Holiday Family Mental Health Gift Guide
This holiday season, why not give the gift of mental health? After all, this season tends to spark a lot of big feelings, from joy and delight to anxiety and stress.
As part of our recently released Holiday Family Mental Health Toolkit, we’ve curated a list of family mental health gifts for everyone on your list.
Here are 9 gifts to support child and family mental health this holiday season.
Below, we’ve broken down the gifts into “mental health gifts for adults” and “mental health gifts for children.” We’ve tried to be conscious of affordability, and all gifts are less than $100.
Mental Health Gifts for Adults
Here are a few affordable gift ideas to support the mental health of parents and caregivers:
“The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel Van Der Kolk
This NYT Bestseller helps people understand how traumatic stress lives and presents in the body - and how to heal. While this book isn’t written explicitly for parents, it does offer insights that are meaningful for all adults - parents and caregivers included. After all, holidays with family can trigger old wounds.
Gift Certificate for Big Little Feelings’ Tantrum Course
The Big Little Feelings tantrum course is perfect for families with toddlers. Designed by two moms, one a child therapist and the other a parent coach, this practical course helps families reduce power struggles, reduce tension, and feel energized. This gift is perfect for the beloved, stressed-out parent of toddlers in your life.
“Parenting from the Inside Out” by Daniel J. Siegel, MD, and Mary Hartzell, M. Ed.
This book helps parents discover deeper self-understanding for more conscious parenting. According to Gwyneth Paltrow, “Parenting from the Inside Out is a must-have for any parent. I gave a friend of mine a copy, and she said, ‘This book is changing my life. I like my kids again.’”
Mental Health Gifts for Children
This holiday season, give a gift that encourages mental wellness to the children in your life .
Little Renegades Mindful Kids Holiday Bedtime Bundle
Nighttime can be challenging for families. Help little one have a more peaceful bedtime and sleep easier, even during the holidays with this bundle of mindfulness resources. This kit includes the Mindful Kids - Gratitude Journal, Mindful Kids Bedtime Cards, and Colored Pencils. See Little Renegades’ entire 2021 holiday collection here.
“The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats
This beloved children’s book is a beautiful, timeless gift. Since its publication in 1962, this book has won the the Caldecott Medal and been named as The New York Public Library’s #1 Top Check-Out of All Time. Its protagonist, Peter, explores his world newly blanketed in snow. The tender portrayal of his experiences and emotions make this picture book a classic.
Slumberkins Ivory Polar Bear Bundle
Help your little one practice gratitude this holiday season with Slumberkins’ polar bear bundle! This set comes with the beautiful Ivory Polar Bear Snuggler toy, plus two lovely board books. Both books - “Honey Bear, I’m Grateful for You” and “Honey Bear’s Gifts of Nature” - support children’s comprehension and understanding of this important life skill.
Cosmic Kids Yoga Classes Annual Subscription
Created by husband-and-wife team Martin and Jaime Amor, Cosmic Kids is one of the leading providers of child-friendly yoga and mindfulness classes. The app is a safe, ad-free space for your child to learn how to move their bodies. Want to try before purchasing or giving as a gift? Your first two weeks are free!
Lovevery Play Kits
Lovevery blends Montessori play learning and brain science to create play kits for every child developmental stage. Every kit includes sustainable, child-safe playthings. They also offer Playkit subscriptions, as well as Play Gyms and other Playthings, ranging from about $20 to about $150. Explore all gifts here.
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
This book by renowned author Kevin Henkes might be perfect for the little worrier in your life. It tells the story of a worry-filled mouse named Wemberly who is especially apprehensive about going back to school. When she gets there, she learns that school is too fun to worry!
Little Otter wants to help your family navigate this year’s holiday season with more calm, brighter joy, and fewer worries.
That’s why we created the Holiday Family Mental Health Toolkit. This is our gift to families nationwide. It starts with a quick quiz.
After answering a few questions about how your family is doing, you’ll receive a personalized report about your family’s mental wellness in four key areas:
Child Mental Health
Caregiver Mental Health
Family Dynamics
Family Stress
As part of the toolkit, you’ll also get a free therapist-approved activity guide! This delightful winter-themed activity guide was created in partnership with Little Renegades, a company that creates products that help children cultivate mindfulness, calm, and gratitude.
