What to get the kids who have everything?

**ironmaiden** · 10-23-2005, 03:42 PM

Yesterday we went to a birthday party of a brother and sister who have everything. These kids do not need more toys. Their house doesn't need more clutter. And there were 30 kids at this party.

I got the 7 year old girl, a crochet hook and a ball of yarn with her present being my teaching her how to crochet.

Other ideas ...

Teaching an 8 year old or over how to knit.
Craft kit - left over yarn, fabric scraps, odd buttons, felt. Directions or ideas on what to make.
For younger kids cut out shapes (houses, trucks, train parts, fish etc.) out of felt or craft foam and do a kit that they just need to glue the pieces.
Directions and supplies to make a puppet.
Pillow cases/Pillows - make one with kid friendly fabric or applique their name on it. My sister got my kid a flannel pillowcase and now it is his "cozy pillow from auntie!"
Bean bags - with a list of bean bag games. You could make these yourself.
Dice - with a book/list of dice games - you could teach them the games.
Marbles - teach them.
Cards - solitare, etc. My neice didn't know you could play without a computer!!

Lots of kids would rather have time and one on one attention (especially if they are part of a big family) with a relative especially when you know they will get a ton of presents anyway. Teaching a craft that may stay with them for life will be a lasting present.

Or taking a kid on an outing to mini-golf or to a paint a craft place, the zoo etc. is an idea that should be under $10 Throw in that ice cream cone. And set expectations for gift shops ahead of time.

**ironmaiden** · 10-23-2005, 04:01 PM

Oh. Teaching woodworking.
Applique a truck, train, flower etc. on a pre-made sweatshirt.

**Darlene** · 10-23-2005, 04:52 PM

Great ideas, thanks!

**HandyMom** · 10-24-2005, 09:03 AM

My girl is almost 14 but guess what? She still likes to be read to at bedtime.

**sarathom** · 10-24-2005, 09:20 AM

Books....I find that buying books is a great present and you can never do enough reading! Along with the book, you could get a really funky bookmark!

**ironmaiden** · 10-24-2005, 01:06 PM

Oh, and here's a great one that I'm trying to get the grandparents and aunts to do...

Read book onto a cassette tape.

All those books on tape that we get from the library that we listen to on car rides are great. But they are just one story per tape - a pain to the driver flipping tapes. There are two kids in the backseat, so the "book" that comes with these things causes more trouble than it is worth anyway. So I'm trying to get the relatives to get books from the library and read them onto a cassette. That would be a half hour of stories read to them by someone who is special to them. Especially as the grandparents are in their 80's, that would be a truly wonderful present.

**psjkmom** · 10-24-2005, 02:28 PM

These are wonderful ideas! Thank you so much. I esp like the idea of having grandparents read stories onto tapes.

**sarahsmile** · 10-26-2005, 05:59 PM

im going to make my girls some of those wood shapes/animals that you drill holes in and attach yarn with a big plastic needle so they can "sew" them. they love them at school and they look SO easy to make.

**babymav** · 10-26-2005, 06:47 PM

I say books are the best gifts. I would rather prefer someone get my kids books than a toy that will break in a week. Our office shows just how passionate I am about it too. The kids have over 300 books and rising.

Your ideas are also great

**Katybird** · 10-26-2005, 08:17 PM

Great ideas!

**HandyMom** · 10-27-2005, 12:30 AM

Originally posted by psjkmom
These are wonderful ideas! Thank you so much. I esp like the idea of having grandparents read stories onto tapes.

My daughter just today mentioned that she hardly knows my father, her grandpa. I think if he made a cassette tape of what it was like for him growing up, she would really LOVE that. He could tell her all about what he liked then and even what he likes now! His favorite treats, things and even funny stories.

Might be a good idea to send him a letter to ask all those questions. I bet my dad hasn't written a letter to anyone in years, especially one telling about himself.