DIY Gifts to Make with Kids

Can you believe it’s already December? Soon Christmas will be here before you know it. Take time out of the busy holiday season for some DIY gifts to make with kids. Not only will it create some lasting memories and possibly traditions, but the kids will enjoy making something to give on Christmas.

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Christmas Craft Party

For many years, a family friend that I called Scary Teri, hosted a Christmas craft day for the kids in her life. One Saturday morning in December we would gather at her house and make 5 ornaments. They were always so pretty and everybody from the preschoolers to the teenagers were able to make and enjoy them. Her craft parties were one of my favorite holiday traditions. I even hosted my own one year for the kids at church.

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DIY Gifts to Make With Kids for Adults

Glitter Ornaments

Ornaments make great gifts. These glitter ornaments can be as easy or complex as you wish. A little floor cleaner and glitter and voila you’ve made an ornament. If you wish to embellish the outside it could become anything you wish. Regardless of age, glitter ball ornaments are perfect to make and give as gifts.

Clove Apple

For a last minute gift, try making clove apples with the kids. They are crazy easy to make. Poke whole cloves into an apple. It doesn’t get much easier than that. Preschoolers may need a bit of help with this project. Old kids will have the strength to do it themselves.

Pot Holders

With a loom and a bunch of bands, your kids can make pot holders. The looms can be found very cheap. I prefer the terry loops because they are thicker. Although I can normally only find them at Hobby Lobby.

Poo Spray

Kids will get a kick out of making poo spray for the family. They can pour the ingredients in the bottle and even apply the sticker. It’s undoubtedly the perfect gift for dad.

Fizzing Bath Salt

What aunt wouldn’t enjoy a jar of fizzing bath salts? This simple recipe requires some measuring and mixing. Therefore even the littlest kids could help pour in the ingredients and stir them up.

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Hand Scrub

Homemade hand scrub is easy to make. Mix up a few ingredients. Pour it in a mason jar. And tada you’re kiddo has a gift to give. Seriously simple. You could even let the child pick the scent they want to make for each person.

Handprint Calendar

Make a handprint calendar for grandma. Each month has a handprint picture made by the child. This craft is super simple to make and won’t take much time if you’re down to the wire on time.

Lotion Bar

Adult supervision will be required to make lotion bars, but a child could help pour and stir the ingredients. You may even feel comfortable allowing them to choose the scent. For added fun let the child pick out the mold.

Ribbon Ornament

As a preschool teacher, this is one of my favorites. I let the kid pick out a ribbon. Then I cut it to their height. They are tasked with pushing it into a clear ornament ball. You can add a cute note inside explaining that the ribbon is the same as the child’s height. Grandparents would appreciate a keepsake ornament like this.

Shrinky Dink Keychain

Do you remember coloring Shrinky Dinks and then watching them shrink down in the oven? Well they are still a thing! Handprints, hearts, and holiday shapes all work well for keychains.

DIY Gifts to Make With Kids for Other Kids

Corn Pillow

Depending on the age and skill of your child they may need help with making a corn pillow. You could sew and they could help fill or they could do it all themselves. Include them in picking out fabric. These make great cuddle buddies in the winter. I’ve not met a kid that doesn’t enjoy a corn pillow at bedtime.

Rag Doll

A no-sew rag doll would be a special gift for a younger sibling or cousin. If your child can tie a knot then they could make this doll.

Suckers

Prepare to have your mind blown. You can make suckers out of Jolly Ranchers. Line three of them up on some parchment paper and melt them in the oven. When they come out, push a sucker stick into the molten candy. Now you have a sucker! Let the kids line up the Jolly Ranchers and pick the flavors. You can make a bunch of these in a very short amount of time, so they are perfect last minute DIY gifts to make with kids.

Play Dough

Play dough makes a great gift for little kids, but it is also super easy for kids to make. You could make up a large batch of aromatherapy play dough with essential oils for the kids to give. Oftentimes, you can find small containers for it at the Dollar Tree.

Bracelet

Bracelets are a classic DIY gift to make with kids. For really young kids, it could be stringing beads on pipe cleaners. Older kids could make bracelets out of paracord or embroidery floss. If you’re feeling particularly brave, let them use glass beads and jewelry wire.

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Fleece Tie Blanket

I think just about everybody has received a fleece tie blanket at some point. If your child can tie a knot then they could help make fleece blankets for a loved one. Check your local craft store for some fun child prints. They have something for every hobby and interest.

Cookies

What child wouldn’t enjoy their own batch of cookies? They could help make some MnM cookies or get fancy with the icing on sugar cookies and gingerbread

Survival Kit

Kids get excited by the idea of survival situations. Let them assemble Altoid tin survival kits to give as gifts. You can include bandaids, fishing line, a tiny pencil, a mirror, and duct tape. Older kids could handle safety pins, sewing needles, and even fishing hooks.

Fidgets

Fidgets are all the rage right now. Surprisingly, kids of all ages seem to enjoy these simple toys. Unfortunately, some come with a hefty price tag. Therefore, get creative and let the kids make their own. There are tons of Youtube tutorials out there. One idea is to fill a balloon with flour and tie it to make a stress ball.

Bookmark

Let the kids color rectangle strips of paper or cardstock. Punch a hole at the top for some string and maybe a couple of beads. And voila they now have a bookmark for their brother. Another option is to take a Spacemaker art box with a rectangle indention on the lid and color it with markers. Then fill it with glue. When it’s dry, it will peel up and you will have a colored bookmark. We made these all the time as kids and they are surprisingly easy to make.