Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/24/1999 - 6:00pm
The holidays are an opportunity to gather with family, friends and loved ones and share special moments while creating memories that last a lifetime. They represent a time to reflect upon the past, take joy in the present and renew hope for the future. To some, the holidays mean gathering around the table for a festive feast, while to children, the holidays mean, well, what else - gifts!
This season, share the joy of gift giving with your child by providing the tools to make gifts for others. Loved ones will appreciate that their gifts were made with them in mind, while children can take delight in knowing that they've accomplished a project of their own creation. Most importantly, the steps and time involved in making a gift for a loved one teaches a child that the best gifts of all - whether given or received - are those that come from the heart.
Following are some creative gift ideas to share with your child - they're sure to make any recipient proud.
Coupon book - A child's homemade, self-illustrated book of coupons to be redeemed as household chores may be the perfect gift for mom or dad. For example, a child can design a coupon that's good towards one day of taking out the trash and another that's good towards cleaning up the living room.
Homemade picture frame - There's nothing more touching than receiving a photograph from a child or grandchild. Help a young one make the experience unique by providing the materials to make a homemade picture frame. Marbles, popsicle sticks and beads all are items that easily can be glued in decorative patterns onto a picture frame to create a personalized, one-of-a-kind gift.
Drawings - Help a child create a masterpiece for grandma or grandpa by providing unique items which the child can use to create a collage. Scraps of fabric, yarn, buttons, cotton balls or any other household items can turn an ordinary crayon drawing into a three-dimensional work of art.
Homemade cookies - Take a day to bake with your child. A young one can take pride in having baked his or her own gift batch of cookies, not to mention practicing measures and the importance of following directions.
Storybook - Have a child write and illustrate his or her own story. For a truly memorable gift, once the child has added the final artistic touches to the story, take the book to the local copy center where the pages can be bound inexpensively into a booklet, or even duplicated to share with other family members.
Herb garden - An herb garden is an inexpensive, exciting gift for a child to give when he or she is the one who has planted the seeds. Show the child how much water and light the seeds require, and watch the child take pride in raising the seeds into edible herbs.
A word to the wise: In the event that something should go wrong, it wouldn't hurt to have a backup gift just in case!
