~I always have the kids make something from the Makit products. They have some pretty inexpensive personalized things. Every year I make a calendar foreach family through them. This year my kids made a coaster that can be put on a small easel for a coffee or end table. To top it off, Igive each family a personalized ornament.(I orderthe ornaments from a gal I found on ebay, not makit products.)Overall, everything costs me less than $20 per family.

Hannah

~Every year I give my parents a Disk that has all the pictures and video that I have taken of all the kids throughout the year so they can have their own copy of that year for themselves. I set it up like a slide show and they all love it.

Angela Hanson

~Gifts for the parents: I usually do something with pictures of the kids - last year, a cute close-up picture of the child in front of my tree in a Christmas frame, the year before I picked 12 of the best pictures of the year of each child/family, took them to Kinko's and had them create a monthly calendar of the child for each family. I have kind of a tradition of giving the Moms a Snowman tea light from Kohl's - a couple of them have 5 or 6 by now!

Prior to my digital camera, when I printed a majority of the pictures, I had the children help my create a photo album of the child for their parents.

I'd love some ideas of gifts the kids can give their parents - I like things that the KIDS actually do, so that is tough!

Karen Bradley
Karen's Kids Child Care

~I was just at Michaels last night and found some large wood (real thin wood) snow flakes, $1 each plus they were on sale!
My kids are all pretty little so, here is my plan: I am going to spray paint them all white this weekend, both sides. I have already taken pictues of the kids playing outside in the leaves this fall, plus some other pic's from over this year. The kids will get to pick a picture they want, 'we' will crop itto fit in thecenter of the snowflake. I have some mounting sticky things, that will have the pic stand out a bit. Then the kids and Iwill paint the snowflakes with light (watery) glue, and sprinkle clear (or blue) glitter all of the snowflake.Attachsome fishing line and let dry....they will be able to take them home by the end of the week

For HERE at Lil' Tykes; we are going to make a bulletin board for the parent.
I am going to get a new bulletin board (mine is shot with holes) and WE aregoing to 'decorate' it for the Holidays. (with sticky foam pieces, wrapping paper, etc.
Then each family will have a 'spot' on the bulletin board theirchild will get to put 'stuff' for one week at a time. It will be cutier than it sounds. Really it will!!!!!!!!!!!
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This is not new but you may not have used it. I have gotten plain white or cream colored table runners and painted the kids hands with green into a wreath shape use pinky fingers in red to be the holly and add a red bow. Make-It usually has adorable items calendars etc to make. We make an ornament every day in December so I shy away from that. Michelle

Make a votive candle from glass baby food jars. you can paint the outside with
glitter glue and decorate with garland picks and ribbon. make picture frames out of foam any style you want decorate with foam shapes. Then add a picture of the child. Start at the beginning of the year with a calandar have the kids decorate the page and add a picture from that month of the child do this all year and giv e it to the parents for
christmas,you get two things done at the same time. But I just do my regular activities and give the kids gifts. Only on special events I give parents gifts, I beleive all the crafts I do are their gifts and memories. Jackie

We are making Santa Soup Jars

I am taking each child's photo and then putting them on the front of a quart canning jar with the label "Emily's Santa Soup"with the child makinga santa hat on the lid.

The children will fill the jars as follows:

1 envelope of Knorrs dried veg. soup mix

2 chicken bullion cubes or two tbls dried bullion

Fill the bottle with egg noodles

(Parsley or other spices you like in soup could be added too. Just layer them in the bottom before the egg noodles).

A note will contain the recipe to complete the soup:

Brown 3 cubed chicken breasts in a tbsp. of olive oil.

Add contents of jar with two quarts of water.

Enjoy with your child! HO HO HO!!

Elaine

Paint the childrens hand on the side of this poem: Add the child's picture and frame it.

Sometimes you get discouraged

Because I am so small

And always leaving my fingerprints

On furniture and walls

But every day I'm growing

I'll be big someday

And all those tiny handprints

Will surely fade away

So here's a little handprint

Just so you can recall

Exactly how my fingers looked

When I was very small

Love,

Date

Trace the children's foot and brown foam and their hands on light brown/beige.

Have them cut them out. Glue the hands (antlers) on the top of the foot

Add wiggle eyes and a red pompom for a nose. Decorate if you want

This is alway cute when painted (for scrapbooking parents)

~Beth

Angel Poem made with hand and foot prints:

This little Angel is special you see,

Because she is a part of me.

Her wings are my hands,.

Her body my feet,

And on the tree she’ll look very sweet.

or

Chocolate Mint Spoons:

Try Chocolate – Mint Coffee Mommy

It’s tasty as can be

And while you drink it Mommy

You can think of me.

XOXOXOXO

Have red or green plastic spoons, 2 Hershey chocolate bars, crushed peppermint candy, and gold ribbon. Melt chocolate and dip spoons into chocolate. The sprinkle with peppermint right away. Set on wax paper to dry and then tie a gold ribbon on handle with poem. Put in plastic bags.

Or Make a snowman kit for them to use at home. I used a wooden carrot for the nose, wooden heart shapes (all with doles in them to hold them in the snow) for the buttons, then circles for the eyes, and a wooden mouth smile painted red. I also made a pipe for the mouth. (I got all the wooden things at Michaels). ~Christine

Snowman Soup- LouAnn B.

Have each child glue a snowman cutout to the front of a construction paper card. After she decorates the snowman, Help her attach the poem and a packet of hot chocolate to the inside of the card. Finally, I have each child tape a candy cane to the front of the card as shown. /

Handprint Pot Holders

Purchase inexpensive Christmas Pot Holders (dollar stores usually have them) for each child. One side of the pot holder should be a solid color. Paint the child’s hand with craft paint and have them press it onto the pot holder. When the hand print dries, write:

Merry Christmas

[Child’s Name]

2007