Gift Ideas

This a post for all of my mom friends who have asked me for an idea about gifts and are trying to plan Christmas for their little ones and the other kiddos on your list (or gifts to give others). I have LOVED getting ideas from friends about what they give or have received for their children and thought I would pass on some of those ideas. I would love to hear some of your ideas - if you have some ideas please let me know. Hopefully you can take some of these ideas and pass on to family members. Many of them can be simple and cheap and most of them help the children play, imagine and create rather than just be entertained. FYI - my children are 4 1/2 and 2 1/2.

1. Dress up box - last year my aunts got the children a plastic tub full of things for them to use to play dress up. They got halloween costumes on clearance, a couple of uniforms, a cowboy outfit and some random things like hats, scarves, vests, assessories that my children LOVE to play with. This can be extravagant or thrift store sensible.
2. Musical Instruments - Ukeleles, triangle, drums, tamborines, xylophone, rythm sticks, bells, etc. My children started their own band and named it "Rock-o Taco"
3. Books and Books on CD - My children love to get books and especially books on CD. I have a friend whose in-laws live far away and the grandma made a CD of her singing songs and telling stories. The child loves it, they hear grandma's voice and Mama gets a break from singing Twinkle, Twinkle for the 187th time that day. A thought, have grandma buy a book, read it into a tape and then give the tape with the book (DINGS inserted so the child knows when the turn the page). That's a ten minute or 6 hour gift to child and Mama.
4. Wooden Blocks, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs and Legos - the possibilities are endless and it helps with fine motor coordination.
5. Little People - Fisher Price Little People have been a staple toy in our family since Samuel was 1. They still play with them and use them in their imaginary play. They are a great size for a shoe box to become a house, barn or gas station and they are chew, dirt and waterproof by being hard plastic. They also have a nativity set and a Thanksgiving set that make playing with the decorations easy.
6. Puzzles and Games - Like this Melissa and Doug one. And small jigsaw puzzles are great. We play board games as a family and make adjustments for the children (ex. for Samuel in Candyland he gets two cards and chooses which card he wants to use to get him farther but Lucy just gets one card and moves it). Memory, Bingo and Eye Spy.
7. Art supplies or an art table - Paint, crayons, glue sticks, coloring books, paper, stickers, cookie cutters as patterns and play dough. Also, my children love doing crafts like simple, cheap odd and ends they can glue on a paper or a piece of foam. At Michael's for $1 they have the sets of wooden cut outs (they come with markers to color with or you can use your own paint). Simple projects or the material to do something is fun and sparks interesting creations is great.
8. Puppets - My children are getting a homemade puppet theater this year - I'm trying to make one like this but there are a several ideas out there for table top ones. You can buy puppets or let your children make them (or make one for their sibling) out of socks or popsicle sticks.
9. Pet Rocks - This would have to be given to the right child but it's something even small children can make for their friends and it might just start a revolution. My children have loved their pet rocks and a few weeks ago when we saw a really large rock Samuel said "Mama that would make a really big pet!"
10. Catalog gifts for others - Such as World Vision or Heifer International or a local cause or ministry that you are involved with. I would like to do this more when they grow and can understand more but they do surprise me even now with what they know!
11. Pottery - Several years ago we gave our moms a plate with Samuel's handprints on it shaped like a reindeer (hands were the antlers and his foot was the head) and a bag with garden theme (fingers as bees, flowers, butterflies). I went to one of those pottery places but the same idea could be used for a tote bag, or paint your own pottery from Walmart. Look onthe web for some ideas.
12. A collection of something - give a collection of buttons, postcards, beads or something small and colorful. My children love to sort, hide and use a ziploc full of anything. It is amazing what they turn ordinary things into. Glass beads from are a pirate treasure, Buttons are sorted into colors and put in a glass jar and beads are used as necklace by one child and a "tangle rope" by the other (to tangle the enemy in when they try to reach the castle).
13. Memberships - Annual membership to the zoo, aquarium, state park or other place that makes it easy throughout the year to go somewhere.
14. Magazines - My children have enjoyed the National Geographic magazine KIDS. It is a good age for both of them and they are intrigued by the animals. It is a treat for them to get it in the mail each month.
15.Camping or Outdoor Gear - Even if you are not outdoorsy, children love to make tents and forts in the living room and put their sleeping bag in the floor with their flashlight handy. Lanterns, flashlights, bug catching equipment (we like the bug gun Samuel's friends gave him for his birthday), butterfly net, backpack, water bottle, rain boots, rain coat, basket for their bike or marshmellow roasting sticks.

OK - these are my initial ideas though we haven't used all of these ideas. I know all of these ideas can be improved upon and I would appreciate new ideas!