State Schools Chief offers gift ideas for the holidays

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell has offered his top 10 ideas to parents looking for innovative education-related gifts for their children during the Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year holiday season.

“One of the most treasured gifts we can give our children is the lifelong love of learning,” said O’Connell. “This is the kind of gift that keeps on giving. The joy of learning most often starts at home with children learning from their parents how to solve problems, acquire new skills and develop a sense about themselves.”

Here are O’Connell’s top 10 gift ideas to accomplish those goals:

1. An educational toy: Some toys help foster a child’s imagination, such as a science kit, ant farm, toy farm that grows real crops, aquarium, terrarium, chemistry set, model airplane, microscope, telescope or magnifying glass. Younger children enjoy counting real objects rather than reciting numbers, so consider toys that help them count. As always, read warning labels carefully to make sure the toys are age-appropriate.

2. A book or a magazine subscription: Any publication geared toward younger children helps them recognize that the printed word is a part of everyday life and that it conveys useful, interesting and amusing information. Getting children to read early is the gateway to learning throughout their lives.

3. A bookstore gift certificate: Older children may appreciate a gift card from a local bookstore to select their own publications. The main point is to get children excited about reading and continue reading. Remember: when buying gift certificates, California law prohibits stores from charging service fees or having expiration dates on the gift card.

4. A visit to the local library: An alternative to buying books is to introduce your children to a whole building full of books at your local library or school library. Make a visit to the library special by allowing your children to apply for a library card and choose books that may encourage them to use the library frequently. Research shows that a well-stocked school library with materials in various formats makes a positive impact on improved literacy as well as overall academic achievement.

5. Tickets to a zoo, aquarium or museum: Children are naturally curious and should be encouraged to find answers to questions by patient observation and through the use of references, either at home, in libraries, zoos, aquariums or museums, especially interactive museums where children can learn through hands-on experiences. Visiting zoos and aquariums helps people become more aware of animals, environmental problems, conservation and nature.

6. A membership: Give your child a membership to a worthy organization like the zoo, library, museum, children’s theater or a nonprofit. This teaches children about giving and sharing, community responsibility and supporting worthy causes. Explain that for many nonprofits, membership dues can mean the difference between staying open or closing down, so your child’s membership will have an impact.

7. Explore your family history: Look through old photos, documents and heirlooms, and start writing down your family history. Interview older family members and record their stories. Look through genealogy databases to find more members of your family. Visit the places your family used to live and explore local churches and libraries for information on relatives. Exploring the family history will bring the family closer together and give them something to hand down to descendants.

8. Volunteer or make a donation: For many children, the holiday season is a time for getting gifts, but this is a great time to teach them the meaning of the old saying “It’s better to give than receive.” Volunteer your time or donate money to a worthy cause. Your children will witness and copy your selflessness and generosity.

9. A commitment to family fitness time: This gift will benefit you and your child for a lifetime. Childhood obesity is an epidemic in California. Getting physically active is one of the best ways to combat this problem. If parents make physical fitness and good heath a priority, their children are likely to keep these healthy habits for the rest of their lives. Getting exercise will help your student academically, too. Studies have shown that students who are physically active and eat nutritious food are better prepared to succeed in school.

10. Time: The ultimate gift you can give your family is your time. Research shows that quality time with parents actually helps children succeed in school.