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Giving thoughtfully this Christmas

Sponsored by Nuffnang

I love celebrations – birthdays, weddings, Easter, Christmas. I love that celebrations give us the opportunity to step out from behind our daily routines, and to come together as family and friends to relax, share good food and, hopefully, enjoy a few laughs as we create a whole new page in our shared history. And I love giving gifts.

To me, gift giving is so much more than wrapping and bows. It’s about taking a moment to think specifically about a person you care about – who they are, what they enjoy, what they need, and then finding that special something which will hopefully bring a moment of joy to their life. In my mind, the best gifts to receive are those which come as a complete surprise, and those you can tell have been chosen thoughtfully – just for you. And I think that it is important to choose gifts which you would be happy to receive yourself, for your child or for your home – which is why you will never see me give a Bratz doll!!!

Admittedly, gift giving at Christmas time has it’s challenges. The stores are often filled to overflowing, you often have many people to buy for all at once (and in our case, within a tight budget), and inevitably, there is one person on your list, THAT person, the one who already has everything and you just can’t think what to buy for!

This year, Westfield have made thinking through gift selections a little easier with an Online Gift Finder. Enter an age range, gender and your budget and the Gift Finder will generate a list of possibilities, which could come in very handy particularly when it comes to buying for THAT person. Westfield have also put together a collection of tips for making this Christmas the most memorable ever for your family, that is memorable for all the right reasons 🙂 You’ll find expert advice for entertaining, food, decorating, fashion for the festive season and more about gifts!

And if you are still stuck for ideas, you can always head to your nearest Westfield store for more inspiration, especially fun if you have a nice shiny $100 Westfield gift card in your purse! Childhood 101 readers have the opportunity to win a $100 Westfield gift voucher to put towards their preparations for the big day.

ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED

To enter;

1. Leave a comment below telling me about a thoughtful gift which has recently brought a smile to your face. Please be sure to include your email address or Twitter ID so that you can be contacted should you win.

2. The most creative response as judged by myself and Nuffnang (as a representative of Westfield) will be chosen as the winner.

3. The winner will be notified via their preferred contact method, and will be asked to provide their email and contact phone number at that time. If they do not respond to the notification within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

4. Entry is open to Australian readers only.

5. Entries close 5:00 pm AEDST, 23 November 2010.

6. Nuffnang’s full terms and conditions can be found here.

Image source

Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

Filed Under: Sponsors

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Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

  1. shae says

    November 9, 2010 at 5:40 AM

    When we returned home from hospital recently after a 3 day stay with a sick child I found a bag on my doorstep containing snacks & fruit for the kids and a box of chocolates for us. I was really touched as the friend who dropped this off was 38 weeks pregnant!

    @yayforhome on twitter
    yayforhome@yahoo.com.au
  2. Chrissy says

    November 9, 2010 at 8:53 AM

    My little nephew is currently in hospital after being found in the family pool. I have been overwhelmed with how many people, most of them complete strangers, have sent my family gifts. It's amazing how people will band together and help each other out in such traumatic times.

    Also today my 2yr old boy gave me a dead lady beetle and said 'for you mummy, you're so pretty' his sweet (but sad) gift made my day
  3. •´.¸¸.•¨¯`♥.Trish.♥´¯¨•.¸¸.´• says

    November 9, 2010 at 11:32 AM

    My husband's sister & BIL bought him (2) concert tickets for his birthday; featuring his favourite 'artist', drove 600kms to mind our young children at the farm (though really they could have minded them closer to home), towed a caravan for us (to stay in as acccomodation was non existent by the time we booked); reminded us about booking bus shuttle tickets, and even gave us a basket of snacks to take along.
    They don't have a lot of money either but I know they wanted to give him a really special gift after his treatment with cancer this year.
    It was a real surprise and very much appreciated ...especially since it was the first time we had left our boys overnight.
  4. Kin_ on Twitter says

    November 9, 2010 at 12:33 PM

    The most thoughtful gift I have received recently has been a thank you letter from a student, thanking me for motivating her, and pushing her harder to achieve. She is now school captain and she swears it's because of me. What got me most though, was the thank you hugs from her parents after her induction.
  5. Kristy says

    November 9, 2010 at 12:45 PM

    It was a while ago but when my daughter Amy was stillborn a friend bought me the mist beautiful willow tree figurine and I always look at it and it gives me those warm squishy feelings.
  6. Selina says

    November 9, 2010 at 7:05 PM

    My friend's house got broken into and many things were taken. She received so many thoughtful gifts, new things to replace the old and also things to make her feel good about being in her house again. All her groups of friends banded together to give her these things, she was overwhelmed.
  7. Sarah says

    November 10, 2010 at 7:22 AM

    My 3 year old daughter made me a card for mothers' day. It was very simple, just a drawing of our little family, but it was so carefully done and expressed so much love, I'll treasure it forever.

    sarahbendeich@iinet.net.au
  8. Felicity says

    November 10, 2010 at 9:52 AM

    while I was pregnant with my now 3 month old baby my hubby surprised me with a beautiful figurine of a pregnant woman (one of the willow tree figurines)! I had seen this many times and LOVED it. It was such a surprise when I opened it and I remember being teary at how beautiful and thoughtful it was.
  9. jtlam says

    November 13, 2010 at 11:46 PM

    Even though I know secretly my mum wants to just go to a restaurant with the family for Christmas lunch every year, she knows how much we all love her cooking so she slaves for days beforehand to make sure we have all of our favourites. It's the amazing gift of Tradition that she gives us, she will always be the Matriarch of Christmas in our family.
  10. Kakka says

    November 14, 2010 at 12:33 AM

    I have been given many gifts over the years, but the ones that I treasure most dearly are those that cost nothing but mean so much ... big cuddly hugs from my littlest grand-daughter after she launches herself into my arms when I come to visit ... phone calls from my eldest grand-daughter when she share her secrets with just me ... grandchildren are the most precious gift of all.
  11. Kirrily says

    November 14, 2010 at 8:32 AM

    I had jaw surgery recently and have been on a restricted diet since then. A week after my surgery a friend dropped by with a bag of fresh chai tea and a tiny pot of local honey. It was the most timely and best gift - especially since my coffee machine had broken that morning!

    twitter: @needlevsthread
  12. Ursula says

    November 14, 2010 at 9:25 AM

    4th birthday present:
    A theme is a must, for every occasion - something that’s special, for the person who’s aging. Whether they be two, or a hundred years old; There’s a special themed gift, for THAT ONE to behold. It’s something that’s unique, and as special as them - a gift that’s been thought through, and matched, then that’s when: Hooray! I’ve just found it, the gift just for you; That great little something, to make you smile through and through. For this particular gift, we used two heads not one - to come up with a gift, that was perfect and fun. A custom made t-shirt and a book called “best friends”; With the t-shirt simply stating our names and “best friends”; The colour was chosen especially for you, and the picture on the front was your favourite animal too. And then when you got it, I could tell by your smile - that it was the best gift, that you got amongst the pile. This great little gift was chosen especially for you; By darling Miss Yana, and some help from her mum too.

    @urshz on twitter
  13. Counting My Blessings says

    November 20, 2010 at 10:40 AM

    My sister gave me a HUGE jar of olives! Doesnt sound thoughtful till you know that i have been having pregnancy cravings for them at the oddest times of night!
    I couldnt have loved her more!!

    hannahis@live.com.au
  14. Melissa says

    November 20, 2010 at 11:37 AM

    When my eldest son was 4 he was really in to dinosaurs. He was also very creative. As a gift for my birthday, he made me a dinosaur out of pipe cleaners. It still hangs on my wall - he's nearly 9 now, and every time I look on it, it brings a smile to my face.

    melissa@businessmums.com
  15. The Farmer's Wife says

    November 21, 2010 at 2:15 AM

    My kids (with the help of hubby) did me up a 'ticket book', with vouchers for massages, head rubs, foot rubs, quiet time, and meals. Is fantastic! Whenever I need one, I use a voucher to claim them.

    jessandcharlie@hotmail.com
  16. Julie Cottle says

    November 22, 2010 at 8:35 AM

    My son gave me the most adorable ring for mothers day. He used a crystal that he polished himself in his rock tumbler and made a ring shape out of wire then sticky taped the crystal to the wire ring. Gorgeous! So creative and so, so sweet:-)
  17. Bronnie and family says

    November 22, 2010 at 8:48 AM

    My best gifts were a home-made card my children made me for mother's day. They presented it to me with hubs and kisses, then made me sit in bed, brought me a paper to read while they cooked scrambled eggs on toast, and a cappacino. (The kids are 9 and 7 so I was very proud of them). Then they came and joined me in bed, and we watched Sunday morning telly together and shared the feast.
  18. Juliet says

    November 22, 2010 at 8:57 AM

    I am an early childhood teacher and get all sorts of gifts at Christmas time.
    My most memorable gift would be from a little girl I had taught that year who's family had fallen on hard times.

    Packaged up in a little box was a heartfelt note of thanks from the girls mum, as well as 5 pink ribbons.

    She had noticed that I love to wear ribbons in my hair and that my favourite colour is pink! I still wear these ribbons and think of the little girl and her family each time I do :)

    I just thought it was a most thoughtful and special gift and really shows that it's not the money that is spent, but the thought that is taken which make a gift memorable!

    juliet.ranieri@gmail.com
  19. ClaireyH says

    November 22, 2010 at 10:51 AM

    DH just took off at 9 pm to get milk and bread for the morning, that was a gift in itself, but he also got my oh so favorite lindt balls as a surprise, little things mean the world to me.
  20. Mimsie says

    November 22, 2010 at 11:00 AM

    I was a child in Australia during World War 2 so every Christmas present was wonderful to receive 'cos you couldn't but toys or new books etc. My dad would go to the auction rooms and every Christmas I would receive a huge pile of secondhand books which meant so much to me as I always loved to read and still do.
  21. Julie says

    November 22, 2010 at 1:05 PM

    Everyday my husband provides our three sons with lots of gifts -- the gift of caring, the gift of humour, the gift of thoughtfulness and to watch our sons grow up to be thoughtful, caring and helpful young men is the best gift a Mum can ask for.
  22. Cat says

    November 23, 2010 at 5:27 AM

    The very day the Bebito and I arrived home from the hospital my husband had to go to a work meeting (yep!!) and a few minutes after he left a delivery from Tiffany's arrived. I haven't taken the necklace off since. He must have scrimped and saved forever for it and it made me cry no end!
  23. Jilly says

    November 23, 2010 at 5:36 AM

    I bought the gift for my sister in law - an early Christmas present. She and my brother and their three kidlets just went to live in the NT and all the photos they have sent since they moved there, I made into a calendar.
    My sister in law called me and said she thought it was wonderful and that it brought a tear to her eye - this made me smile. I love giving gifts that I know people will love (not that i'm always the best at picking gifts!)

    Every morning though I receive a gift - my baby boy (nearly 5 yrs old!) gives me a kiss and cuddle. Nothing better makes me feel so loved!
  24. So Now What? says

    November 23, 2010 at 6:05 AM

    On Saturday, Mr 3 and his dad went to the tip. On their return, Mr 3 came flying in the door with a gorgeous pink flower declaring "This is for you Mummy! I love you" Then this "Dad just got caught speeding by the big flash camera". Yeah, I think they stopped to pick the flower as a distraction, but it was still lovely.


    @Bern_morley on twiter :)
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