It’s the process, not the product – Maria Montessori

I am reminded of this principle daily in the studio. A pre-schooler picks up a paintbrush and smears together green, red and blue into a muddy brown mess before spreading it on a butterfly shape. Naturally, some of us think “that’s one ugly butterfly.”

But the truth is, Mr. Butterfly’s little muddy wings provided an experience for that pre-schooler that was anything but ugly. He practiced decision making to choose his colors, used his good manners to ask for them, explored paint mixing, honed his fine motor skills, experienced sensory stimulation both tactile and visual, and CREATED something. These are all beautiful things.

These same principles apply to kids of all ages, as they hone their painting skills, try new techniques, fix mistakes and expand their creativity.

This is my favorite thing about owning Cut & Paste. I give kids the opportunity to have experiences in a judgement-free zone where no assignment nor grade is given.

I’m thinking more on this as we approach the holiday season, because I know we offer something more than a present to be opened. Here are 4 gifts you can give your kids at Christmas:

Time – Choir concerts, school holiday presentations, parties, and family obligations eat up most of the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Carving out a little quiet time to spend with your kids is tough. Pick a warm-ish day and walk at the park, visit Cut & Paste to create something together, stop for fresh donuts on the first day of Winter Break, drive around and look at the neighborhood Christmas lights or even do something simple as wrapping gifts together.

Experience – Build some memories. Visit the Cincinnati Zoo, as their holiday displays are amazing! Go shopping together for a gift for a child less fortunate. Make gifts for the grandparents. Go to the tree lighting ceremony in Lexington. My favorite place to look for experiences to do with my kids is Lexington Family Magazine’s monthly calendar.

Skills – Teach your kids something new this holiday season. Show them how to roll out your grandmother’s famous Springerle cookies. Teach them how to build a fire in the fire pit. Show them how to fold the corners on gift wrap, and how to add a pretty bow. Bring them to Cut & Paste and I’ll show them how to paint polka dots!

Confidence – It’s easy to get caught up in creating the perfect Instagram Christmas, but remember that your kids gain confidence when they see you celebrating their messily iced cookies, rather than the perfectly piped frosting you might spend more time on. Seeing their cookie earn a place on Santa’s plate and in your photos gives them confidence. Let the kids decorate the tree and don’t rearrange their ornaments. Let them wrap Grandpa’s gift even if it takes half a roll of tape to hold it together.

When your relatives ask you for ideas on what to give your kids, tell them to get your kids experiences. Ask for zoo memberships, gift cards to art studios (perhaps to Cut & Paste), tickets to a play, a special day with Grandma. How about asking for a class for your kids? Perhaps a semester of dance or guitar lessons, a cooking class at Wild Thyme, or Craft Club at Cut & Paste. My youngest told me she loves getting gift cards because it’s like getting two gifts: the one you open on Christmas morning and the other on the day you go to spend it.

For kids, it truly is the process, not the product that matters.