Blog » Simple Christmas Gift Ideas

Simple Christmas Gift Ideas

Posted January 20, 2009

Dear Kitty,

I remember you saying last year that parents should try to keep their child's Christmas gifts simple and meaningful.  I think you had a list of some less commercial gift ideas for different age groups.  Is it possible you could repeat that list?

Yes! I would be happy to print that list again. Some of the most popular gifts - those that have a long play-life after Christmas - are either homemade or put together at home once you've bought or scavenged the right supplies.  Among my favorites are Kits like the ones I've listed below.

Finding an interesting container and putting the child's name on the box ('Johnathan's Craft Kit') makes a kit personal from the moment of opening.  I've always felt more excited about giving a Kit for Christmas or birthdays because I've made it myself. Use your imagination and add extras that I haven't thought of.

I've mixed the age groups so you'll need to sort out what is safe and would be interesting for your individual child.

  • Doctor's Kit:  inexpensive but real stethoscope (under $20), band-aids, tape, bandages, tensor bandage, tongue depressor, mask, cotton balls, clear gloves, small blue plastic bed liner, rubber tubing like an IV, etc.  These can be found in a homecare pharmacy. A small, layered tool box works well as a container.
  • Craft Kit:  school glue, toothpicks, lace, ric-rac, cut up yarn, dyed pasta, little pine cones, ribbon, rice and glitter to sprinkle over blobs of glue, sewing scraps, etc.  All these can be used to create collages on construction paper, sturdy paper plates or other shapes and colors of paper or cardboard that you supply with the craft kit.  As the year goes on, replenishment will be necessary.
  • Carpenter's Kit: small apartment hammer, large nails, pieces of styrofoam to 'pound' nails into, measuring tape, tool belt, etc.
  • Tool Kit: some small but real tools like hammer, pliers, small wrenches of different sizes, measuring tape, blunt screw driver, etc. Be sure to include small versions of some of the same tools they see you working with.
  • Art Kit: sketch pad, crayons, charcoal if old enough, markers, paints, apron
  • Science Kit: magnifying glass, magnets, inexpensive binoculars, books on spiders, trees, flowers, etc.


Other good gifts ideas:

  • Musical instruments.  Inexpensive but real instruments are much better than 'toy' instruments.  You can add one or two items to this collection each year until you have a whole band. (Look in a music store rather than a toy store.)
  • Sets of zoo animals or farm animals and sets of small, movable people.  Special baskets for each set.  The Zoo is a good place to shop.
  • A wrapped up box of Kleenex for a toddler to 'explore' Christmas morning.  Also her own roll of toilet paper!
  • New batch of home-made playdough plus cookie cutters, garlic press, child's rolling pin, etc.  Hey, this is almost a "kit"!
  • A real flashlight with rechargable batteries and charger
  • A book of family pictures, designed to be 'explored' by your child.
  • Dominos or poker chips are fun for toddlers or older kids who can play the games.
  • Blocks, puzzles
  • Games (Zingo, Birdopoly, deck of cards)


Please send me your ideas and I'll pass them on!

(0) comments

Filed under: Interesting Parenting Matters

Comment Form