November 28, 1998

Homemade Gifts for Toddlers

by Shari Steelsmith

Tip--Instead of buying expensive toys, invest a little of your time by making gifts for your toddler or his friends this holiday season.

Sandi Dexter, preschool teacher and author of Joyful Play with Toddlers: Recipes for Fun with Odds and Ends, says the most interesting gift for your toddler is one where she can spend time with you playing. The following gift ideas take very little money and provide hours of play.

Tools--The best gift we can give to anyone, especially our children, is our time. Make time to play with your toddler as you enjoy these gifts together.

Tape Supply. Taping things keeps children busy for many hours. Buy a selection of tape rolls, from magic mending tape to colored masking tape. If you look around, you may be able to find mirrored tape or patterned tape. Add construction paper to the package to complete this dandy gift.

Playdough Present. The recipe for the best-ever playdough:

In a saucepan, combine: 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar. Add to the mixture: 1 cup cold water with a few drops of food coloring and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (at this point you can also add non-metallic confetti dots or stars, or, if you wish, some cinnamon for scent). Mix with a whisk to remove lumps. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon. Keep stirring until it sticks together and no longer looks slimy. Turn mixture onto counter and knead 10 times. Let cool.

Package the playdough in a covered container (it does not need refrigeration). Pair this gift with cookie cutters in fun shapes like stars or bears. Have fun!

Parachute Present. Go to the fabric store and buy a yard of some soft, billowy chiffon. Your child can play with it as a parachute or you can cut it up into long scarves for her to trail like streamers. Play with her!

You’ll find more practical tips you can use right now in Joyful Play with Toddlers: Recipes for Fun with Odds and Ends by Sandi Dexter.

E-mail this page to a friend

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