8 Things You Can Give Your Kids That Don't Cost Any Money

As dads, we naturally want to provide the best for our children. Often, we wish we could do more. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?

• You walk outside on Christmas morning. The neighbor kids are playing with the newest expensive electronic gadget they got for Christmas. You gave your children simpler gifts.
• You see pictures on social media of your friend’s kid excelling in a travel sports league that you cannot afford.
• The talk around the lunch table at your daughter’s school centers on the Disney vacation her friend’s family just got back from. That night at the dinner table your daughter asks you, “Dad, why don’t we ever go to Disney world?”

I’ve got good news for you! There are many amazing gifts you can give your children that cost very little money. Here is my list in no specific order.

1. Your time

Many parents settle for spending “quality time” with their children because the quantity of time they have to give is very small. But perhaps you are in a position to spend more time with your children through homeschooling, working from home, or having one parent stay at home while the other one works. The gift of time is invaluable.

2. Your attention

Get off your phone!! I think what many children secretly want for Christmas is a promise from their parents to put away their phones for a few hours every evening and pay attention to them. Isn’t it amazing that your children truly delight in your smile and the words “good job!” or “I love you”? And once again, this gift is free!

3. Your creativity

This gift takes time and attention to the next level. What if you had enough juice left in the tank at the end of the day (or on Saturday, or even one night over Christmas break) to build a fort or invent a new game with your children? Some of them would remember that event for the rest of their lives! Young children spell love “P-L-A-Y.” Make their week by using your grown-up imagination to enhance their playtime.

4. The Bible/Gospel

Children around the world are growing up with no knowledge of who God is or of how they can have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) You can give your children the most valuable gift in the world by teaching them who God is and sharing the gospel with them.

5. A good church

You can enhance your children’s lives and childhood so much just by taking them to church every week! At church, your children will 1) hear well-prepared, age appropriate Bible lessons, 2) learn hymns, 3) develop positive, edifying relationships with their teachers and peers, 4) learn to pray, 5) see God answer prayer and change lives, and 6) have fun in the process! Don’t spend thousands of dollars per year on ballet or travel soccer and neglect the wonderful gift of church.

6. A stable home

I don’t need to belabor statistics, but studies show that honoring God’s plan for marriage is good for our children.¹ One of the best gifts you can give your children is a mommy and daddy whose marriage is marked by purity, commitment, and loving delight. Perhaps you have already experienced divorce or find yourself as a single parent. By God’s grace, you can still give your children stability by honoring God with your choices.

7. Character/Discipline

Too many children today are growing up like prince Adonijah in the Bible, whose father David never rebuked him or told him “no” (1 Kings 5:6). Because of original sin, children left to themselves will spoil. Children need loving discipline and correction to learn the skill of self-discipline and to develop Christ-like character. So make them study. Teach them to read their Bibles. Make them do chores. Teach them respect. You can help your children to become good students, workers, church members, and citizens by applying consistent, loving discipline.

8. Your love

All of the gifts I have mentioned basically boil down to one gift: your love. Loving your neighbor as yourself as applied to parenting means doing the things for your children that they will have wanted you to do for them once they grow up or that you would have wanted your parents to do for you.

Thankfully, most of these things do not cost money. (In fact, too much money can spoil many of the gifts on this list!) Many adults have looked back on less-than-affluent childhoods with fondness and joy. The fact is that your children do not care nearly as much as you do about how much money you make. They just want you around. As long as their basic needs are met and you show them consistent love and attention, they will be happy, and they will do fine in life.

If you sometimes feel like a failure as a dad for not providing enough, take a look at this list and be reminded that the best thing you can give your child is not a Disneyland vacation but a parent who loves God and loves them. Now that is a priceless gift.