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Homemade Christmas Gifts for Grandparents!

by The Empowered Educator 15 Comments

Are you beginning to think about the children's Christmas gifts for parents and grandparents? When children give gifts to family members and special friends at Christmas I like to focus on simple projects that the children can create mostly by themselves. We love all things outdoors and gardening here so we often give gifts that share that enjoyment with others. The best part about a gift from the garden is that there are so many ways for children to be involved, get messy and have fun…all while saving you money as well!
Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas!
Just as I love to get out into the garden so does my Mum…..she is moving house at the moment and already missing her garden so I thought it might be nice to make her a little piece of garden to take with her! As we are entering Summer here in our little corner of the world I decided that a movable salad garden would be the perfect gift!
Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas!
 
I purchased the wine barrel pot quite cheaply from one of our discount shops and then took the girls shopping at the local nursery. You can use most containers for little pots…just make sure you drill some drainage holes in the bottom.The children always love to help me choose seedlings and as we picked the herbs I made sure to let them smell and touch each one. We also chose a mini tomato and mini capsicum…haven't tried them before but I hope they will perform well in their little pot. I added a few varieties of lettuce, some rocket, basil, spinach, oregano and parsley and we were set!
 
We filled with potting mix and then the girls had great fun making holes and helping me plant the makings of a homegrown salad! I added a little solar light and cute froggie ornament (my Mum loves frogs!) and then stood back as the children went to work watering the seedlings with their watering cans. Planting herbs and salad greens is so easy…no need to worry about spacing and digging deep holes and they are just the perfect sensory experience for children! There is also lots of opportunity to chat about the different types of plants and how we might use them.
Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas!
Try to stand back a little and let the children choose where and how to arrange the seedlings in the pot – vegies and herbs are fast growers and will fill all the gaps in the pot quickly so there is no need to be to perfect about where they go, that's why I love sharing gardening projects with the children, so easy yet so many learning possibilities as well!
 
I think it came up really well as a unique gift that can be enjoyed for some time to come. We made this one a little early as we had a visit from Gran last week and it is definitely too difficult to post! But really you could pot them up a few weeks before Christmas so now is the perfect time to get started on that gift for Grandma or Grandpa or other special family members and friends. This type of present works well on a smaller scale too which is perfect if you have a lot of children you are working with – just buy smaller pots or containers to plant out – simple!
The kids can help look after them until Christmas Day! I think gifts the children have contributed to are always more special than a brought gift….don't you agree?
Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas!
Every year I also like to make some of our special shortbread cookies to go with gifts….this year the toddler twosome had lots of fun helping to make them. Cooking with children at Christmas time is another easy way for the kids to be hands on while making something special to give as a gift for Christmas.
Christmas just isn't Christmas without our shortbread cookies…I began making them the year I moved out of home and over time I realised I had created my first Christmas tradition as a young adult!
Why not try making some Shortbread Christmas shapes with your children this year then wrap them up for a simple yet special homemade gift. I like this easy recipe.

Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas!

They always seem extra special wrapped up and added to a little gift package!

 

Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas!

 

My Tara also decided she would make some butterflies for Gran while she was visiting…it was all her idea to turn some seed pods we collected that morning into what looked like a butterfly to her…I had to agree! A little glitter was the finishing touch…she was so proud of it! If we find ways to expose children to nature regularly they will seek out ways on their own to engage with those materials and the world around them.

 

Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas!

 

Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas!
Miss Teen added one of her Homemade Christmas Cards for that final touch!

Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas!

We have made many homemade gifts for Grandparents over the years…unfortunately I wasn't blogging then so can't share photos with you but I have collected some fantastic ideas and inspiration for you from all around the Aussie blogging community…I do hope you drop by for a visit and find a special project you can enjoy with your children this Christmas…I know the Grandparents and loved ones in your life will feel very special indeed!

Children will love getting out in the garden with you to create this easy and budget friendly mini gift garden for parents and grandparents this Christmas! Explore even more child made gift ideas to try in this blog post!

Childhood 101 share a very special Happy Jar for Grandma …I really loved this idea and very child focused in the making!
 
My Little Bookcase show us how to make some Swirled Glass Vases and Special Homemade Wrapping Paper ….I really want to try both of these….if only I had more hours in the day!!

Octavia & Vicki share a very special idea for making Homemade Cards and also some unique Coffee Filter Flowers as well as yummy Coconut Ice!

At Home with Ali share a clever Picture Puzzle gift box idea as well as these truly beautiful Paper Flowers!

Just for Daisy shows us how to create a Silhouette Canvas ….I have always wanted to try these and she makes it look so easy!

For a lovely gift from nature why not try these Contacted Leaves from Laughing Kids Learn.

Aspiring Mum  shares a new way to give the gift of doilies with her Paper Doilie Prints  This one is so easy for the kids to do!

I really love these Stainless ‘Glass' Bookmarks from Adventures at Home with Mum as they are just perfect for younger toddlers to do all by themselves with just a little help at the end!

Just for Daisy also created some colourful Thrifty Sharpie Platters for their family presents this year….we have always used an expensive special paint to create our plates and mugs so i am very excited to try a thriftier version using sharpies…Bek makes it look so easy in this post!

Remember to take a deep breath as we approach that Christmas countdown….‘Doesn't need to be perfect' is my mantra at the moment!

You can follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook for more ideas and inspiration!

Filed Under: Christmas, family, outdoor fun, outdoor play Tagged With: Christmas gifts, gardening with children, sustainability

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Comments

  1. rebekah @ justfordaisy says

    11/12/2012 at 6:03 am

    There are some fabulous ideas here Jodie! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for featuring two from Just For Daisy – we have lots of fun making handmade gifts year round. Christmas time is extra fun!
    I love the little salad garden you created for your mum. Such a thoughtful gift x

    Reply
    • Jode says

      12/12/2012 at 12:47 pm

      Thanks Bek…really loved your ideas…thanks for sharing with me x

      Reply
  2. Debbie @ Aspiring Mum says

    11/12/2012 at 11:16 am

    Thanks for putting a link in to Aspiring Mum. There are some great ideas listed here. I really like handmade gifts for grandparents – it means so much more than just a token gift. I’m off to check out the other links….

    Reply
    • Jode says

      12/12/2012 at 12:46 pm

      I think so too Debbie…thanks for letting me share your wonderful activity!

      Reply
  3. Twins Squared says

    11/12/2012 at 3:06 pm

    I don’t know why I don’t make more homemade gifts for some of the grandparents who are otherwise hard to buy for or already have everything. You’ve given me something to think about….thanks!

    Reply
    • Jode says

      12/12/2012 at 12:46 pm

      Glad i could provide some inspiration…i know its hard to find the time sometimes though!

      Reply
  4. Christie says

    11/12/2012 at 9:31 pm

    “Doesn’t need to be perfect” IS perfect! Thank you for the reminder that gifts the kids make are made the kids, not by us ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Jode says

      12/12/2012 at 12:45 pm

      Thanks Christie…i really do believe that ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  5. Ali says

    12/12/2012 at 8:58 am

    I love your garden in a pot – what a lovely gift. Thanks for including us too.

    Reply
    • Jode says

      12/12/2012 at 12:45 pm

      My pleasure Ali! I was particularly pleased with how the pot turned out…thanks x

      Reply
  6. Jay @ Learning to play and playing to learn says

    13/12/2012 at 6:32 am

    We made shortbread cookies at kindy today and they do not look as good as yours, hmm maybe I shouldn’t cook. I love the plant present, I wish we didn’t kill plants so quickly in our house. Thanks for all the ideas, it is great to find a bunch all in the one place!

    Reply
  7. Christie-Childhood 101 says

    13/12/2012 at 12:40 pm

    What a great list, Jodie ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for including our happy jar. We actually recently added a whole new set of happy cards to my Mum’s jar – she loves it ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  8. Tortuga Pecosa says

    05/01/2013 at 11:09 am

    Hello! You have a very nice blog! I invite you to visit my blog and / or follow you, hope you like it http://www.latortugapecosa.blogspot.com Greetings and … congratulations!

    Reply
  9. Kylie @ Octavia and Vicky says

    06/01/2013 at 8:05 pm

    Thank you for the link up, just seeing that your readers have been visiting from your post, I appreciate the love xx

    Reply
  10. Deborah Alter-Rasche says

    08/01/2013 at 1:19 am

    Thanks for linking this to Tuesday Tots. It’s featured in this week’s round up of DIY ideas for kids ๐Ÿ™‚ You can see it here Jode http://www.learnwithplayathome.com/2013/01/6-simple-diy-ideas-for-kids.html ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply

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Jodie
Hi, I'm Jode, Mum to twins and a teen, and an early childhood educator.
I love to share ideas & resources for play based learning
Find out more about me here...

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