SVM_Holiday Gift Guide_112622

Sports experiences make great gifts this holiday season

The thrill of sports has inspired billions of loyal fans and athletes across the globe. Professional, colle giate, scholastic, and even recreational sports entertain people all year long. That popularity is something shoppers can keep in mind as they look for the perfect gift for the family sports fan this holiday season.

Many adults undoubtedly recall receiving sports equipment as a holiday gift when they were children. Whether it’s a baseball mitt or a field hockey stick or a new ball, these gifts tend to light up kids’ eyes come Christmas morning. Adult sports fans may not need such equipment, but they might be just as excited to receive these unique sports experiences this holiday season.

• Tickets: For diehard sports fans, nothing is better than going to the big game. Perhaps in acknowledgment of the growing popularity of following a favorite team on the road, many professional sports leagues now release team schedules months in advance of the first game of the season. For ex ample, the National Football League released its 2022 schedule in mid-May, despite the fact

that the season does not begin until Septem ber. Shoppers can peruse schedules and circle a must-see home game or lay the foundation for a memorable trip by giving tickets to a road game.

• Stadium tour: Stadium tours are another great experience the family sports fan will un

doubtedly appreciate. Many professional sports teams now welcome fans to tour their stadiums both in-season and during the offseason. These tours offer a behindthe-scenes look at stadiums, arenas and ballparks. Teams may even host tours on game days, making this a great stocking stuffer to pair with tickets to a game.

• Fan fest: Fan fest tickets make an ideal gift for individuals who can be accurately described as “diehards” for their favorite teams. These family-friendly gatherings tend to happen in the weeks leading up to the start of a new season. A handful of current and former play ers typically attend fan fests, which are hosted by the team and typically include activities for adults and children alike.

• Lessons: Holiday shoppers may have a sports fan on their list who still enjoys lacing up their cleats. For example, pro golf fans may still enjoy hitting the links themselves. In such instances, lessons from a nearby golf pro can be just the thing to make sports fans smile this holiday season.

Sports experiences make an ideal gift for individuals whose passion for a favorite team is a big part of their life.

Great gifts for physical fitness buffs

Holiday shopping is a fun way to show loved ones just how much they’re appreciated. Though it’s not always so easy finding the right gift, identifying a passion of each person on your holiday shopping list can make finding the perfect present that much easier.

No two families are exactly the same, but that doesn’t mean they don’t share similar characteristics and personalities. For example, many families have at least one person who qualifies as a physical fitness buff. A passion for fitness can serve as a great starting point when shopping for a loved one who can’t wait to ex ercise each day. This holiday season, shoppers can stoke that passion for exercise with some gifts designed to help people reach their fitness goals.

• Insulated water bottle: On the surface, a new water bottle might not seem like the most impressive gift. However, fitness buffs know just how much water bottles have changed in recent years and how invaluable it can be to have a good one at the ready. A high-quality insulated water bottle can keep water cold for hours, ensuring endurance athletes accustomed to long runs or cycling sessions won’t need to hydrate with warm drinks no matter how long it’s been since they started their workouts.

• Fitness trackers: Fitness trackers run the gamut from low-cost options with useful yet limited capabilities to more expensive items that can seemingly give athletes all the infor mation they need about variables such as their heart rate and performance metrics. If the fitness buff on your list has his or her heart set on an expensive device, speak to other family

members about pooling your resources.

• Fitness app subscription/gift card: The popularity of various exercise apps spiked dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic because they made it easy to get professional fitness instruction at home. A subscription to a service like ClassPass (classpass.com) provides access to classes at thousands of top-rated gyms, fitness studios, salons, and spas across the globe. This can help fitness buffs find new exercises if their existing routines have grown stale or simply stay in shape even if they don’t always have time to get to the gym.

• Home exercise equipment: Though the darkest days of the pandemic might be in the rearview mirror, the world has grown accus tomed to periodic spikes that could compro mise workout routines. That needn’t be the base for fitness buffs who keep some simple ex ercise equipment at home. A set of dumbbells, a new weight bench or even a new yoga mat can ensure fitness buffs won’t miss a workout even if they can’t get out of the house.

Exercise is an essential part of fitness buffs’ daily routines. Holiday shoppers can keep that in mind as they look for gifts to make this sea son even more special for their fitness-focused family members.

Simple ways to involve kids in holiday decorating

Millions of people across the globe feel that the holiday season is a magical time of year. Though those people come from all walks of life, it’s likely that no group is as taken by the unique spirit of the holiday season as much as children.

Whether they’re looking forward to Santa’s arrival or preparing for a school holiday pageant, kids have much to be excited about come December. Parents can channel that enthusiasm by involving kids when decorating around the house this holiday season.

• Make homemade ornaments. The options are limitless when mak ing holiday ornaments with children. From simple ornaments made from pine cones picked up outside to more complex projects designed for children nearing adolescence, parents can look to the internet to find design ideas and directions for hundreds of ornaments.

• Let kids lead the way when decorating the tree. Families that celebrate Christmas can let kids lead the way when decorating their Christmas tree. Kids are likely to spend

the weeks leading up to Santa’s arrival gazing in awe at the tree, and knowing they decided where to place the various ornaments on it might make the season even more special for youngsters.

• Take kids along when choosing lawn

ornaments. It’s not safe to involve children when installing lighting dis plays, but kids will get a kick out of choosing inflatable lawn decorations and other items to place around the yard. Take kids along when buying new items and then seek their input when placing Frosty, Santa and his reindeer friends around the yard.

• Include kids in culinary de cor. Many celebrants cannot imagine a holiday season without gingerbread houses and cookies. These traditions provide another great opportunity to involve children in holiday deco rating. Set aside some time to make homemade gingerbread houses, which can be used as decorations be fore they’re ultimately eaten. Cookies may not have the shelf life of a typi cal gingerbread house, but kids can pitch in and decorate cookies prior to a holiday party or family meal.

The spirit of the holiday season can be seen on the faces of children each December. Invit ing kids to pitch in when decorating for the hol idays can make the season even more special for its youngest celebrants.

Gifts to get kids off the couch

ignore. Seemingly always within arm’s length, devices such as tablets and smartphones are as popular as ever. In a survey designed to gauge smartphone ownership, the Pew Research Center found that 85 percent of Americans owned a smartphone in 2021. That reflects a significant increase since 2011, when 35 percent of Americans owned a smartphone.

Adults may recognize the potential pitfalls of spending too much time on their devices, but those pitfalls are not nearly as apparent to children. For instance, a 2021 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry found that excessive smartphone use is associated with various health problems in adolescents and young adults. Such issues include psychiatric, cognitive, emotional, medical, and brain chang es. A separate 2021 study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that children have a 62 percent greater risk of developing a binge-eating disorder for each additional hour they spend on social media. Parents know that gettings kid to put down their devices is no small task. However, the holiday season can be the perfect time to find fun gifts for kids that have nothing to do with screens and encourage kids to be more physi

cally active.

• Lessons: Whether it’s surfing, boating or music lessons, various courses do not require devices or even allow them to be used during sessions. Parents and loved ones of children can look for lessons that inspire youngsters to pursue a new passion that promotes physical

activity and encourages kids to get up and go.

• Trampoline: Aunts and uncles should definitely clear this one with mom and dad before purchasing it. However, no kid, including tweens and newly minted teenagers, can resist a good trampoline. Modern trampolines are safer than yesterday’s models, especially when shoppers choose ones with enclosures that prevent kids from falling off the trampoline and onto the hard ground below.

• Sports equipment: Organized sports instill lessons about sportsmanship, hard work, over coming adversity, and the value of working as a team, all the while promoting physical activity. Young children who haven’t yet participated in organized sports may be compelled to do so if a new baseball mitt or basketball hoop is waiting under the tree this holiday season.

• Kites: Kites can be perfect for kids who don’t take to sports or those who simply need a break from competition. Kites can help young children develop their gross motor skills and instill in them a love of the great outdoors that lasts a lifetime.

Getting kids to put down their devices is no small task. But parents and loved ones can do their best by giving gifts that encourage kids to get off the couch and be more physically active.

Movies that are perfect for families this holiday season

traditions take center stage during the holiday season. One of those traditions may be sitting down and enjoying any of a number of timeless Christmas movies or even newer holiday films that are quickly becoming favor ites.

Film fans have their own ideas about the best films to watch during the holidays, but the following movies are some kids and adults can enjoy together.

• “The Polar Express” (2004): A young boy enjoys a magical adventure to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express train. He learns about the true spirit of the holidays and the value of bravery and friendship along the way.

• “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992): Charles Dickens’ classic story about a bitter miser might be a little frightening for young children to enjoy in its more theatrical offerings. However, when the Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale, the story becomes much more family-friendly.

• “A Boy Called Christmas” (2021): Based on the book by Matt Haig, this movie is a reimag ined take on Father Christmas. It focuses on Nikolas as he goes on an adventure to find a magical town called Elfhelm.

• “Jack Frost” (1998): When a father dies in a

car accident, he comes back to life as a snow man in his son’s front yard. Jack learns to keep his promises and make things right with his son — things he wasn’t capable of doing as a human.

• “Christmas with the Kranks” (2004): The Kranks decide to forgo thir annual Christmas

party and plan a vacation since their daughter will be out of town. But when said daughter decides to come home after all, chaos sets in as the couple tries to figure out how to put together an extravaganza at the last minute.

• “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” (1997): The Beast does not favor the holiday season, so Belle must change his mind on the matter in this animated Disney offering.

• “Elf” (2003): As a youngster, Buddy was magically transported to the North Pole and raised by Santa’s elves. As an adult, he’s deter mined to find his real dad in New York City and uncover a way to fit in.

• “Santa Hunters” (2014): A young boy teams up with his sibling and cousins to try to capture new footage of Santa in action and prove that the man in red truly exists.

• “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” (2018): This is a newer take on the classic Nut cracker tale. This adventure sees Clara defend ing the Land of Sweets from the evil Mother Ginger.

Holiday films enhance the celebratory nature of the season. Certain movies are tailor-made for families to watch together during this spe cial time of year.

What to give new homeowners this holiday season

The real estate market has been a wild ride in recent years. Sellers have cashed in on record-breaking profits, and buyers have had to com pete against many others — sometimes in bidding wars — for a limited number of properties. Once listed, homes are selling fast. As interest rates rise and inventory increases, things are likely to change, though for some it did not come soon enough.

Individuals who were lucky enough to find a new home this year may discover they now have little money to outfit those homes. Shoppers with new homeowners on their holiday shopping lists may want to help those loved ones outfit their homes this season. The following are some home-related gift ideas to get shoppers started.

• Video/smart doorbell: Although the smart doorbell market began with only a handful of options, there’s now a bevy of manufacturers who make video and smart home doorbells. These doorbells serve the dual purpose of alerting homeowners to someone at the door, while providing surveillance of the comings and goings outside of the home. Depending on the product, a subscription may be needed to access video history. Doorbells range from $50 to $200 and more depending on features and resolution.

• Furniture gift card: There’s a good chance new homeowners will need to furnish new rooms in a home, particularly if they’re coming from an apartment or a smaller place. Many people also like to update furnishings when they move into new places. A gift card to a popular furniture store in the area will provide the head-start new homeowners need to secure sofas, dining sets, lamps, rugs, and more.

• Household tool kit: What better way to prepare new homeowners for the do-it-yourself projects and household repairs than with a tool kit? Home improvement retailers often package common tools needed in carrying cases or sets, but shoppers can grab separate items they think will be used and group them together into one gift. Pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, a level, and measuring tape are good starter tools.

• Customized doormat: Give that new home additional curb appeal with a doormat customized with a special message or the new home owners’ names, such as Welcome to the Smith Home. Other customize able products include cutting boards and wall plaques.

• Programmable thermostat: A programmable or learning thermo stat will help new homeowners save on their energy bills. Many thermo stats now pair with smart home systems and phones and automatically adjust the temperature as needed to reduce energy consumption.

• Linens: A high thread count sheet set or plush Turkish cotton towels may not be something new homeowners think to get for themselves. But these luxurious gifts can make life at home more comfortable.

Moving into a new home is an exciting yet expensive endeavor. Care fully curated gifts can tap into what new homeowners need the most.

5 reasons to shop small versus big box

The importance of small businesses to the economy cannot be overstated. Though na tional chains often garner publicity, local busi nesses are equally, if not exceedingly, worthy of attention.

What defines a small business as “small” varies significantly, but these businesses are generally privately owned and generate far less revenue than big corporations. General consensus also defines small businesses as companies with fewer than 500 paid employ ees, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Here’s a deep look at why small businesses are so vital, and why consumers should direct more of their purchasing power to smaller companies rather than the big box retailers and other national chains.

1. Autonomy and diversity

The layout and offerings at national chains will be identical whether you live in the moun tains or at the beach. Big box stores follow a consistent marketing strategy and look the same regardless of where they are located. That familiarity can come at the cost of variety.

On the other hand, an independent business offers the products and services that are reflective of the customers and the community they serve.

2. Local hiring strategy

Certain big box retailers will hire local resi dents, but hiring policies may push for pro moting from within the organization. This could mean relocating an employee rather than bringing in someone from the community who may be more in tune with local sensibil ities. Small businesses may be more inclined to hire residents they know and keep hiring centralized to the local area — something that keeps more resources and money in the community.

3. Adaptability and change

Local businesses can move more quickly to respond to economic factors that require change. Since they are focused more on the needs of their customers rather than stock holders, changes can be implemented rap idly without having to go through red tape, meetings and updates to corporate policies.

Changes also can be customized to the local community at large.

4. Investing in the town

According to the financial resource Financial Slot, shopping at locally owned businesses rather than big box retailers keeps more mon ey in the community. Local property taxes and other taxes paid by the businesses go right back into the community. This helps raise over all value for homeowners and can even reduce their taxes. The funding helps keep police, fire and school departments functioning properly.

5. Turnover is greater

While no one wants to see a small business fail, that fate is sometimes unavoidable. However, that turnover helps teach commu nities what was done poorly and helps others learn from those mistakes. It also means fresh businesses will come in and replace the old, driving new growth, opportunity and competi tion that keeps prices competitive.

The benefits of a thriving small business sector are numerous. Consumers can do their part by patronizing these firms more frequently.