Christmas is here and it's time to go Christmas shopping. Yes, our intention was to be finished by now and have the presents neatly wrapped, but, even if we've begun to shop, there are still people on our lists.
We often do a unit study in December and take lots of Christmas field trips. Part of our Christmas homeschooling is making gifts. We have made wreaths, ornaments, quick breads, cookies, and, even, perfume. All the gifts we made for folks fall on the subject of homemaking or art. You can teach sewing, serging, quilting, cross-stitching, baking cooking, canning, and handwriting during the gift-making process.
Gifts to Give to Neighbors, Friends, & Extended Families
We often do a unit study in December and take lots of Christmas field trips. Part of our Christmas homeschooling is making gifts. We have made wreaths, ornaments, quick breads, cookies, and, even, perfume. All the gifts we made for folks fall on the subject of homemaking or art. You can teach sewing, serging, quilting, cross-stitching, baking cooking, canning, and handwriting during the gift-making process.
Gifts to Give to Neighbors, Friends, & Extended Families
Beside the usual fudge and Christmas cookies, here are some ideas for gift giving:
- Pretty dish with a casserole inside that just needs heating up
- Ceramic loaf pan with a loaf of freshly baked bread
- Photo album or frame with pictures in it
- Scrapbook with a page finished by you and the kids
- Inspirational book
- Christmas mugs with hot chocolate packets or herbal tea bags in them
Gift Baskets
Another idea is to give theme baskets. Sew up a decorative cloth liner (or simply serge the edges of a square piece of pretty material). School time can be putting together these baskets (sorting for your preschooler/homemaking for the older children!). So, here are some baskets for the....
Seamstress: needle assortment, thread, tape measure, thimble, pins, pin cushion
Coffee Drinker: assortment of coffees, mug, coffee cake
Tea Drinker: assortment of teas, clotted cream, scones, tea cup
Student: dictionary, thesaurus, pencils, pens, calculator, pencil sharpener, index cards
Handyman: screwdrivers, wrenches, nails, screws, hammer, laser leveler, flashlight
Knitter: assortment of yarns and needles
Traveler: gum, mints, Suduko/Crossword books, paperback, travel size toiletries
Movie Watcher: gift card to Blockbuster, popcorn, movie candy
Gifts to Give to Each Other
Another idea is to give theme baskets. Sew up a decorative cloth liner (or simply serge the edges of a square piece of pretty material). School time can be putting together these baskets (sorting for your preschooler/homemaking for the older children!). So, here are some baskets for the....
Seamstress: needle assortment, thread, tape measure, thimble, pins, pin cushion
Coffee Drinker: assortment of coffees, mug, coffee cake
Tea Drinker: assortment of teas, clotted cream, scones, tea cup
Student: dictionary, thesaurus, pencils, pens, calculator, pencil sharpener, index cards
Handyman: screwdrivers, wrenches, nails, screws, hammer, laser leveler, flashlight
Knitter: assortment of yarns and needles
Traveler: gum, mints, Suduko/Crossword books, paperback, travel size toiletries
Movie Watcher: gift card to Blockbuster, popcorn, movie candy
Gifts to Give to Each Other
When Shine was little, she would go into our rooms and re-wrap things that belonged to us and put them under the Christmas tree. I have unwrapped my own jewelry and Mike has unwrapped his own T-shirt from Shine. Now, that is an inexpensive way to give presents to one another!
The best gifts are always gifts of time. These can cost money (such as a lunch out together) or cost the giver time rather than money (back rub, pedicure, free babysitting). Think about drawing names or pitching in together for each person if money is tight. Your child could take fabric paint and decorate shirts, tote bags, or cloth photo albums to give to siblings. A school day could be devoted to working on gifts for other family members. Every child can find a private place to work undisturbed--this would take a miracle in my house.
Gifts for Your Children
The best gifts are always gifts of time. These can cost money (such as a lunch out together) or cost the giver time rather than money (back rub, pedicure, free babysitting). Think about drawing names or pitching in together for each person if money is tight. Your child could take fabric paint and decorate shirts, tote bags, or cloth photo albums to give to siblings. A school day could be devoted to working on gifts for other family members. Every child can find a private place to work undisturbed--this would take a miracle in my house.
Gifts for Your Children
Yes, I let my children make a gift list, but I also see giving gifts as a way of building my children up in the Lord and communicating what is valuable. Giving Bible study tools (concordance, Bible dictionary, Bible handbook), a new Bible, inspirational Christian book or CD, or Bible Study Workbook is a common practice in our house. I love to give my children books, communicating that books are valuable and reading is a joy!
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