Christmas Gifts for Children and their Families
Consider giving a toy that has been carefully passed on for years. Make your own recycled cards, ornaments and wrapping paper.
In this lens you will find suggestions for ways to spend more time with your children while making their Christmas one that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Giving the Gift of Time...
Photo Credit: Christmas Tree with Presents
from Karen's Whimsey
Christmas Gifts for Children Table of Contents
Photo Credit: Popcorn String
Used under creative commons
- Unique Eco-Friendly Christmas Ornaments
- Recycled Christmas Cards
- Christmas Cutouts Make Unique Gifts
- Do you give Christmas gifts from recycled materials?
- Iron Your Wrapping Paper
- Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper
- Food for Santa's Reindeer
- Countdown to Christmas!
- Tatting Christmas Ornaments
- Popcorn Strings for Christmas
- Teaching Time empowers Children!
- How are you going to make this Christmas inexpensive and Eco-friendly?
Christmas Toys that have Stood the Test of Time
Passing on Christmas Gifts for Children
Girl Playing with Doll House
Available at AllPosters.com
Before you go out and buy something new that will get thrown away before the New Year, consider giving a toy that has been loved by other children so much that it is has been carefully passed on for years.
Talk with older relatives to see if they are ready to pass on some of the toys that you played with as a child.
As a child one of my favorite toys was a set of farm animals that my Grandmother brought it out whenever we went to visit. One Christmas she wrapped them up and gave it to my sister and I. It is one of the few presents that I still remember and have kept. This year I will pass them on to my children.
Eco-friendly toys like this may be found in Grandma's Attic or in a big brother's closet. Are they ready to pass these toys on yet?
Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Ornaments
Eco-Friendly Christmas Gifts for Children to Make
Mouse Christmas
Available at Allposters
My grandmother made all her own Christmas ornaments and all of the children helped. We made bells from aluminum foil wrapped around egg carton sections and stars from cereal boxes covered in glitter and glue.
After Christmas was over we carefully wrapped each decoration in tissue paper to be used again next year.
Not only were we recycling the packaging that came into the house but we were spending time together, a gift that is more valuable than gold.
Photo Credit: Walnut Shell Mouse
Used under creative commons
- Walnut Shell Christmas Mouse
- Make A Sleeping Mouse
- Gilded walnut shells for the Christmas Tree
- Gilded walnut shells suspended from colored ribbons looked pretty. The walnuts were covered with gilt paper, or dropped in gold or silver paint.
- Craft Elf_Free Crafts_Christmas Card Ornament
- Made from recycled Christmas cards this project is a great math (shapes) lesson for school children.
- Egg Carton Craft
- School holidays and rainy days are an ideal time to recycle those old egg cartons into works of art. Ask your parent or guardian before starting any of these project.
Unique Eco-Friendly Christmas Ornaments
Searching for Unique Christmas Ornaments
Photo Credit: glitter acorns ornaments (set of 2)
Available on Amazon
Look for unique Christmas Ornaments in yard sales, church rummage sales and on Ebay. Often you can find very special, one of a kind decorations. Though out the year, I keep my eye out for those unique ornaments that catch my eye.
A few years ago, when my children were very little, they lost one of the pieces to the Nativity Set. Since then I have been searching for the right piece to replace it. This summer I discovered just what I was looking for in a Church Rummage sale.
Another time I found mini gourds which I painted and attached string for the Christmas Tree. Unique finds are everywhere.
I wonder if I could find hand-painted glass balls?
Eco-Friendly Recycled Christmas Cards
Children make Christmas Gifts for Grandparents to Treausure
Christmas cards can be made from left over scrapes, buttons, stickers, school pictures etc.
We have used brown paper grocery bags for painting pictures. After we have finished displaying them we put them in the recycling box. When it's time to make Christmas Cards we cut pieces from the green grass to make the trees.
Photo Credit: The Recycled Christmas Card
on Flickr, Creative Commons
Christmas Card Basket
Children Recycle Christmas Card for Gifts
My grandmother and great-grandmother made baskets like these for each member of the family. As children we would ask about each of the cards. Each one had a story, like a patchwork quilt.The time we spend together making projects are the gift we give not only to ourselves but also to our families.
Photo Credit: Card Basket by bby009
Used under creative commons
- Crafts for Christmas, Crafting with Collectibles Make a Vintage Card Basket
- Want to use your collectibles for Christmas in a different way? Check out a few of these ideas.
Recycled Christmas Cards
Christmas Tags
Christmas Gifts for Children
Time Together or ReMade and Recycled
Bears in the Attic Kruskamp, Janet Available on Allposters
Homecoming Marine Rockwell, Norman Available on Allposters
What kind of gifts will you give to the children in you lives?
ReMade and Recycled
dlcass says:
I can't believe you have the Christmas Card Basket I made when I was younger! Handmade gifts were always a big part of our Christmases, since we were often struggling for money. To this day, I still treasure a handmade gift over a store bought one. I also appreciate receiving a family heirloom.
scarlettohairy says:
Both time and some remade, I think. I love making gifts that can't be bought any where.
Pastiche says:
I usually give books or home made gifts to children in my life. I like to spark fun with learning, and I can usually manage to find something affordable (and that the kids like) at the used book shop or in my crafts basket.
KathyMcGraw says:
I am making all my grandkids something with gourds...the baby will have hers with a dreamcatcher and the others I'm not sure. I find my materials in nature and then make something.
nightcats says:
I am planning to make mini scrapbooks for the kids in my life -- possibly using a recycled cigar box for as the album.
The Gift of Time
daria369 says:
The only thing they were ever interested in were legos...
yourgoldenfuture says:
what they need...
VickiSims says:
I try to give experiences instead of toys.
SofiaMann says:
Spending time with the whole family, including grandparents, uncles and cousins.
deldobuss says:
They will remember the times you spent together. The gifts perhaps not.
“Spend Time with your children. It is the most precious gift you could ever give.”
Christmas Cutouts for Gifts
Give a Christmas Decoration Gift
1. Make copies of these Angel and Santa Claus Color and Cutout Christmas Ornaments Angel and Santa Claus Color and Cutout Christmas Ornaments .
2. Cut out scrap papers to decorate the cutouts.
Younger children could use crayons or paint to color sheets of paper that are then cut out by older children in a collaboration to make a Christmas Present for Grandma.
Finally attach a string to the top and hang on the Christmas Tree.
Christmas Cutouts Make Unique Gifts
Give a Unique Christmas Decoration as a Gift
Do you give Christmas gifts from recycled materials?
Christmas Tree Math
Math Workjobs for Christmas
Photo Credit: http://www.misfittoys.net/misfitsgames.htm
By Victoria on Kinderkorner
Make cutouts of evergreens, paste them on sheets of colored paper and have them laminated
. The math workjob is to add the number of Christmas decorations indicated by the number written at the top. For younger children, there are stars at the bottom so that they can put a decoration on each one to make sure that they have counted correctly making this Christmas Tree Math Workjob self-checking.Thank you to Victoria for sharing this wonderful idea.
- Victoria's Classroom
- Christmas Tree Math Workjob
Recycling Christmas Presents
How might you use recycled materials to make a Christmas Present?
Photo Credit: Vintage Christmas Postcard
on Flickr, Creative Commons
Use old wreaths and add family photos to them for a great wall art piece
2 points
Opening the Christmas Presents
We also had to do all the waiting and cleaning but for us it lasted even longer. We had to take all the Christmas presents to our grandparent's house. Then we had Christmas Dinner, often well after noon. Then we sang all the Christmas Carols that we could remember with all the verses. There were hymnals for those who had forgotten some of the verses.Finally when our voices gave out we were allowed to begin opening presents, but not all at once, oh no. Each person opened his or her present while all the others watched. Thanked the giver and then another present was selected for opening.
Each present had to be opened carefully so that the wrapping paper could be used again next year. Opening presents took a long time that way.
Photo Credit: Opening Christmas Presents
on Flickr, Creative Commons
Iron Your Wrapping Paper
Re-Using Wrapping Paper
Did you know that it is possible to iron wrapping paper?We never bought wrapping paper in my family. We saved every scrap that was given to us, opened each present carefully so as not to rip it, ironed it and put it away in a box for next year. We still have some paper from the 1940's or 1950's.
When the pieces get too small for wrapping a present they can be cut to make tags. The left over scraps are used to decorate Christmas Cards.
Photo Credit: Iron
on Flickr, Creative Commons
- Reuse Wrapping Paper
- How to Reuse Wrapping Paper. Wrapping paper is something worth keeping, for its beauty, its design, or just for sentimental reasons. There are many different ways to reuse wrapping paper. Here are just a few.
- Reusing Wrapping Paper - Personal Finance Forums
- Is it appropriate to reuse wrapping paper for a gift? I have always done this, but I had some relatives over this past week and one of them was
Have you ever ironed Christmas wrapping paper?
Make Your Own Wrapping Paper
Splatter Paint
Splatter painting is a fun way to make your own wrapping paper.
1. You can use old newspaper.
2. Splash paint all over it.
Note:Use the paper that was under a spraypaint project for a cool effect.
3. Take an old toothbrush and dip it in a contrasting color and run your thumb over the bristles to make splatters.
4. Flick paint from a brush.
Note: Wetter paint works better.
5. The eraser of a pencil makes nice dots.
6. Dry the paper thoroughly and wrap your present.
Photo Credit: Splatter Paint on Flickr, Creative Commons
Recycle Christmas Paper for Math Practice
After the Christmas Gifts are Open save the Wrapping Paper
Photo Credit: Snowman Wrapping Paper
Available on Amazon
Christmas wrapping paper often has repeated patterns that can easily be counted.
1. Flatten out the wrapping paper with an iron. Cut the edges to make it even.
2. Laminate or put the sheet inside a page protector.
3. Roll a set of dice to see how many items will be in each set.
4. Skip Count to see how many objects are on the page.
Note: To make this a self-correcting math center activity, write the answer on the back.
Children can wrap gifts in Newspaper Origami
Newspapers can be turned into little boxes to hide treasures for Christmas.In his book, How Children Learn John Holt tells of making boxes from oaktag. First Graders watched him and then began to make them on their own without any pattern. Children love to make things and activities like these help children to understand the concepts of geometry.
Photo Credit: Presents Wrapped in Newspaper
on Flickr, Creative Commons
- Cool Gift Wrap Ideas
- Great gift wrap ideas from two of SA's decor and 'pretty things' gurus
Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper
Christmas Wrapping Paper with a History
Eco-Friendly Reindeer Food for Christmas
Children make Christmas Gifts for for the Reindeer
Santa's Reindeer are hungry after flying all the way from the north pole. You can mix up some Eco-Friendly Reindeer Food and add a bit of Magic Sparkling Dust to help guide the Reindeer to your home.By using simple, biodegradable ingredients such as oatmeal, you will add magic to the Christmas season without spending much money. Your children will delight in feeding Santa's Reindeer.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Denise Van Patten - Doll Collecting at About.com
Used with Permission
Reindeer Food Recipe
1 Tablespoon Magic Sparkling Dust (sugar)
1/2 Cups Oatmeal
1/4 Cups Birdseed
Observe how the sugar crystals sparkle in the light. Mix and sprinkle in the backyard on Christmas Eve.
You could make a container for your reindeer food from paper scraps left over from paper grocery bags. Two of the following links have patterns and directions.
- Magic Reindeer Food Containers
- Make a container to hold your Reindeer Food
- Christmas Crafts with Poems
Reindeer Food Poem
Sprinkle on your lawn at night,
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
Santa's reindeer fly and roam,
This will guide them to your home.
- Lenape Lifeways Medicine Bag
- The Lenape made small bags to carry special personal items in.
Food for Santa's Reindeer
Reindeer Food
Do you leave food for Santa's Reindeer?
Countdown to Christmas
Tatting a Snowflake for a Christmas Ornament
Christmas Gifts Children can make with Grandma
My great grandma made beautiful snowflakes for the Christmas Tree from nothing more than string. I remember her hands moving quickly as she turned the lace one way and the other as it grew into a perfectly formed snowflake. My Great Grandmother taught my grandmother to tat who then taught my daughter. Few people know how to tat now. It is becoming a lost art but it is one that can be revived. Why not try tatting snowflakes for your Christmas Tree this year? It is an inexpensive, eco-friendly project that will make your Christmas Tree look beautiful.Photo Credit: Tatting
from The Netting Needle by Dan Rusch-Fischer
Used by permission
- Needle Tatting
- A short article in the April 1917 issue of Modern Priscilla magazine described both a simulated and true Needle Tatting technique for making rings (Rozelle).
Tatting Christmas Ornaments
Tatting for Christmas
Have you ever made a tatted Christmas Ornament?
Stringing Popcorn for the Christmas Tree
Christmas Gifts from Children for the Birds
Photo Credit: Popcorn Strings
on Flickr, Creative Commons.
A very traditional way of decorating the Christmas Tree is with popcorn. Popcorn is still inexpensive and also Eco-Friendly.
Pop up a big batch of popcorn and use a needle and thread to make it into strings. Once Christmas is over, put it outside, still hanging on the tree for the birds to eat. (No salt please!)
- Oscar Stringing Popcorn
- Artist Katy Bratun
Oscar Stringing Popcorn
Fri, 04/27/2007 - 11:54 - Katy Bratun
Christmas Card, Portal Publications.
Popcorn Strings for Christmas
Stringing Popcorn for the Christmas Tree
Do you string popcorn for your Christmas Tree?
Paper Chain Christmas Decorations
Recycling Magazines to make Paper Chains
John Bull, Paper Chains Decorations Magazine, UK, 1950
Buy at AllPosters.com
Every Christmas my mother would help us decorate the tree for Christmas. We never went to a store to buy anything. We had no access to stores but we did have paper.
My grandmothers and our neighbors subscribed to magazines and would pass them on to us when they were finished. As Christmas neared my mother would suggest that we make paper chains.
We looked for red or green pages, cut them into strips and then glued them together. We made paper chains long enough to wind around the Christmas tree several times. Then we would make chains to drape all around the room.
Making paper chains for Christmas is a wonderful way to recycle unwanted mail, sales flyers or old magazines. It's fun, creative, and free.
How to Make Paper Chains for Christmas the Old-Fashioned Way | eHow.com
How to Make Paper Chains for Christmas the Old-Fashioned more...1 point
Christmas Tree full of Birds
Feed the Birds for Christmas
Christmas Greetings
Available on Allposters
Attract birds to your yard by using a homemade bird feeder made by you. Soon your backyard Christmas Tree will be filled with colorful birds flitting back and forth making an Eco-Friendly, Inexpensive natural Christmas display.
- Make A Bird Feeder
- Attract birds to your yard with this home made bird feeder.
Give the Gift of Time to a Busy Mom or Dad
Downloadable Christmas Gifts
Christmas Morning
Buy This Allposters.com
Take a well-loved children's book, add narration and music and then make it downloadable and you have a wonderful gift for any child.
Not only are these stories appealing to children, but they give Mom or Dad a few minutes of time.
Teaching Time empowers Children!
Give Children Your Time!
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Christmas and Winter Time Lenses
Feathered Friends
Bywaters, Lynn
Buy at AllPosters.com
Reading to children is the best gift you can give them. As you snuggle and read you are giving them the gift of time. Something that can never be replaced.
How are you going to make this Christmas inexpensive and Eco-friendly?
Christmas Morning
Petherick, Rosa...
Buy This Allposters.com
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TamaraKajari Dec 14, 2011 @ 10:56 am | delete
- Ha! My nine year old daughter came from school two days ago with this great craft to show us and it was the exact paper star you're showing below these comments. I was happy to see now that there's at least one thing I do know how to make :) OK, popcorn is easy too, but my teen daughter and I would eat everything before it would even come close to the Christmas tree :) Great lens!
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fanfreluche Dec 6, 2011 @ 6:05 am | delete
- The tree is very eco-friendly: I keep (and ask people I know) to keep all broken (or those they don't want to wear) bead necklaces, so I use many of them in the tree this year. The tree topper is made by my 4 years old with recycle cards and toilet paper roll. There is also an assortment of key chains (for some reason my husband's grand-mother had a huge box of them). The only thing not recycle is some vintage glass ornaments and a LED light garland (really can't have a tree with no lights, but we open it only at night for my son).
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CruiseReady Nov 15, 2011 @ 10:21 am | delete
- I you give gift cards, you can save on wrapping paper which would likely just be thrown away, anyway.
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JziE Nov 3, 2011 @ 1:09 am | delete
- you can save a lot whit this
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scarlettohairy Nov 1, 2011 @ 12:34 pm | delete
- I want to make one (or more) of the Christmas card baskets. I have an older box with a lid made from Christmas cards. It's wonderful!
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AlleyCatLane
Nov 1, 2011 @ 9:49 am | delete
- Wonderful ideas beautifully presented. Blessed! I am adding this article to my go green for Christmas article.
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cgreen7090
Sep 17, 2011 @ 11:20 pm | delete
- LOVED the snowflake below...
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FunkyJewelleryUK
May 26, 2011 @ 6:15 am | delete
- A really lovely lens! I love anything that is eco-friendly, and when it involves getting creative, even better! Nice work :D
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Pinkchic18
Feb 18, 2011 @ 9:46 am | delete
- Very good ideas here! I never knew you could iron wrapping paper. There is some out now that is so flimsy though, I wonder if it wouldn't be hazardous. When I was small, I used to wrap gifts in towels. I still get teased to this day, however it was very eco-friendly! Great lens, blessed by an angel!
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yourgoldenfuture
Jan 13, 2011 @ 3:12 pm | delete
- keep away from all that mass-media -press...
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Philippians468
Jan 10, 2011 @ 6:14 am | delete
- gives me the Christmasy feeling. cheers!
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VickiSims
Dec 28, 2010 @ 8:09 am | delete
- You've provided so many great ideas in this excellent lens! Blessed by a SquidAngel.
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vallain Dec 26, 2010 @ 7:43 pm | delete
- I remember my grandmother making those Christmas card baskets. Thanks for the memory. I'm lensrolling this to my Thrifty Christmas lens and also An Old-Fashioned Christmas.
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mcochs
Dec 24, 2010 @ 1:44 pm | delete
- Awesome lens! Blessed by a Squidoo Angel on 12/24/2010. Have a great day!
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SofiaMann
Dec 22, 2010 @ 6:51 pm | delete
- I love your lens. Congratulations.
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scss Dec 12, 2010 @ 12:26 pm | delete
- Well done, interesting lens on this subject - a big well deserved "Thumbs Up" to your for the work on this lens!
A big and very timely subject to tackle at this time of year - keep up the great work teaching the kids
- Helene Malmsio
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lasertek
Dec 7, 2010 @ 7:23 pm | delete
- We have already gathered all the things that we can reuse and form into beautiful Christmas cards. If we are lucky, we could make more out of it.
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Pastiche
Dec 5, 2010 @ 12:08 pm | delete
- I love to make gifts from recycled goods. My daughter is the queen of remade gifts, and each one is a work of love that's treasured.
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- My mom tells of making paper chains using strips cut from colorful magazine ad pages. This was back in the 1930s. Would work fine today too.
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Dec 3, 2010 @ 11:34 am | delete
- I Love this lens! It is wonderful! Thank you.
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Meet the Author of this Lens
Photo Credit: Christmas Toys
on Flickr, Creative Commons.
Find out what I'm up to when I'm not up in Grandma's attic looking for Antique Christmas Toys.
Christmas in the Kingdom
We made this paper star from 6 sheets of computer paper.
Come write about Inexpensive Christmas ideas on Wizzley, a fun and easy place to express your opinion:
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Evelyn_Saenz
My passion is teaching and finding ways to teach children in fun, hands-on, creative ways. The unit studies I make on Squidoo reflect my view that learning... more »
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