Ho-ho-homemade presents give Christmas a personal touch. This December 24th, stuff your kid’s stocking with a gift that keeps giving throughout the year: a Kansas City coupon book. This DIY gift is a set of custom local vouchers for your child to “redeem” from you whenever she likes — per the expiration date, of course.
A coupon book checks all the boxes: it’s personal, budget-friendly, supports local businesses and even answers the question, “What do I give a child who has everything?”
Though the supplies are low-cost, it’s smart to keep a running total of the redeemable expenses. Vouchers such as “One book from Rainy Day Books” or “Visit the Rabbit hOle” will hit your monthly budget in the new year.
Ready to craft this unique gift? Gather these simple supplies to get started.
Supplies
- Card stock or construction paper
- Ink (pen, marker or printer ink)
- Binder ring, yarn, string or ribbon
- Paper trimmer or scissors
- Hole punch
- Stickers or decorative items (optional)
KC Parent Pro Tip: Need printed coupons but don’t have a home printer? Visit your local library to print on standard paper for free or up to $0.50/page (in color; grayscale is cheaper). Crop your printed coupons and glue or tape them to construction paper for added durability.
Coupon Ideas
Don’t underestimate how much your child values your presence. This was highlighted to me at a Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) Workshop through Children’s Mercy, where instructors showed an Ikea commercial called “The Other Letter.”
This winter campaign from 2015 followed a social experiment: Children ages 4-9 from 10 different families were asked to write a letter to the Three Kings — the Spanish equivalent of Santa Claus. These letters predictably became wish lists. Then the children were asked, “What would you ask your parents for this Christmas?”
The letters were heartwarming. One boy asked his parents to “do more experiments at home.” The next requested more dinners as a family. Another said, “play cowboys with me.”
Finally, the children were asked which letter they would send if they could only send one. They all chose to send the letter they wrote to their parents.
What would your children ask you for? Here are some quality-time coupon ideas to inspire you:
Quality Time
One more book at bedtime
Help me complete my chore
Stay up 30 minutes past bedtime
Build a blanket fort with me
Picnic at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Bike ride at Rock Island Trail
My choice of home-cooked meal
Bake cookies
Budget-Friendly Fun
Ride the Ferris wheel at Scheels
Feed the koi at Family Tree Nursery
Treat from McLain’s Bakery
Ice cream at Betty Rae’s
Go fishing at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
Home Depot kids workshop
Drive-in movie at Boulevard Drive-In
Library craft class
Memorable Splurges
Paddleboat at Shawnee Mission Park
Meal at Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant
Day at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
[X dollar amount] of arcade play at Main Event
Treetop Adventure at Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park
Paint one piece of pottery at Ceramic Cafe
Miniature golf at Smiley’s Golf
Ice skating at Crown Center
Visit the Rabbit hOle
Set up a lemonade stand
Putting It All Together
- Design your own coupon template using a computer program or hand-draw one. Alternatively, download a free template online for a quick start.
- Choose 20-35 coupon ideas tailored to your child’s interests. Write or print each coupon on card stock, including a special cover page (e.g., “Bobby’s 2026 Coupon Book”).
- Use scissors or a paper trimmer to cut out each coupon.
- If you’re using a binder ring, punch a single hole in the corner of each coupon. If you’re using a ribbon, yarn or string, punch two holes on one side of each coupon for a secure tie.
- Stack the coupons neatly with the cover on top. Thread a binder ring through the single holes OR weave ribbon, yarn or string through the double holes and tie in a bow for a decorative touch.
- Add personal flair! Decorate the coupons or cover with stickers, drawings or other embellishments to make the book extra special for your child.
A Kansas City coupon book is a heartfelt investment in quality time with your child. You’ll both cherish every moment as your child redeems these vouchers for local adventures crafted just for him or her.
Nichole Parks shares highlights of Kansas City to help parents make ordinary days merry and bright. She resides in Overland Park with her son.