CHILDREN AND GIFTS

Marilyn Lopes
Extension Specialist, Family Life Education
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension
University of Massachusetts

Copyright/Access Information

Gift giving is a way to encourage young people to develop an awareness of others and to experience the pleasure that giving brings. When a child gives a gift that he or she has made, the gift becomes something special - an extension of self.

In an era when the marketing of toys has become a mega-business, there is still room, indeed, need for children to both give and receive imaginative and inexpensive gifts.

Children should be encouraged to decide on specific gift ideas themselves (with some guidance from adults). Very young children understand the giving of tangible gifts - a craft or project they have made - rather than the concept of giving money or buying gifts with money. Many of the simple projects that children do at day care can be "saved" and given for a special day. A gift of service or time - such as feeding the dog or visiting a shut-in (with an adult) - is often overlooked but much appreciated in these busy times. Packaging a gift in a creative way can be another project.

Here are some ideas for gifts you can make with the children:


SCENTED CINNAMON ORNAMENTS

4 oz. cinnamon (about one cup)
3/4 cup applesauce
1 tablespoon each nutmeg and cloves
2 tablespoons white glue

Combine cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Add applesauce and glue. Stir to combine. Work mixture with hands 2 or 3 minutes until dough is smooth. Divide dough into 4 portions, and roll each to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough with cookie cutters of desired shapes. Use straw or toothpick to make a small hole at the top of ornament. Place cutouts on wire rack and allow to dry at room temperature for several days. Thread ribbon through hole in ornament. DO NOT EAT!


A BOOK ABOUT . . .

A book made from cutout pictures and other materials that a child chooses can be a gift for grandparents or other extended family members. Paste the chosen materials on thin cardboard, punch holes for tying together, and use ribbon to tie the pages together.


POTPOURRI SACHETS

You need about 2 cups of fresh flower petals, several cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon cloves, 1 tablespoon allspice (or similar spice if the cost of allspice is too high), fabric netting - cut in eight-inch circles, and colorful narrow ribbons.

Mix petals with spices; leave in covered bowl for one week. Place some of mixture in center of net circles, gather and tie with ribbon. Great for tucking in drawers and closets!

DOCUMENT USE/COPYRIGHT
National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Part of CYFERNET, the National Extension Service Children Youth and Family Educational Research Network. Permission is granted to reproduce these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only(not for profit beyond the cost of reproduction) provided that the author and Network receive acknowledgment and this notice is included:

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC.
(1993). Children and gifts. In M. Lopes (Ed.) CareGiver News (December,
p.3). Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension.

Any additions or changes to these materials must be preapproved by the author.