How can I make the holidays special without spending a lot?


There are many fun ways to enjoy the holidays without spending a lot. Creating decorations or holiday cards with your child is a fun way to spend quality time together. Rather than buying multiple gifts for different people, try doing a gift exchange–or better yet, try exchanging hand-made gifts. Another wonderful way to make the holiday special is to reach out to others in need. You can do this by taking your child to visit a nursing home, or volunteering at the food bank or serving meals to families at a soup kitchen.

Jennie Ito, Ph.D.

Child Development Expert

Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.