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Giving gifts can be as much fun as receiving, especially when you know you've found the perfect gift. Encourage your children to help make, buy, and wrap gifts for others. Below are ideas for gifts your child can make for friends and family.

 

Bookmarks
Cut bookmark shapes from thick paper. Have your children decorate with markers and holiday stickers. Book marks can be personalized with the recipient's name or with a special interest, such as golf, cooking, science fiction, etc.

Beaded Key Chains
Tie a length of cord onto a key ring. Have children string 3-4 inches of beads onto cord and knot end when done. Letter beads that spell out names or phrases, such as "I Love You", are a fun addition.

Canvas Tote Bags
Provide fabric markers for children to decorate plain canvas bags (available at craft stores). If desired add photos that have been printed on iron-on transfer paper.

Ceramic Coasters
Buy inexpensive porcelain bathroom tiles from a hardware store. Have your children decorate these with porcelain pens available from most craft stores. Bake the tiles according to the directions on the pen box to cure the ink. Attach self adhesive felt to the back of each tile for use as a personalized coaster. Porcelain pens can also be used to decorate cups and plates.

Certificate Holders
Have your children decorate envelopes or small boxes to use as holders for gift certificates you're giving to friends and family. Customize each holder for the certificate it will contain, such as black music notes drawn on a white box to hold an iTunes certificate or photos of movie stars cut from a magazine and glued to an envelope for a movie certificate.

Food Gifts
Have your child help cook and wrap a favorite food treat or assemble a gift food basket, such as a tea and cookie basket for grandma or a cheese and cracker basket for uncle.

Note Cards
Provide blank note cards for your child to decorate with watercolors. Package 6 cards with 6 envelopes and tie with a ribbon for a pretty note card set.

Photo Albums
Buy inexpensive photo albums for your child to decorate with stickers and place a personalized note and special photo on the first page. Or use on-line tools, such as Shutterfly or Snapfish, to create an album of fun photos to give as gifts. Another clever idea for photos is to design personalized postage stamps.

Sachets
Cut approximately 9 inch circles from lace or netting. Place dried herbs, such as lavender, or store bought potpourri in the center of the circle. Gather edges of circle together and tie with a colorful ribbon.

Surprise Balls
Make holiday surprise balls by wrapping red or green crepe paper around a small toy, a piece of candy, and a coin. Fasten end of paper with a sticky gift label with the recipient's name.