When shopping for the holidays this year, remember that lottery tickets are for grown-ups. Research shows that early gambling experiences, including those with lottery products, can be a risk factor for gambling problems later in life.
See more about the annual Gift Responsibly Campaign below, but for now, let’s talk about what to buy kids instead of scratch tickets.
Having a hard time thinking of easy gifting ideas for the kids on your list? I have five grandchildren, and I did some research, so you don’t have to. Here are some ideas you can find right at your local shopping center or online. Some cost little to nothing.
- Money: If you think gifting money is boring, think again. If you Google “fun ways to gift money”, you’ll find lots of ideas. I like the idea of using an empty pizza box, an empty box of chocolates, or a secret compartment in the middle of a jar of candy. See those ideas and more here: https://www.onecrazyhouse.com/insanely-clever-ways-gift-money/
- The gift of time with you: Make a “gift certificate” for a sleepover, movie night, a baking lesson, ice skating, or anything you’d both enjoy.
- Gift cards: (Pro Tip: If you’re short on time, you can find many gift cards right in the grocery store.)
- Movie theater
- Arcade: Smitty’s Cinemas GameLab in Topsham and Sanford, and Round1 at the Maine Mall are the ones I’m familiar with.
- Trampoline parks such as Urban Air (South Portland and Bangor) and Funz (Lewiston)
- Book store
- Restaurant / Fast food
- Coffee shop
- iTunes
- Popular stores like Target and Walmart
- Fidget toys are very popular. Even the adults enjoy them. Here are some that I like:
- Brightly colored packets of modeling clay: We recently had a staff gathering and there were packets of neon-colored clay spread all over the table. Everyone began playing with them because they were attracted to fun colors and couldn’t wait for the planned activity. We all spent the next hour making balls, snakes, and various sculptures. The best was yet to come because this clay dries into a permanent object. The neon green ball I made is still on my desk and I fidget with it, squeeze it, bounce it, and try to pick at it with my fingernails. When I found out the clay is less than $10 for 36 assorted packets, I placed an order right away: https://a.co/d/gYMIWeW
- Fidget toys like these https://www.bestproductsreviews.com/new-fidget-toys
- Fidget Pens: Pens to help keep you entertained during periods of boredom. I’m not saying social studies class is boring, but….. https://a.co/d/9XR3qdz
- Shashibo Shape Shifting Box: You can buy these on Amazon and at Wal-Mart. I bought several of these last year after seeing them in the Good Housekeeping Best Gifts article. Not only did the kids love them, but the adults in the room couldn’t leave them alone either. I see that they are on the top gift lists again this year.
- Slime, kinetic sand, and sensory bins: Find these on Amazon, and at local stores like Target.
- Snake Attack electronic handheld game. Don’t tell anyone, but after seeing this in a top gifts article, I bought this for one of the kids on my list. https://a.co/d/9vpr6pn
- Craft kits: Find them at Wal-Mart and JOANN Fabric or online.
- Sticker collections: These are not just for little kids. Teens enjoy vinyl stickers for their water bottles, notebooks, etc. My grandkids spent hours sorting this 600-sticker set to find the ones they liked best and then the adults were intrigued enough to start looking too: https://a.co/d/e4Z5gpe
- Art supplies: One idea is a nice colored pen set from Staples or Wal-Mart which can be used for art and for making homework more fun. Here’s one I like: https://www.staples.com/paper-mate-inkjoy-retractable-gel-pen-medium-point-assorted-ink-14-pack-1951636/product_1706660)
- Puzzles
- Games: This article has great ideas. Some are new to me and some are classic. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/g37762544/top-family-board-games
- Books: The National Park Mystery Series is a popular top seller for intermediate readers on Amazon. Each book takes place in a different national park and includes illustrations and maps. https://a.co/d/9vpr6pn . For other ideas, you can ask for suggestions from bookstore staff or have fun browsing to see what sparks your interest.
- Nail polish, lotion, or bubble bath
- Candy or snacks
- Huggable stuffed animals or body pillows: One popular brand is Squishmallows, which can be found at Kohls, Target, Wal-Mart, and Amazon.
I hope you like some of these ideas. I am not promoting any particular product, but I thought I’d share some ideas for those who feel uninspired or overwhelmed when thinking of ideas for the kids on their list. If we don’t have kids living with us, it can be difficult to keep up with what’s popular.
Here’s more about the Gift Responsibly Campaign:
It’s not uncommon for well-meaning adults to give lottery tickets to children as gifts, but many people don’t know the risks. People with gambling disorder often report that they began gambling at an early age, and that an early win increased their desire to gamble. The young brain is susceptible to addiction and youth may move quickly from gambling with friends and family to problem gambling. With increased exposure to gambling advertising and the growing availability of a wide variety of gambling activities, youth problem gambling is a growing public health concern. Even though gambling activities are legally restricted to adults, there is clear evidence that underage youth continue to actively participate in gambling.
Here are some other things you can do to reduce the risk of youth gambling:
- If you purchase lottery tickets as gifts, remember they are only for the grownups on your list.
- Follow AdCare and the Maine Council on Problem Gambling on Facebook and share #GiftResponsibly posts with your friends and followers.
- If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, no matter what the age, help is always available. Call 211, visit 211.org, or text your zip code to 898-211
The annual Responsible Gifting Campaign began in 2003 to raise awareness about the risks of underage lottery play during the winter holiday season. Each year, the Maine Council on Problem Gambling and Adcare Educational Institute of Maine join the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) in educating the public with the message that lottery tickets aren’t child’s play.