KidPicks: Homemade Holiday Gifts Kids Can Make

It’s that season again, moms and dads, to dream up ways on how to 1) keep the kids busy over winter break and 2) make sure that they give as much as they receive.  Thankfully, FamilyFun has helped me to solve this problem for many years — and their new ideas don’t disappoint!  Take a look!  Here are my favorites that my kids will be crafting starting this week.

           

But, again, these are only a very FEW of the ideas here — at FamilyFun.com:

 http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/holiday_gifts_ms/

So I’m making my list of crafting/grocery materials today, for one gift idea per day.  That should keep us busy AT HOME all day, every day until Christmas.  And, high on my list, it should keep the spending under control.
Last year, we made a hit together with big glass jars (about $3.00 each) that we filled with homemade dry hot cocoa mix (very inexpensive).  We made it appealing to the eye when we topped it inside with chocolate chips and marshmallows, added bows and jingle bells to the lids, and a card from the family.  Everyone loved it and finished every sip of it — plus they had a decorated jar to save. You can even buy paint pens to design your own jars with names and the kids’ drawings.

The best gift that I receive each holiday season is watching each of my kids’ expectant faces — almost glowing — when someone is about to open a present that they have made with their little hands.  And it’s a gift to a child, too, to reveal to them that they can make someone feel loved with their time and thoughtfulness.  It’s empowering and does wonders for a child’s understanding of the fulfillment one experiences in giving in their relationships and in appreciating the priceless intangibles of cheer and love in this now very consumer-crazy,  quantified and material season.

So let’s sit down for leisurely time with the kids at the kitchen table and do some of these crafts.  It will return to our homes the joys of Christmas before busy commercialization and frantic consumerism overtook its magic.  And if you’ve got that shopping addiction like I used to — you know, when it just feels good to be breezing in and out the door with bags — I totally understand.  There is indeed a painful withdrawal from it at first (because, hey, spending can have a euphoric drug-like effect for a tired soul), but you DO eventually rediscover that warm feeling and satisfaction that you had when you were little if you just slow down and take it in.

It makes me proud when there’s one less mass manufactured gift that they just picked up with mom at the store.  Now, isn’t that a better feeling than simply picking up a flat, boring gift card? LOL

And another big plus — the TV is off for long periods of time…and no one is yelling that it’s his turn to hold the remote control!  Is that an actual conversation that I hear going on at the table?  LOL

~ by Galvanized on December 11, 2007.