A creative gift.

Last Christmas I wanted to give my four and a half year old niece Joanna a creative and enjoyable present. My two and a half year old nephew Matthew often likes to do the same things as his big sister so I tried to get similar stuff for him that

My sister-in-law later told me that Joanna could play for hours with her card-making set, longer than she would with any other toy. Also being in a backpack it could be taken with her for trips to the grandparents place.

My mother raved about the creative cards Joanna made with the set. It also encouraged Joanna’s desire to learn to write.  I recently received a home made birthday card from Joanna.

In Joanna’s card making set (in a pink backpack) I put
Colouring in pencils

Coloured pens
Blank cards and envelopes in different colours
Pieces of pretty paper and foil to stick on her cards
Child safe glue stick
Paper punch – cat design (her favorite animal)
Punched shapes I cut from some of my paper punches
Child safe scissors – but TOLD HER PARENTS THEY WERE IN THERE
Stickers
Some pieces of coloured wool to stick on the cards
A colouring-in book

In Matthew’s backpack I put

Crayons
Blank cards, envelopes and paper
Punched paper shapes
Stickers
A coloured poster for his wall
A book

A colouring in book
Given his age I gave his scissors and glue to his parents rather than including them in his pack.

I deliberately avoided glitter. I don’t want my brother and his wife to hate me. My sister-in-law has always warned me about noisy or messy toys and promised to get her own back when we have kids.

In putting the sets together myself I was able to choose items according to the children’s interests and abilities. I was also sure that no-one else was going to give them one exactly the same.