This post is sponsored by Linqia but the content and opinions expressed here are my own

I am a huge fan of giving educational gifts for all occasions. This is partially due to my passion for teaching and education, but it also comes from my parents and their desire to share a love of learning. Our summer is always full of graduation parties, family reunions and baby showers, so I decided to gather a list of meaningful educational gift ideas for the kids in your life.

Books

No surprise that books are the first thing that I think of when it comes to gift giving! It is never too early to start sharing a love of books and learning with little ones. Books were one of my favorite gifts to receive as a kid, and that is still true today. In addition to sharing some of our favorite books as gifts, I also enjoy gifting books that tie in to specific celebrations or holidays. We have a rotating box of seasonal books that we read through every year, and it’s so fun to add to our festivities with a great book. I even received children’s books from my parents when I graduated from college, and they were some of my favorite gifts!

Books with a Message

When I was younger, several of my family and friends gave me books and signed the inside cover. I recently found some of the books and read them with my daughter. It was so fun to read the messages along with her. So when my sister and my mother threw me a baby shower, they asked people to bring books instead of cards, and to sign a book plate and attach it to the book. I love reading the little messages with my daughter and sharing the love that everyone put into their book choices! Check out the selection of bookplates available over in my Etsy shop for more inspiration.

Related Post: Book Traditions to Start With Your Kids

Experiences

When most people think about “educational gifts”, they often think of toys or books. But some of the best educational gifts are experiences! Giving the gift of experiences not only provides kids with background knowledge that can help them with reading and learning, but they also teach them to experience the world. Plus, experience gifts can provide an opportunity to make great family memories. Whether you are gifting them with trips, museum passes, or new experiences (like fishing or camping), they are sure to learn something new about the world and about themselves.

College Savings Plan

Invest in their future with a college savings plan! NY’s 529 College Savings Direct Plan is a great way to invest in a child’s education, and even grandparents can contribute. They even have a gifting portal called Ugift to make gift giving easy. Plus, you can start saving at any time. Whether it’s a toddler or a teen, it’s never too early or too late to save for higher education.

With NY’s 529 College Savings Direct Plan, you can choose any eligible school. Your child can attend any eligible higher-education institution, not just a 4-year college or university. This includes vocational and trade schools, as well as community colleges and graduate schools. Also, you can change your beneficiary if needed. If your child doesn’t use the money in the account, you can choose an eligible family member, such as one of your other children, or even yourself, to be the beneficiary without paying a penalty for the account transfer. To get more information, check out NYsaves.org.

There are so many fun ways to give kids an educational gift that they will enjoy and appreciate! What are your favorite educational gifts to give?

*Disclosure Statement

Up to $10,000 is deductible annually from New York State taxable income for married couples filing jointly; single taxpayers can deduct up to $5,000 annually. State tax benefits for non-resident New York taxpayers may vary. State tax deductions may be subject to recapture in certain circumstances such as rollovers to another state’s 529 plan, nonqualified withdrawals, or withdrawals used to pay expenses for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school. Please consult your tax advisor.

Investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money by investing in  New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan.

For more information about New York’s 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan, download a Disclosure Booklet and Tuition Savings Agreement at www.nysaves.org or request one by calling 877-NYSAVES (877-697-2837). This document includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other information. You should read and consider them carefully before investing.

Before you invest, consider whether your or the beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in that state’s 529 plan. Other state benefits may include financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors.

The Comptroller of the State of New York and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation are the Program Administrators and are responsible for implementing and administering the Direct Plan. Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC, serves as Program Manager and, in connection with its affiliates, provides recordkeeping and administrative support services and is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Direct Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as the Investment Manager. Vanguard Marketing Corporation provides marketing and distribution services to the Direct Plan.

No guarantee: None of the State of New York, its agencies, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), The Vanguard Group, Inc., Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC, nor any of their applicable affiliates insures accounts or guarantees the principal deposited therein or any investment returns on any account or investment portfolio.

New York’s 529 College Savings Program currently includes two separate 529 plans. The Direct Plan is sold directly by the Program. You may also participate in the Advisor Plan, which is sold exclusively through financial advisors and has different investment options and higher fees and expenses as well as financial advisor compensation.

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