Art-Based Gifts from Your Little One

May 20, 2008

by Eliza Clark

Today's post is really about the law of supply and demand.

On the supply side, you have your preschooler's boundless creative energies and the ever-growing pile of artwork that she produces on a daily basis.

On the demand side are the seemingly endless succession of birthdays and holidays, and all those friends and relatives who would be charmed to receive a little hand-made something from beloved little hands.

With just a minor investment of parental organizing, we see a booming future for this home enterprise, and a surefire way to keep those little hands busy.

So here it is, our list (Tuesday being List Day) of lovely, easy presents that your preschooler will enjoy making (and hopefully giving away too!). We're sure you've got some wonderful ideas up your sleeve as well -- let us know!

Ideas from the Savvy Source activities encyclopedia:

-Make a puzzle.

-Make a picture frame this way (or for something more lasting, use an unfinished wooden frame such as this one as a base to decorate).

-Make gift wrap this way or that way.

-Make a dreamcatcher.

And a few more suggestions because we can't help ourselves:

-Letting you little one use high quality materials goes a long way. From time to time, let her paint on real watercolor paper with nice paints and decent brushes -- the results will look lovely in a simple frame and last well. Or go for a stretched canvas and acrylics. And there are plenty of other possibilities that will please.

-Likewise, a nice frame can work wonders. Put something from that pile of artwork that you and your child like in a cheerful frame and send it off to a deserving dear one -- signed and dated, of course.

-Finally, for more ideas and better instructions than it is in our power to provide, don't miss the wonderful gift guide at Kids Craft Weekly.

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