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Experiences are far more memorable than mere stuff anyway. Apart from that special toy you spent your whole childhood wishing for, do you even remember what you got for Christmas long ago? Probably not, but surely you remember the first time you went to the circus, or a major league baseball game, or to see Holidays On Ice. Hannah Montana tickets may not be within reach this year, but a quick search on ticketmaster.com came up with over 10 family-appropriate shows, including Disney On Ice Princess Classics, Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour, Doodlebops Live!, the Harlem Globetrotters and the granddaddy of family entertainment, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Give your kids a gift they'll remember their entire lives this year.

5. As stocking stuffers, make up coupons for the kind of non-material things your kids bug you about all the time. You know what I mean"Mom, can we have waffles for dinner?" "Dad, will you come to the park with me later and help me fly my kite?" "Can we have movie night and all watch "Shrek III" together in our pajamas with popcorn?" The kind of things you automatically say no to because they're impractical, mess up the daily routine, or you're just too tired. The look on your child's face when you say yes to him or her will be priceless. If they still believe in Santa, just explain to them that he told you they were so good this year that you wanted to do something extra special for them.

Hopefully these ideas will be a help in planning and executing a special Christmas (or Chanukah, which doesn't have the Santa issues but has the added difficulty of coming extremely early this year). If anyone has any other good ideas of getting around the "Made in China" toy issues, I'd love to hear them.

Learn more about this author, Nancy Lichtenstein.
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