Holiday season - Play Secret Santa :p

Yay! Holiday season starts with Christmas.. As i studied in a christian missionary school, Iam used to holidays, Christmas tree, Christmas carols etc.,We also used to perform dance songs on Jesus Christ's birth story and Christmas carols.. Holidays start from here and another set of holidays await for Pongal.. So, Isn't it a lovely season for kids? Our head mistress used to keep someone as Santa Clause and distribute gifts and chocolates to us before Christmas. We used to wait for that day :)

All this fun was gone after schooling and again the fun came in the form of gifts after i joined my first job. We used to play Secret Santa.. Everyone gets one colleague as their chris-child, to whom we have to gift until Christmas without revealing our identity. We also used to call it as 'Chrisma- Chris child' game.

When it comes to gifting for kids, choice is not that tough for parents. what do you say? Have you ever played Secret Santa in your family? Of course, many a times, we would have surprised our children with interesting toys, books, shoes, clothes, school bags, chocolates etc., right? This contest from HDFC Life made me think of good gifting options for kids.

Here are 5 gift ideas for children:

1. Toys are children's friends.. i hope everyone agrees to it. I try to pick some interesting toys as per my kid's interest which also improve his gross motor skills and logical reasoning. Some examples are  clay modelling kit, puzzles, train sets with track setting etc.,

2. For a child at an age of above 10, good books / pens might be useful. For children below 5 years, i would opt for big colorful story books to read at bedtime, painting/ sticker books/ fun art and craft books with which they can make less mess and also learn making crafts :)

3. Children love outings.. Isn't it? I would love to surprise my child by taking him to a zoo/ a park/ a game zone/ a beach.. we both love nature and more physical exercise by running and playing in parks :)

4. Now, moving to something which can help him long term.. Every parent wishes that their children study well and settle down without financial problems. Education has become very expensive these days and we cannot assume what will happen to kids when parents are no more to support. So, an investment option or a policy to support child's education is a mandatory gift i would like to present to my kid. HDFC , LIC and many other companies have specific policies to cater to child's education, wedding expenses etc., This HDFC link explains more about child plans.

5.Last, but not the least.. Love, Care and Moral values are something parents always gift their children by default and these are important for child to grow up as a good human being in the society, Agree?

let me know your opinion on these gifting options and also share more..

This post is a part of the 1001 Gifts Activity by HDFC Life in association with BlogAdda.

Until next time,

Image courtesy: picmonkey.com

Yay! holiday season :)

Yay! Holiday season started and holidays are coming on Tuesdays :)

So, taking leave for one day will give a long weekend of 4 days. Isn't that a good news? Both Christmas and New year are falling on Tuesdays  So, go ahead and plan the weekends now :) 

                  For children, it's a fun season except the preparation for Half yearly exams in Jan. 2 reasons to enjoy - Christmas holidays in this month and Pongal holidays next month. I used to love this season as a kid. Since i studied in a christian missionary school, we used to get holidays for 15 days for Christmas and Pongal as well :) Christmas celebration used to be very good in school with many dance performances, Christmas carols, chocolates distribution from Santa, decorated Christmas tree and daily visits to church in school.

                 I enjoy this season even after joining work. In my earlier firm, we used to celebrate Christmas season with 'chrisma chris child' game. If you have never heard of this game, here is my earlier post on this game. In brief, it is a celebration by giving and receiving gifts. In my current firm too, we play 'Secret Santa'. How do you celebrate Christmas in your organization? Please do share your experience in comments.

Happy Christmas and enjoy fun time with jingles all the way :) 

Until next time,

Image courtesy: Google images

Dhoom machale...

It has been a long time that i blogged something.. Actually i was thinking of the topic which i can share..
Festival season has come.. Christmas, New Year and Pongal are near by.. Hope all of you are busy with shopping !!! Dhoom machale Dhoom machale Dhoooooooooom :-)
Friends... Do you know the game of Christma and Chrischild?
now we are playing the same game in office. It is interesting and enjoyable game. It emphasizes the enjoyment of Give and Take policy.
The game starts with each person selecting a chit which will have the name of a colleague , who will be chris child hereafter for him/her. The person who selects chit is Christ-mom. Christmas is a season of gifts no.. So Christ-ma will give gifts to the child without revealing his/her identity. But the game is not only giving and taking gifts, but also the Christ- child obeying the commands of Christma, which may be like reading weather report in work stations, coming in traditional dress and inviting employees, imitating some actor, singing or dancing.. and so on.. many funny things... This will make the atmosphere friendly and lively..
Atlast, game will end with a party where identity of christ-ma will be revealed to Chris child on 'Christmas' day.

I wish you all have enjoyment and happiness in this festive season and also throughout your life.
Have a nice time :-)
Until next time..