Magnets, magnets, magnets. Our fridge is full of magnets. Some are collages of family birthdays and of the kids as they grow up but a lot are from our trips. In fact, Spain this spring might have been “peak magnet” for our family. I bet we brought home double digits(!).
Probably because of Betsy’s planning smarts, we haven’t really had to deal with any “I want it!” temper tantrums while traveling. Set the standard on trips to Target and the grocery store and reap the rewards abroad.
The problem, for us, is that they are a) everywhere, b) usually quite cheap, and c) now the kids are old enough to correctly identify “Margarita!” (Velazquez’s Las Meninas) or “Dad, look, your friend!” (Albrecht Dürer self portrait…in Lego form).
Souvenirs are fun. They remind us of places we’ve been and experiences we’ve enjoyed. They can even feel like a reward for a hard-earned vacation abroad. Same goes for the kids. The learned about an artist or story in history (maybe on flashcards), you discussed this with them at bed time for the last couple months, and now that they’ve made it to the real thing why not spend a euro or two on it?
Now you know why we have so many.
Lessons and Successes
We’re certainly not going to tell you souvenirs are bad for kids, a waste of money, or too “touristy.” Do whatever you think best for your family. We like them (obviously), but we’d like to manage them a bit better. Here is what we’ve learned, specifically with kids.
(Note: we are categorizing souvenirs as the less expensive side of location-specific shopping. Not Italian leather goods in Florence, not paintings of artists along the Seine in Paris; more trinkets, magnets, and t-shirts. Under 25€, usually under 10€.)
Lessons learned
- Most of the souvenir shops carry the same things, don’t be in a hurry to buy
- Realize kids are dying to touch everything and probably want to most awful thing in the place (silly t-shirts, selfie sticks, Lightning McQueen…in Spanish, etc.)
- Try buying souvenirs towards the end of your trip or the day before leaving a city so you don’t have to carry them around everywhere or lose them in the rental apartment
What’s worked for us
- Kids (4 and 2) have to earn them by being kind, following the rules / using their manners
- For young kids you might consider bringing a post-museum toy to redirect them in case you’d rather not stop in the gift shop
- If willing to spend a bit more at museums gift shops, as we have certainly done, try to focus them on what they liked best or most want to remember and share with friends.
Whether for the adults or for bigger kids, you might also consider setting a sight/city/trip budget. If a 10 year old has 20€ to spend on the trip they might be more thoughtful and particular about what they buy (or they still buy a ridiculous t-shirt, be prepared!).
Postcards
We like to send postcards. (We even have the kids send themselves postcards). Cheap and accessible (don’t forget to buy stamps whenever you can),they make for a great family evening activity: listing friends and family, assigning and addressing postcard per recipient, thinking of fun and clever message to write. It’s a fun time. Postcards also mean more to you and the friends and family you send them to. The kids love seeing them on grandma’s fridge when we visit.
We do our fair share of Instagram posts after a day’s activity but handwritten notes mailed from another continent always win the day.
Other alternatives
We have one of those glass-top Ikea coffee tables where you can see inside the sliding draw in our living room. We use this as a showcase of some of our favorite souvenirs.
Seashells from Mediterranean, a rock from Olympia stadium, a small but heavy Roman helmet replica. Athina, the lovely hotel owner in Naxos, Greece (2010), gave us a bottle of local wine as a gift that we still keep in our kitchen. (We happen to not drink but it looks super cool.)
You might save a receipt from an amazing meal or something else entirely. Maybe you can draw or sketch a beautiful view from your apartment or a city square. In the end, it’s the memory it represents that is the most valuable.
Talk soon,
Dan & Betsy
Family conversation topic: What souvenirs are already in your home. Are they more novelty or nostalgic? Any favorites? Any regrets?