, 2010 at 9:19 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Boxes are great fun! Our kids love them too!
adaddyblog
September 1, 2010 at 9:35 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi Rachel. Typing on iPad so pardon my brevity. Thanks for stopping by! I just added your button to my fav’s list, btw. Have a great day!
momfavorites
September 14, 2010 at 12:36 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
This is great! Parents get soooo excited for baby’s first, second, third Christmas….but you can make a cardboard box as exciting as a brand new tricyle at that age! keep the great ideas coming! For another fun dad’s perspective, check out http://www.lifeofdad.com
adaddyblog
September 14, 2010 at 3:34 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hey, there. Thanks for dropping by and for the re-tweet as well. I checked out lifeofdad.com and left a comment as well. Really great site. I encourage my readers (all 6 of you) to go check it out! Have a great afternoon.
Esther Irish
September 14, 2010 at 1:40 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It sounds wonderful! We’ve moved around a lot so I’ve seen first hand how much they enjoy it! Fun!
adaddyblog
September 14, 2010 at 3:52 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hey there, Esther. Loved your recent blog (well the one before that about the snake, too) about your daughter in the back seat. I’m not going to go into details here. Readers go check out the Laugh with Us Blog and read them for yourself.
Nicole
September 21, 2010 at 8:02 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Love that idea!
Great post!
adaddyblog
December 10, 2010 at 1:00 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thanks Nicole.
I know you’ve been really busy. Me too actually. Hope all is going well with you all. I’ll try to drop by (your blog not Guthrie) sometime over the weekend.
-Michael
The Momma
December 9, 2010 at 5:04 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Absolutely brilliant. Seriously, I may steal this idea–but then it’s a matter of making sure that my husband doesn’t steal it all from the kid…hmmm.
adaddyblog
December 10, 2010 at 1:12 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Seriously, right? If my wife would let me (she won’t) I’d totally do this, Ginger. Feel free to let the hubby do a cartoon on it if he’s so inclined.
Stephi
December 9, 2010 at 6:14 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Sounds like a perfect gift to me. I know my 3 year old absolutely LOVES bubble wrap and is always helping me go through the pile of mail to check for envelopes that are lined in bubble wrap so she can tear them wide open and ‘hop pop’ them.
adaddyblog
December 10, 2010 at 1:21 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi Stephi. Hope you feel better soon. Per your comment, yes, after opening all of their carefully wrapped gifts they are just going to toss them aside and begin playing with the gift boxes and bubble wrap anyway, right? LOL.