‘Tis the season to be jolly and your children are the jolliest of them all. Their energy radiates wherever they go and their excitement gives life to any room. Most children have already compiled their lists, completely filled with video game and doll requests. They just can’t wait to attack the wrapping on those holiday packages and find out what’s inside. Soon ribbons will be flying everywhere and happy children will be playing all through Hanukkah and Christmas Day. Yet, for most children, giving is just as rewarding as receiving.

Does your child have a bank account? A full piggy bank? Access to a generous grandparent who will provide them with funds? If so, they are amongst the few kids who can go on a jaunt with a relative and pick up gifts for the family. While that is fun, it’s priceless when children make their own gifts. Creating something special that you just know a relative will love is such a rewarding feeling.

Here are a few fairly easy ideas for gifts that children can make with minimal help. Almost everyone loves a dry-erase board that they can use at home or at work. They are invaluable for printing phone numbers and quick notes. They are also fun to make. In order to create one, you will need a solid piece of white oak tag or cardboard, clear contact paper, string, a dry-erase pen, magnet strips, assorted stickers, glitter, glue, foam pieces and a pair of scissors. Simply decorate your oak tag across the first four inches of space. Write the person’s name, “Dad’s notes” or “Mom’s memos,” and let the child color and put stickers around the writing. Cover the whole board with clear contact paper, attach the dry-erase marker to the front with a piece of string, and stick the magnet strip to the back of the board – you’ll have a great gift.

Blankets are essential for a night of snuggling in front of the TV, sipping a mug of hot chocolate, and munching on a plate of warm cookies. Here’s a blanket idea that’s “no sew” and easy for children to make. Head to the fabric store with your child and let them select two types of fleece or jersey material. Select fabric that is a bit larger then the size you want the completed blanket to be. Place the fabric pieces on top of each other and cut evenly spaced strips of fabric (1.5 to 4 inches apart) four inches deep, into the sides of the fabric. When all the strips are cut, knot each set. The knotted ends of the strips will form a fringed border around the blanket. These “no sew” blankets are perfect gifts for every member of the family, even pets!

What grandparent doesn’t have tons of pictures of their grandchildren around the house? Picture frames for grandma’s refrigerator or desk are great gifts that children can make on their own. Craft stores feature a variety of kits for children to make colorful and unique picture frames. There are kits where you child can simply glue pieces of craft foam together, or lace up the sides with lanyard. If your child is very creative, simply purchase sheets of craft foam, decorations, and a magnet strip and let them create their own frame to stick on the refrigerator door. As a special touch, put a picture of your child in the finished frame and make a hand print card to attach to the gift – it’s sure to be a treasure for years to come.

T-shirts are fun ideas for children to make, as are tote bags. Michael’s Arts and Crafts, and most other craft stores, have aisles devoted to fabric crafts. Purchase T-shirts or tote bags and some fabric paints and let your children go to town making shirts and bags that say “Smith Family” (with matching shirts for everyone) or “Best Grandpa” with their handprints on it. Believe me, even if the relative only uses them around the house, they will be impressed with the effort that your child put into making them. Gift giving can be so much fun when a child knows that they made all of the gifts themselves. Happy holidays!

–Jessica Gold