Gifts from the Heart: A Child Life Specialist's Guide to Kid-Approved Homemade Presents
By Ashley Pagenkopf, MS, CCLS, Child Life Specialist at Cook Children's
Whew! We have almost made it through another holiday season. School has wrapped up and now it’s time for the mad dash to finish all the gifts and stocking stuffers.
I recently wrote a guide to fostering gratitude and I mentioned the importance of teaching our children how to be good givers. This year, my husband and I decided to give our kids a small budget and asked them to think about what they wanted to get for each other and a few extended family members.
Our girls truly love to create, and it is through their creations that we see their unique style and natural talents shine. They pour their heart and genuine thoughts into every gift they make.
Just looking around my mother's house, I see she has treasured and kept so many of the things my girls have made for her over the years. In fact, many of the homemade gifts they've given me are my absolute favorites of all! Homemade gifts are the most thoughtful because they come straight from the heart and represent time lovingly spent on the creation.
Thinking of homemade gifts doesn't have to be daunting! I tapped into the expertise of our resident artists at Cook Children's, Sydney Peel and Suzanne Minatra, to share simple, fun ideas that your kids can create this year. Imagine transforming dollar store finds into beautiful, one-of-a-kind treasures.
The artists shared several fantastic projects that are easy to complete on a very small budget and require minimal time.
Do-It-Yourself Swirly Shaped Crayons
These are a great gift for kids to give to other kids. They can be molded into different shapes and are fun to color with.
- Peel used crayons
- Break the crayons into small chunks
- Place the crayon pieces in shaped silicone mold of choice
- Melt in oven until swirly (with the help of an adult)
- Let cool completely
Do-It-Yourself Keychains and Bag Charms
Keychains and bag charms are a great option for school-aged kids and teens to give to the adults in their life. They can be created with:
- Clips
- Strings or ribbons
- Assorted beads
- Letter beads
Many bead kits should have everything you would need for this, but items can be purchased separately. These are fun because they can be used on purses, bags, keychains, and so much more!
Air-Dry Clay
Air-dry clay is fun and forgiving! It’s a wonderful medium for kids to work with, offering endless possibilities for creative projects. Once dry, the finished pieces can be enhanced with acrylic paint, paint markers, regular markers, or a clear glaze coating.
Textured clay ornaments make a wonderful gift for family members or teachers. Here's what you'll need to create them:
- Air-dry clay
- Ribbon or string (for hanging)
- Texturing tools (texture rollers, mats, or DIY items like lace or stamps)
- Cookie cutters
- Acrylic paint and paintbrushes
You can also create adorable hand or foot mold ornaments with air-dry clay. These are some of my most cherished ornaments on my tree—we even have our dog’s paw print!
Gift-giving doesn't need to be hard, complicated, or expensive. These simple, last-minute ideas help us teach our children how to give gifts that express their personality and offer the true value of time and thoughtfulness.
“Handmade gifts are a perfect way to add a special memory into the holiday season," Peel shared. "Having children make handmade gifts not only allows them to learn about the gift of giving but also gives family and friends special keepsakes to enjoy for years to come.”
Don’t underestimate what your kids are capable of. I have found that when my kids make a gift for someone, they don’t want to stop. They want everyone to have a piece of their he(art)!
