Our "China-free" Christmas

This year, the Hubby and I decided to have a “China-free” Christmas, meaning that our family wouldn't give any gifts made in China. Ideally, we would have preferred an all American-made Christmas, but that is nearly impossible! We also had a few other challenging parameters to manage.  I was honestly a bit nervous about whether we could find “China-free” Christmas presents that:

1.)   The kids wouldn’t feel were odd, boring, or lacking in that “wow” factor.

2.)   We could afford.

3.)   We could feasibly transport to and from the Midwest by plane.

I am glad to report that it was by far the best Christmas we have ever had with the kids.  I was so excited when Mr. Drama proclaimed in a hushed voice, “Santa really is real,” after he opened all his presents. He even contemplated the idea that perhaps Dumbledore, not Santa, had delivered the presents to his grandparents’ home, since there were so many one-of-a-kind, magical, Harry Potter-inspired wizarding items.

It was a unique and amazing time.  Here are some of the things we learned during this process, in case anyone else would like to do the same next year.

1.)   Etsy and other sites featuring handmade gifts are a terrific source for unique gifts!

The kids received recycled crayons molded into lego figures, lego bricks, and hearts; various Harry Potter items, including magic wands sent via owl post, candies from Honey Dukes, a Gryffindor scarf, and potions; a tutu and a few other items from hyenacart.com (a shopping site featuring handmade baby and children’s items and other natural family items).

Next year, I’d like to visit some local craft fairs to buy from local artisans. I just couldn’t seem to sneak away from the kids for a day of shopping this year, so quick online shopping ventures with one finger hovering over the “close” button became my preferred method of purchase.

Keep in mind: If you plan to order handmade gifts online, be sure to start shopping early. A few of our items didn’t arrive until after the first of the year. Luckily, Santa let the kids know in his letter that he would be leaving a few items at our house. When we got back from our trip on January 5, our housesitter let us know that Santa had left a few things under the tree. Can you believe he never heard a sound on Christmas Eve? :-D

2.)   K’nex and Little Tykes are among the few major toymakers that still produce items in the USA.  However, not all their items are made here, so you have to read the fine print carefully. We purchased a Little Tykes sand and water table, and as I was assembling it, I discovered that many of the components were made in China, even though the table was made here. They list this item as being USA-Made on the website, so beware! It is still much easier to shop for these items online, since retailers don’t carry their entire stock, and it is unlikely that you would find the full “USA-made” selection at any one retail store.

3.)   We went to the mall for a couple of hours. It was a nightmare. I found myself wandering half-panicked through stores turning over every item, searching for something NOT made in China. I honestly would have bought just about anything if it were made here. We spent two hours there and walked away with two puzzles. Definitely not worth the trip, the gas, the crowds, or the time.

4.)   After our disastrous trip to the mall, we stopped at the thrift store, and it was a blast! We had decided to exempt second-hand items that were made elsewhere (even China) because our dollars would not be going to corporate interests but would instead be funding local businesses and charities like Goodwill Industries. We first stopped in the books and toys aisle, where we found lots of books in perfect condition and a helmet to go along with the American-made skateboard that Cowboy received as his “big” gift this year. 

We also found a parachute like this one. We then picked up some fabulous new purses, shoes, and scarves for Sergeant Princess AND had enough time and money left over to buy her lots of sparkly, dangly bracelets from the jewelry counter. Altogether, I think we spent less than $50 and walked away with an amazing array of unique gifts that I would’ve never considered or could’ve ever afforded at the mall.

Since he had to make two stops for our kids, Santa understandably came a day early to the grandparents’ house in Ohio.  The kids were really surprised to awake on Christmas Eve to find that Santa had already arrived. They were even more surprised to find so many unexpected treasures – things that weren’t in any of the catalogs or toy wishlists sent out by Target and the like. Items that none of their friends would have, and items specifically chosen for them with a keen eye to their particular interests. Scanning around all the unpackaged, hand wrapped, unique gifts, Mr. Drama’s belief in Santa was reaffirmed. It was not unwrapping the “must-have toy” of the season that wowed them, but the care, consideration, and authenticity of the giving that made this Christmas especially joyful for our children. The joy for the Hubby and I came from the expressions of delight upon their faces. I truly could not ask for a better gift.

I hope everyone else had an equally merry Christmas this year. Happy New Year to you all!