By Janice Lane Palko
Do you remember the Christmas or Hanukkah gifts you received as a child? Aside from
a few outstanding gifts, none stand out in my mind. However, some of the best
recollections I do have of the holidays are of when adults played with me, be it a parent,
grandparent, uncle or aunt. I remember my Uncle Bill on the floor helping us to build
with our Lincoln Logs, or playing 500 Rum with my great-grandmother, or building
puzzles with my paternal grandmother.
For many, the economy is putting a strain on our finances and may constrain our gift-
giving budget this year, but here are some affordable gifts that can bring joy to your
littlest loved ones and make happy memories as well. Here are some ideas:
Draw With Me Books - This is a series of books from Draw With Me Grandma, Draw
With Me Grandpa, Draw With Me Mom, Draw With Me Dad that is a two-person doodle
book with prompts. For less than $10 you and your beloved child take turns drawing.
For instance, one prompt is for the child to “Draw a happy puppy.” Then on the next
page the adult prompt is to “Draw a luxury doghouse for the puppy.” It sparks creativity
and laughter.
Shrinky Dinks-This is a great toy for adults and children as an oven and scissors must
be used. You draw on sheets of plastic, and then cut out your design. Then you put it on
a cookie sheet and shrink it in the oven. Most kits are under $10 and there are a wide
variety of subjects from suncatchers to jewelry.
Weaving Loom – A simple weaving loom and craft loops can bring hours of fun. The
weaving process helps children with hand-eye coordination and develops a sense of
design, and grandma can end up with potholder lovingly made by a grandchild.
Paper Airplanes – My grandchildren love it when my husband makes paper airplanes
for them. There are inexpensive books that take your aeronautical abilities to the next
level by giving you directions to fold planes that go beyond the simplest ones.
Card Games – For under $15 you can get on Amazon a set of six all-time favorite,
classic card games that include Crazy Eights, Old Maids, Go Fish, Memory Match, Slap
Jack and Regular Playing Cards. These games develop memory skills, math skills, and
strategy.
Etch a Sketch – This toy has been around for six decades and is still a favorite of kids.
It develops spatial thinking, and if you want, an adult can work one wheel and the child
another to see what design results.
Building Blocks – Whether it is with classic wooden blocks, Lincoln Logs, or the newer
magnetic tiles, kids love to build things. In fact, one of the nicest memories I have of
vacation with my grandchildren was with these magnetic tiles. Several years ago, they
had brought them to the beach, and after they went to bed, I built an igloo for them.
Well, that started something, and every morning they couldn’t wait to wake up and see
what I made for them—which they promptly wrecked!
However, it must have made an impression on them because when we went to the
beach the next year, they brought the magnetic tiles again and asked me what I was
going to build. Let me tell you, Grandma had to step up her game. I was Googling how
to make crabs, star fishes, and sharks out of them. But they loved it – and of course
took great pleasure in wrecking my creations-much to my feigned horror.
These are just some ideas. If none appeal to you, get in touch with your childhood
memories and remember what you liked to play with, especially those things that adults
played with you, I’m sure you’ll discover like the Grinch, “Maybe Christmas doesn't
come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps...means a little bit more!”
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