It’s the time of the year when thoughts turn toward seasonal holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you have kids under the age of seven, they tend to be the focus of the Christmas gift-giving. However, there is no reason why they can’t participate in the giving as well. No, you don’t need to give a three-year-old a huge gift allowance and online shopping privileges. You can make some very simple gifts for close friends and family.
Children who love to sew can created unique embroidered art work. Take a sheet of thick card and draw a simple picture on it. Then punch small holes around the picture. The child can sew in and out of the holes. Frame the finished product.
Another wonderful idea that is a little more labor-intensive is the shadow portrait. Older children can cut these by themselves, while younger children can take photos. Have the kids pose sideways in a silhouette fashion. Print out the best photos or pull them up on your computer and trace around the silhouette. Cut it out in black paper and place it on a white backing, then frame the entire thing.
Preschoolers can also create dyed play silks for friends and young family members. Get a white silk scarf and some natural dyes like the water left over from boiling beets and cabbage. Add some vinegar to the dye. Your child can place the silk into the dye and stir, stir, stir. Let the silk dry and tie it up with a bow.
Love clay? Make Christmas ornaments out of natural clay or make some simple white clay out of baking soda and cornstarch. White clay feels good, smells good, and dries with a slightly shiny and easy-to-paint patina. Stir together 1 cup cornstarch, 2 cups baking soda, and 1 ¼ cups water in a saucepan at medium heat until the mixture feels like squishy mashed potatoes. Knead it and allow it to cool, and then roll it out and use cookie cutters to make sweet ornaments.
A homemade book or CD is always a hit with the grandparents. Record your child playing or singing and burn copies of this onto CDs for the relatives. Or have your child illustrate a book and tell a story, then use an online program to turn this story into a memory book.
What are your kids making for Christmas?