Besides gifts to get for kids, there is also the matter of gifts for kids to give.

If your household is anything like ours, your children want to buy or make gifts for their friends or family, but you struggle to come up with ideas that will really be appreciated/used by the recipient (and not just because your child made it).  I mean, does anyone really need a pencil holder made from a crayon-decorated toilet paper tube?

So here are some ideas for things that can be purchased very inexpensively (at the dollar store or the like) that can make truly needed/liked gifts, as well as some suggestions for crafts that kids can make, on their own or with help, that produce a polished end result.

Items we have found at the dollar store, in the Michael’s or Target dollar bins, etc. that get real use include:

• stationery (note cards, in particular)
• office supplies
• snack items
• certain toys for the guys (little mind bender puzzles and such)
• craft supplies (popsicle sticks, clothespins, wiggle eyes, pop-poms, etc.)
• matchbox-type cars
• rubber stamps or colored ink pads
• small totes

We’ve also found dollar store shopping to be a great opportunity to teach our children about distinguishing a good deal from “cheap and will fall apart right away.” Some items at the dollar store are a pretty good purchase; others are just plastic junk.

What if the budget is even more limited, or you prefer to encourage handcrafts?  There are some things that children can do, either on their own or with help from you, that produce useful items.  (Or at least items that can be inherently appreciated, and not just appreciated “because so-and-so made it.”)  They can…

• …decorate bookmarks.  This is a great way to let them simply “create art,” but make it useful.  (Our whole family reads like crazy, so we can about not have too many bookmarks.)
• …make note cards.  (Maybe stamp roses with celery?)
• …fold envelopes, after using a template to cut them out of magazine pages.
• …put their artwork on something.  If you’re willing to engage in a joint endeavor, you can take a piece of their artwork and transfer/copy/paint/embroider/whatever that art onto a purchased item such as a mug, throw pillow, mouse pad, etc. (Right now, use this link to get $13 off at InkGarden.)
• …do freezer-paper stenciling.  You cut out and adhere the stencil, then let them do the painting.
• …make the classic tissue-paper-covered votives, or these similar leafy candle jars.
• …do needle felting.  (Older kids ONLY!  This is a very simple craft, but the needle felting tools are very sharp.)
• …mod podge appliqué some rocks.  Bundle them together in a small thrifted basket or tin to create a Joshua Basket (as seen in Celebrations of Faith, which, by the way, is an excellent book).
• …make dance streamers for a friend or sibling.
• …make moon sand for a friend or sibling.
• …assemble matchbook needle cases.
• …paint jars to make them vintage-y.

Do you have other ideas for gifts children can make?  Please share!