Someone told me today that there are nine weekends left until Christmas Day. Uh, no stress there at all!
That thought made me think about children and gifts and this article written by Pam Leo, author of Connection Parenting, and available over at Waldorf In The Home here. It speaks eloquently about slowing down the season, really choosing how we use our time, and how children love the preparation of the holidays….
Which led me to think about gifts that children love to make and give. I have some tried and true favorites, including:
- Candle dipping
- Dipping pinecones into beeswax as fire starters (you can see instructions in the book “Earthways”
- Wet felted ornaments
- Homemade bath salts, bath bombs, homemade soap
- Peppermint bark
- Homemade cookies
Here is a great list of 40 gifts children can make for the holidays: at Happy Hooligans.
This was listed as a gift a teen could make – a fish clock!
And what about what to make for our children?
Here are ideas for 70 toys to make for children.
For teen girls, I was thinking of a custom made rack with knobs to hold jewelry or belts, or homemade hair accessories, knit or crocheted hats, scarves or mittens.
For teen boys, I was thinking of tie-dyed clothing, art that had on it custom quotes or sayings, knit scarves or hats.
Please share your holiday plans for crafting!
Many blessings,
Carrie
The Parenting Passageway 
Smashing post, thanks Carrie.
I really like the fish clock!
I recently had the girls dye wool felt, which we are using to make autumn leaf book marks. I think we will use them as Christmas gifts. We dyed the wool using professional acid dyes, but Kool Aid works just as well, ash is much safer (!) for little ones.
You simply soak the felt for an hour or two, then put an inch or two of water in a roasting tin & lay your felt on top of the water.
Sprinkle on your dry, powdered Kool Aid (the colours will spread & mix with the water & heat)
Heat on the stove top until the water is clear (keep checking with a spoon)
Leave to cool completely
Rinse out & dry.
We then cut out leaf shapes, blanket stitched around & added a (hand dyed) piece of yarn to make a book mark.
You can see a photo of the bookmark my youngest made here:
http://raisinglittleshoots.wordpress.com/2014/10/17/week-7/
Thank you as always for your thoughtful writing.
Lynn
I love that, Lynn!
Blessings,
Carrie
Thanks for sharing your gift ideas for the holidays!! I would go with Candle dipping and Homemade cookies.
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