All I Want to Do Is Buy Things on the Internet

November 28, 2020

A roundup of new guidance and stories from NYT Parenting.

Golden Cosmos

One thing I have discovered this year is that you can fill many joyful hours browsing bean bag chairs on the internet. Though other activities I love are out of reach for now, no one can take online shopping away from me!

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December is a giftstravaganza in my interfaith home — we have Hanukkah, Christmas and my older daughter’s birthday. Last year I wrote about how to keep your kids from becoming spoiled gift monsters, and while those lessons still hold true, in 2020 I’m feeling more indulgent. I also know we’re about to have months of indoor time on our hands here in New York, so I’m willing to buy anything that delights my children and will keep them occupied for a prolonged period of time.

If you’re in search of such treasures too, don’t fret — we have a plethora of gift guides for your browsing pleasure, with activities for kids and treats for yourself included. I can vouch for the Kid Made Modern arts and crafts library, which my children got last Christmas; it provided them with hours of pipe-cleaner-based enjoyment. If you’d like to give to those in need during this difficult year, Nick Kristof has a lovely list of charities that are worth your investment.

Our pals at Wirecutter, the New York Times company that reviews and recommends products, are updating this list of Black Friday deals on gifts for kids all weekend long, so be sure to check it out. I’m still waiting to see if they include my 4-year-old’s biggest and most absurd ask: A robot unicorn that also dances.

Thanks for reading!

— Jessica Grose, lead editor, NYT Parenting

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The 2020 Holiday Gift Guide

Let our experts help. We’ve curated the best gifts to help you check everyone off your list.

Get the lists for babies and kids and teens.

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The nonprofit group Camfed helps educate girls in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa.Joseph Assah Mills/Camfed

Choose a Gift That Changes Lives

Educate a girl. Send a young person to college. Restore a person’s sight.

And more ideas from our Opinion columnist.

The 2020 Well Holiday Gift Guide

Give someone the gift of healthy living this year with one of these gift ideas from the writers and editors of Well.

Get the guide.

Earrings from Yam.

A Gift Guide Featuring Black-Owned Businesses, for Those Who Like to Pamper

Do you want to be a conscientious shopper?

Right this way.

Michael Sullivan

The Best Holiday Cookie Baking Equipment and Gear

We spent 200 hours researching and testing 20 types of essential cookie-related items to find the best gear to make holiday baking fun and stress-free.

Wirecutter’s picks

Michael Hession

Deals on Toys, Games, Puzzles and More

The Wirecutter team is sorting through all the deals they can find on gifts kids will love.

Follow along.

Tiny Victories

Parenting can be a grind. Let’s celebrate the tiny victories.

My folks have been video chatting with my 3-year-old for a while now, but recently they got toys. Now my son and his grandparents “play” with their trucks for a couple of hours every other morning while I wash the dishes and take a shower!— Maggie Berg, Corvallis, Oregon

If you want a chance to get your Tiny Victory published, find us on Instagram @NYTparenting and use the hashtag #tinyvictories; email us; or enter your Tiny Victory at the bottom of this page. Include your full name and location. Tiny Victories may be edited for clarity and style. Your name, location and comments may be published, but your contact information will not. By submitting to us, you agree that you have read, understand and accept the Reader Submission Terms in relation to all of the content and other information you send to us.

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