Gift ideas for siblings who are parting ways

[sipnride]

It's surprising how often I come here for up answers or suggestions to questions that search engines can't seem to give me satisfying results on - and usually there's already a thread for it! Most recently it was to get ideas for making my wife's return from the hospital after knee surgery more comfortable, which was perfect! Thanks for all who contributed to those threads.

I couldn't find one for this particular question, so here goes: my oldest is going (far away) to college. My youngest is 11 and feeling quite emotional about it (we all are). They're 6.5 years apart, and though they were close when they were younger they've sort of drifted apart some as my oldest got more busy with school, work, and socializing. I'd like to get them one or more gifts for Christmas that keep them connected. Maybe it's something that each can have part of that reminds the other of their bond. Better would be something that actually helps them stay in touch with each other, and that probably means something that would motivate my oldest to stay in touch. Complicating matters is that it not be gender specific, so nothing referencing sisters, brothers, etc.

As I type this out I realize that it's oddly specific, and yet absolutely nothing comes to mind as a comparison. Open to any and all suggestions. Thanks!

 

[mjkacmom]

https://www.friendlamps.com/

 

[kymom99]

Assuming they both have phones, get them on an app that they can play a game and chat on. I use words with friends to stay in touch with a former work friend. It’s not a gift per se but could keep them in communication.

 

[sipnride]

https://www.friendlamps.com/

How perfect is this? Thank you!

 

[robinb]

I used Snapchat when my DD went off to college. She enjoyed getting snaps of our pets. Maybe you can challenge your youngest to send snaps to the college freshman.

 

[pigletto]

Two things that come to mind …digital photo frames. You could fill them with photos of them together. Each of them can upload photos to the others frame remotely as well.

The second is that we had a necklace made for my sister when she left to move to Florida ( from Canada) that were the exact co-ordinates of our family home.
Here is an example ( not the place we used) . You can get them in Mens or womens or more neutral styles.

https://www.latandlo.com/

 

[wenrob]

My oldest is 9.5 years older than my two youngest. I found a place that engraves stainless steel rings and had ‘Ohana put on the outside and “Nobody gets left behind” on the inside for all three. Older DD has never taken hers off.

I encourage texting even if it’s just memes. I also bring older DD into family functions even though she’s almost 900 miles away. When we went to pick out our tree I sent pics and let her weigh in with the others in real time. Yesterday we were decorating our trees at the same time. I also have a group chat with all three kids. Basically I remind my kids that they have siblings in little ways every day. When she visits I make sure the siblings get time for just them and the same for when we visit her. I guess this part doesn’t help with the gift but the best thing you can do is encourage them to communicate often.

Assuming they both have phones, get them on an app that they can play a game and chat on. I use words with friends to stay in touch with a former work friend. It’s not a gift per se but could keep them in communication.

My kids do this. Play games in real time on their phones.

 

[easyas123]

If your kids are into video games, maybe something they can play together? My adult kids play with their 2 adult cousins, everyone is spread out but they join up frequently to do whatever kids do on video games and talk/play together.

Perhaps you can pre-plan a trip for one to see the other or the family to travel to the far -off location, so the youngest has something to look forward to?

Or maybe it can be as simple as having a discussion with the eldest to see if they can make it a point to touch base with their younger sibling once a week? Or let the youngest have a set time to call or text the elder sibling at a pre-set time / day of the week?

I guess I'd probably also make sure the youngest has their own hobbies/friends group/school things or sports so they have something to concentrate on besides missing elder sibling because I'm guessing the natural course of things is that the elder sibling is going to go off and have an adventure, find a new friend group, join a team or something along those likes - not to mention school work - that will keep them busy and engaged.

 

[sipnride]

If your kids are into video games, maybe something they can play together? My adult kids play with their 2 adult cousins, everyone is spread out but they join up frequently to do whatever kids do on video games and talk/play together.

Perhaps you can pre-plan a trip for one to see the other or the family to travel to the far -off location, so the youngest has something to look forward to?

Or maybe it can be as simple as having a discussion with the eldest to see if they can make it a point to touch base with their younger sibling once a week? Or let the youngest have a set time to call or text the elder sibling at a pre-set time / day of the week?

I guess I'd probably also make sure the youngest has their own hobbies/friends group/school things or sports so they have something to concentrate on besides missing elder sibling because I'm guessing the natural course of things is that the elder sibling is going to go off and have an adventure, find a new friend group, join a team or something along those likes - not to mention school work - that will keep them busy and engaged.

WDW for my oldest's spring break. Youngest will only be there for the weekend, but I'm really glad you raised this so that I can make sure that time is their time. Maybe send them off to Volcano Bay by themselves as they really enjoy sitting in the sand and sun and we really enjoy sitting on our balcony watching the savanna animals.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I love the lamp idea!!!

Before that, I was thinking of matching key chains, matching socks, a small photo of the two of them in identical (or coordinated in different colors) frames...little things that when they see them, they'll think of each other.

You could also start some sort of daily (or weekly) group text - a game or question or even a photo scavenger hunt. (I sometimes text my DS the daily gratitude topic from here on the DIS.)

 

[ronandannette]

It's surprising how often I come here for up answers or suggestions to questions that search engines can't seem to give me satisfying results on - and usually there's already a thread for it! Most recently it was to get ideas for making my wife's return from the hospital after knee surgery more comfortable, which was perfect! Thanks for all who contributed to those threads.

I couldn't find one for this particular question, so here goes: my oldest is going (far away) to college. My youngest is 11 and feeling quite emotional about it (we all are). They're 6.5 years apart, and though they were close when they were younger they've sort of drifted apart some as my oldest got more busy with school, work, and socializing. I'd like to get them one or more gifts for Christmas that keep them connected. Maybe it's something that each can have part of that reminds the other of their bond. Better would be something that actually helps them stay in touch with each other, and that probably means something that would motivate my oldest to stay in touch. Complicating matters is that it not be gender specific, so nothing referencing sisters, brothers, etc.

As I type this out I realize that it's oddly specific, and yet absolutely nothing comes to mind as a comparison. Open to any and all suggestions. Thanks!

What's your budget? Why not get each of them a plane ticket to actually go/come see each other at some point over the course of the year? That's a real connection that's much more meaningful that any kind of trinket. Actual bonding time, rather than some item that's supposed to remind them of the bond.

 

[LuvOrlando]

All great ideas and some I did myself, the GM worked very well but it was a friends idea I just copied.

Maybe I would send a treat once a month and the same thing would be available to the youngest, so like a hot chocolate packet and a fun mug one month, matching nice pens another month, a package of favorite cookies another month, a few bags of popcorn or a small gift certificate to a fast food place - that sort of thing they can share photos of themselves enjoying as a connection.