How to Help Children Create Items to Give Away
- 1). Consult your child for ideas of crafts they'd be interested in. Even a child as young as 3 years old has strong opinions about what she wants to make, what color it should be and who she wants to give it to. Set some safety rules and cost parameters, then let your child guide the creative part of the project -- making things will be more fun for both of you.
- 2). Protect the workspace. Children and craft supplies are a messy combination. If possible, choose to work at a space with an easily washed floor like tile or linoleum. At minimum, cover the worktable with a vinyl tablecloth and dress the little artist in old clothes -- either his own or an old T-shirt of yours for full body coverage.
- 3). Make cards. Little kids love to give cards, whether the occasion is a birthday, Christmas or Valentine's Day. New writers will have fun copying out a personalized message with help from you. Fold a piece of construction paper in two and let the child decorate with stickers, hand-drawn art, cutouts from last years' received cards for Christmas or lace doilies for Valentine's Day. Don't stop at just one -- both sets of grandparents and much-loved aunts, uncles and godparents will want a homemade card, too.
- 4). Frame that cute face. If you know the grandparents in your child's life will treasure a copy of his school picture, make it even more special and help your child create the frame. Craft stores sell wooden "popsicle sticks" in varying colors and thicknesses. Glue four together in a frame that will fit the picture and let your child decorate it. Letter stickers that spell out "I love Grandma" or "Grandpa is the best" would be a nice touch.
- 5). Say it with clay. Modeling clay, especially the kind that can be baked hard, makes all kinds of items that children can give away as gifts. Roll some out and let your child make a handprint that will last forever. Roll out more, press shapes with cookie cutters, poke a hole at the top with a sharp pencil for the addition of a post-baking ribbon hanger, and let your kids decorate a dozen or more Christmas tree ornaments. Ashtrays are out of fashion, but a small cup for paper clips and rubber bands will grace Grandpa's desk with pride.