holiday presents

Things We (Would) Love: Patti’s Gift Guide

| Patti Webb

Every year, I’m constantly going through my list, trying to find gifts that are the right amount of practical and unique and looks like I really spent time figuring it out and isn’t the same thing I get them every year. Like you’re trying to one-up yourself each holiday.

For 2027, Troy and I are taking the girls to Disney World over their late winter break. It is understood that this trip is multiple present occasions rolled into one. But obviously, they aren’t going present-less on Christmas morning. Thus begins what I want to call “The holidays are still fun without a million gifts.”

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Things We (Would) Love: Mary’s Gift Guide 2026

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Is anyone else just kinda meh about the new gift options lately?

So much online Gift Guide content seems like the same old stuff repeated across 50 influencers. Usually we’re like “will my (insert loved one) even like this?”.

I’m sure everyone loves receiving new and improved socks or yet another body wash set. And no shade if you really do want the AI sticker box or kids table saw. But for Child(ish) Advice, we haven’t really seen anything new that hits that sweet spot of 1) fun, 2) OT-driven, and 3) won’t end up forgotten two weeks later.

So to give ourselves a break and maybe push our past Guides a little bit (2025, 2024, 2023), we’re doing our usual Things We (Would) Love posts and giving you something a little different leading up to Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Enjoy!

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Kids and “Stuff”

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

The holidays have arrived, bringing with them the ritual of gifting wish lists. Yet, as every parent knows, last year’s treasures don’t always stand the test of time. While some presents do become beloved companions and favored sources of entertainment, others unfortunately break, or gather dust, or get lost in the abyss. When asked about it, they simply shrug before adding a nearly identical (and equally useless) toy to next year’s list. UGH! The audacity…

As the season of giving begins, we can’t help but wonder: If kids want these toys so badly, why don’t they care for them? And if they don’t, why ask for them at all?  There must be a good explanation for this, right? Turns out, there is.

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