It is official.  November 1 means the beginning of shopping for presents.

So I decided to scout around for Almost Free Gifts for the Kiddos.  As the magazines start rolling in, hopefully, so will the creative ideas for bottom-of-the-budget-bucket gifts. 

The criteria:

1. Imaginative. 
2. Not over $7.99

First off, we aren’t going to find anything in the Toy Aisle that meets this criteria, but perhaps we can shop down some of the other aisles.

Homemade Play Dough Set

Play Dough definitely can cause the imagination to whirl in high gear, and kids of both genders and many ages love it.  Play Dough is mainly Flour, Salt, Water, a little Oil, Cream of Tartar, and a little elbow grease plus either food coloring or glitter or both.  Make 4 double batches and really WoW the kiddos with volume.  Here is a recipe I use.  http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,199,150177-253203,00.html

Now hit your Dollar Store.  Buy a rolling pin, some cookie cutters,  storage containers for the Play Dough, Google Eyes, some Aprons, etc. . .  My guess is that you have spent around $7.00 for several hours of fun!!!  The items pictured below are all from Dollar Tree and sell for $1.00

Bake a Cake Collection:

How many times have you heard the kiddos ask, “Can I help you cook?”  They love “helping”, it just takes some patience and time on our part.  Here is a gift that will create a memory.  Buy a Cake Mix, and some Baking Supplies for your Sous Chef, and wrap them up with a large Coupon For Cooking This Friday At 2:00.  A specific time and date helps as the mini chef won’t spring the coupon on you the same day you are having 20 guests over for Christmas Caroling.  It also gives the mini chef some time to anticipate and discuss with you the upcoming cooking date.   Here are some ideas from Dollar Tree (where everything is a dollar)–plastic cake saver, measuring cups and spoons, spatula, apron, cake pan, cake decorations, etc. . .  The measuring cups I bought my kiddos have ended up in the bathtub toys collection and then moved out to the sandbox where millions of mud pies were made.  Fantastic.  A gift that keeps the imagination sparking and sparkling.

The Post Office:

I grew up in South America where they love more than anything to stand in lines for “official stamps” on everything.  I remember being mesmerized by the sound of a rubber stamp banging down on an envelope or official document.  My father had some rubber stamps at his desk, and we loved to steal them along with some envelopes and writing paper and play Post Office.  When I taught kindergarten, one of the favorite play stations was The Post Office.  Why not create this same fun for your kiddos. 

The Mail Box:  Grocery stores are happy to part with cardboard boxes.  Get a couple of boxes, a box cutter, and some duct tape to make a mailbox.  Spray paint the cardboard to make it easy.

              

• “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Moore
• a chapter for Laura Ingalls’ Wilder’s series on Christmas
• Becky’s Christmas by Tasha Tudor.  This is out of print and expensive, but perhaps your library still carries a copy.
• The chapter about the Christmas Pageant from “ Year Down Yonder” by Richard Peck
• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey with CD: Gift Edition
• On a Wintry Morning by Dori Chaconas
• A Cowboy Christmas: The Miracle at Lone Pine Ridge by Audrey Wood
• An old tale that was adapted by Leo Tolstoy (yes The Leo Tolstoy) and retold by Mig Holder.  Papa Panov’s Special Day  I prefer the edition illustrated by Tony Morris, but couldn’t find it on Amazon.
• Benny’s Flag  This isn’t a Christmas story, but it is about Alaska, an orphan boy, and the Alaskan Flag.  It is definitely a “cold” read with a heart-warming real-life story line.  You could also bring out the references to stars in Benny’s Flag and the Star that guided the Wise Men to the CHRIST CHILD.
• Another non-christmas story, but an excellent fireside read.  This picture book is about the Nazi occupation of Denmark and the legend of King Christian.  Again, you can discuss the meaning of the Star of David. The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark
• I can’t help it, I love this book of woodblock prints.  Educational, yes.  Beautiful, yes. Suitable for a fireside read, yes.  It is just a family being and growing (watch the mommy) together.  Simple. A Year of Birds by Ashley Wolff.

 

  

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Now are these memories about gifts? or about a time spent with loved ones?  As a mom, so often I get stuck in the “things” category, when the kiddos so love activities.  Plan a winter hike.  Fill the thermos with hot soup and take along a loaf of crusty fresh bread wrapped in some towels and foil.  Kids love to carry backpacks, so let them carry their spoon bowl, drink, and napkin.  Tuck in some candy when they aren’t looking.  Take flashlights if it will get even remotely “darkish”.  Kids love flashlights.  Pack the car.  Hit the road.  Bundle up. Hike.  Enjoy the soup along the way.  Don’t forget to take wet-wipes, kleenex, camera, and a Ziploc bag for bringing home any trash.

I hope this triggered some ideas in your home.  I’m going to try and post some more gift ideas–say “$20.00 and Under”, and maybe “That Dad You Love So Much, but Don’t Know What to Buy”, and maybe “Quailty Gifts for Kiddos that Last”.  Of course, this is all what I’d like to accomplish, not what I will accomplish. 

jum, jum (an Eloisism for please miss me a little while I am away, but other than that have a great day.)

–rebecca