Abstract art
The key to customize this gift to the recipient is to curate the colors ahead of time. All you need is a small canvas, paint brushes, some watercolor or washable paint and a few ideas to get them started. If auntie loves an animal print, show them how to make spots. If you’re gifting this to a coastal chic grandma, pull up some pictures of what comes to mind. Let them take breaks so the painting can dry between layers, but keep in mind, the more abstract, the better.
Instant Pressed flowers
This is the perfect DIY Mother’s Day gift from toddlers and older kids alike. What little one doesn’t love to pick wildflowers? (And grass and all the things, right?) Go for a long walk in the park with a bag or basket and let them pick a good variety of blooms and botanicals. Now here’s the secret to speeding up the process that would typically take weeks… the microwave! Help your kids arrange the flowers and pedals between two pieces of paper towel and two microwave safe plates. You might keep some stems or lose some stems, but try to flatten them out so the prettiest part of the blooms are in view. Sandwiched between the paper towels and plates, microwave in 30 second increments, cooling between each until the flowers are dry. Pick a beautiful frame and let your little ones – gently – help you set the final arrangement. Wrap and gift!
Bookmarks
Teachers love these and they also make great class Valentines, too! Gather cardstock, ribbons, stickers, crayons, paint… whatever mediums keep your little ones happy. Customize it with the recipient’s name (in stickers for little ones, handwritten if they’re able) and your child’s name on the back. For a batch of bookmarks, acrylic paint is quick and fun. You can precut the bookmarks or cut up artwork once it dries. We love to punch a little hole in the top and add a ribbon to hang out the book for a finishing touch.
Homemade play dough
This is DIY favorite for preschool class gifts and so easy and fun with little hands to help. In a large saucepan (no heat yet), combine 2 cups water with food coloring of your choice. In a large bowl, sift together 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 4 tsp cream of tartar. Add to the water with 2 tbsp vegetable oil, then have the little ones stir out all the clumps. Now, adults, turn the stove on low and keep stirring until the mixture clumps really well. Turn the dough out onto wax paper and as soon as it cools enough to play, let the kids in on kneading until it’s completely cool. Store in an airtight container. Add cookie cutters, sequins, little objects and package up as a sensory jar.
An awesome playlist
This is a fun Father’s Day gift idea from the kids. Help them make a playlist for Dad in whatever streaming service he listens to. Start with some favorite songs, songs that remind the kids of him, songs they like to listen together. Absolutely throw in one or two wild cards the kids love to play on repeat, too. Let your older one write out the playlist themselves and done. Bonus: Plan a mini dance party for the big reveal. You could do this every year!
You rock: Painted rocks
Earmarking this for our music teachers and pun-loving grandpas! Yes, you’ll essentially be gifting a paper weight, but it’ll be one-of-a-kind. What else will you do with all those rocks your kids have collected? Metallic paint goes a long way here. Consider adding a message. “You rock” is the obvious choice but we’ll leave that up to you.
Handmade bracelets
Handmade beaded bracelets for the mamas, grandmas, aunties and teachers are easy for kids to help with. Just remember to pick beads and thread depending on your little one’s skill level. You can help them create patterns, spell out names and leave sweet messages, too.
A “cook” book
Do your kids like to cook with anyone special? Put those memories to paper. This DIY is a great homemade gift for grandma from a toddler. A cook book compiled of all their favorite recipes (these could be real or completely made up by your toddler!), throw in some photos of them cooking together, maybe your little one’s dreamed-up menu for a tea party or new holiday traditions. Have your kids draw some of their favorite concoctions, table settings, snacks and desserts to include. This can be professionally printed, hand-bound by you or scrapbooked together. Gift it with cooking utensils, aprons or just a bow. The end result will be an absolute treat.
Homemade bath bombs
There are so many recipes to customize these with scent and color, but what’s most fun about making bath bombs with kids is the mixing stage and forming them into molds (yes, mini sand box moment for the win!) For extra fun, you can hold off on food coloring until the bombs are formed and before they dry. Let them paint on food coloring with paintbrushes. If you’re making these as DIY gifts for kids – as parents we love that idea – or even kids party favors, hide a small charm inside as a surprise.
Seashell collection
Just to reiterate, kids love collecting things! All you have to do here is provide a way to display them. They make acrylic frames and boxes just the right size for seashells, which makes them ideal for bringing on your beach trip. Let your kids collect to their hearts content, curate in the hotel room and send the rest of the shells out to sea.
It’s the thought that counts, yes, but before we start a gift DIY, the real test is: Is this something you’d truly want to keep around your house for years? Not to knock popsicle sticks, but we can do a little better than that, don’t you think?
