When holiday time comes around, it’s important for children to get into the spirit of giving, not just receiving. Since children often don’t have their own money to buy gifts, helping them make homemade gifts for friends and relatives can be a great way of teaching them what it means to give. It can also be a way to occupy them on days off from school and to just have a lot of fun.
Jennifer Bunt’s experience with children started at the age of 12 when she began babysitting. Years later she gave up her teaching career to work as a nanny for a celebrity family, which allowed her to travel the world while she created fun and exciting experiences for her charges. Today Bunt is married with two children of her own, and she works hard to keep her kids’ days filled with entertaining and educational events, from field trips, crafts and cooking to just playing. Here she describes some holiday gifts you can make with your children:
- Self-esteem. According to Bunt, helping kids make homemade gifts can build their confidence and self-esteem. Kids get a little ego boost knowing that they are making something that a person they know will enjoy getting as a gift.
- Cooking. Making cutout cookies can be very fun for younger children, as it’s a little like playing with modeling clay or dough and it’s very creative.
- Writing. Having kids write stories or draw pictures is also a great way to create homemade gifts, and you can even have everything bound in a book or laminated to give it a professionally published look.
- Time. Another wonderful gift for kids to give their parents or grandparents is their time. Cleaning up the house, running errands or doing yard work is a great way to show love and appreciation at the holidays, and kids will likely be happy knowing that they are needed, and that their efforts can make a difference to someone they love.
For more holiday ideas for kids, check out the following organizations or websites:
Creative Kids at Home: Holiday Ideas
www.creativekidsathome.com/activities/holidays.html
Family Fun: Homemade Hanukkah Menorah
family.go.com/crafts/season/feature/dony127project/dony127project2.html
Mars Bright Ideas: Christmas
www.marsbrightideas.com/christmas/
The Family.com: Holiday Ideas for Kids
www.thefamily.com/kids/togtholidays.html
Bethany Roberts’ Christmas Fun for Kids
www.bethanyroberts.com/Christmasfun.htm
Child Fun: Christmas
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