The recent spate of product recalls during the busiest toy-buying season of the year leaves many adults confused and worried about what gifts they will give their children and other loved ones. As alarming as the current state of toy safety is, it also provides an opportunity for people to exercise creativity and extra thoughtfulness in what presents they put under their Christmas trees and into their loved ones’ hands.

Here are some gift suggestions that may appeal to all age groups and maturity levels:

The whole family can enjoy season passes to the local children’s museum, an aquarium, zoo or museum of general appeal. At Christmas, these passes can be wrapped up with a guidebook to the locale or a video of a virtual tour. (Most of these venues also have websites the family can explore beforehand.)

Visits made throughout the year will promote family togetherness, learning for all, and might even spark career interests or a desire to volunteer.

Children interested in sports can be given a piece of equipment, lessons (golf, tennis, swimming) or tickets to a professional sporting event along with a book about the history of the sport and those who play it.

Children who like music might enjoy a musical instrument and lessons. The mental and physical dexterity they develop will apply not only to their artistic pursuit but to many other facets of their lives too.

Spiritual health can be nurtured through gifts of books on faith. Young children are often fascinated by stories of the lives of the saints. Older children can appreciate faith-based books and family heirlooms – perhaps a guide to saying the rosary along with a rosary that belonged to a grandparent.

Creative thinking is important at any age and can be nurtured in even the youngest children by the gift of a simple set of building blocks (that are not so small that they present a choking hazard). Older children might benefit from building airplane or ship models, drawing or painting sets or a telescope with a guide to the sky.

Many families have a rich ethnic heritage demonstrated in needlework, pottery, dance, music and other creative forms. Some are expressed in different languages. Besides serving as an excellent gift for a child at Christmas, giving instruction in specific heritage manifestations creates a bridge from one generation to another, ensuring that beautiful, meaningful traditions endure.

A faith-centered family might decide that the most memorable, meaningful Christmas they could have would be to volunteer their time as a family at a local shelter, food collection drive or other community event. Or the family could make a commitment to contribute financially throughout the coming year to a missionary organization, church or community agency that serves others.

To explore local, national and international opportunities for service, contact your local diocesan office of missions, Catholic Charities (www.catholiccharitiesusa.org) or the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (www.usccb.org and click “Evangelization & Outreach”).

If parents still want to give a toy or two to their children, two websites track safety and recall issues: World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H., www.toysafety.org) and United States Public Interest Research Groups (www.uspirg.org).

Given the rapid pace of unfolding safety problems, however, perhaps this is the Christmas to think outside the ordinary Christmas box and give gifts that promote health, education, charity and a deep and active expression of our faith.

Maureen Pratt is a syndicated columnist with Catholic News Service.