5 Easy Christmas Gifts Your Kids Can Make at Home

It’s Christmas season once again, and chances are your little learners want to get in on the gift-giving fun! Unfortunately, it can sometimes be a challenge to figure out what kids can get for family or friends when buying something for them to give might not seem genuine, and kids lack the money or resources to give gifts like everyone else. Luckily there is an easy solution for kid gift-giving that your family members are sure to love: DIY gifts!

DIY Christmas gifts for kids can be a great way for children to celebrate the spirit of giving. Not only will your family and friends be delighted to receive gifts handmade with love, but your kids will be proud of their hard work and ingenuity. What’s more is that your child will have a blast creating each gift, making the moment that the gift is opened even more special! 

Below are some awesomely festive ideas to get your child started:

Clay Ornaments 

Homemade ornaments are some of the most popular DIY gifts that kids can make. While there’s many recipes out there to make the perfect ornaments, the following instructions will help your little one make the simplest ornaments that can be customized however they wish! Better yet, the following recipe yields at least 2 dozen ornaments, making it possible to make one for everyone in the family, near and far! 

Supplies Needed: 

• 1 cup baking soda
• ½ cup corn starch
• ¾ cup warm water
• Christmas-themed cookie cutters
• Cutting board
• Rolling pin
• String, yarn, or twine
• Drinking straw
• Plastic jewels, small colorful buttons, glitter, sequins, or any decoration your child would like to use! 
• Paint and paint brushes (optional) 

How to Make: 

1. In a small sauce pan, combine the baking soda and corn starch, and mix to combine. Add the warm water and stir well. 

2. Stirring over medium heat, bring the mixture to a near boil so that small bubbles form at the top, until the liquid thickens. The mixture will begin to pull away from the side of the pan. Keep stirring until it reaches the consistency of cake frosting. 

3. Remove the pan from heat and let it cool until the dough can be handled. It should feel slightly sticky to the touch. 

4. Transfer the dough from the pan to the cutting board on the counter. Knead the dough into a ball. 

5. Add glitter to the dough, if desired. You may also add glitter later, too. 

6. Help your child roll the dough so that it is no less than ¼ inch thick. Use the cookie cutters at this stage to form the shapes of your ornaments, and use the straw to make a hole near the top of each ornament . This will be the hole that you will later attach the string so that it may be hung on the Christmas tree. 

7. Now, your child will decorate the ornaments however they wish! Press the sequins, buttons, or any other decorations into the dough! Feel free to paint them, too! 

8. Transfer the ornaments to a cookie sheet to dry. Find a sunny spot in the house, or dry them on the lowest heat setting in the oven until they are hard. 

9. Tie a ribbon through the hole, and use as stocking stuffers or place in a box and wrap as gifts for the family! 

Helping Hands Pot Holders

Are you a dad looking for an easy Christmas gift kids can make for mom? No matter if it’s for mom, or dad, or anyone who loves to cook, this DIY gift is quick, practical, and easily customizable for even the youngest of kids! 

Supplies Needed: 

• New pot holders or oven mitts without designs in any color
• Non-toxic acrylic paint
• Foam paint brush
• Puffy fabric paint
• Disposable plates

How to Make: 

1. Purchase a pack of pot holders or oven mitts, easily found at most super stores or online. 

2. For each pot holder or oven mitt, prepare your child’s hand by painting the acrylic paint onto your child’s hand using the foam paint brush. This is more effective and creates a smoother handprint than by letting your child dip his or her hand in the paint. Be sure to do this over the disposable plates to catch drips. 

3. Press your child’s hand onto the middle of the pot holder. Surrounding the handprint, write and expression of your choice, like “Mommy’s Helping Hands”, and then your child’s name and the year the gift was created. Get creative with the expressions you use and personalize your mitts based upon the recipient for each! 

4. Allow the pot holders to dry before packaging and wrapping to put under the tree! 

Peppermint Sugar Scrub

Sugar scrubs are luxurious gifts that your family will love! Treat your family and friends and pamper their skin with the following easy-to-make exfoliating scrub. 

Supplies Needed: 

• 2 cups granulated sugar, divided
• ½ cup coconut oil, melted and divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A few drops of peppermint essential oil
• A few drops of red food coloring dye
• Small mason jars or repurposed baby food jars
• Red or pink ribbon for decoration

How to Make: 

1. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup sugar and ¼ cup of the coconut oil. Stir until completely incorporated and has the texture of wet sand. 

2. Add the vanilla to the sugar mixture and completely blend. Set aside. 

3. In a second bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup sugar and add a few drops of red food coloring. While mixing to combine, pour in the remaining ¼ cup of coconut oil, stirring well. Add a couple drops of peppermint essential oil and stir to combine. 

4. Using the mason jar, spoon some of the sugar from the first bowl into the bottom before layering it with the colored sugar. Keep layering until the jar is full. 

5. Cap the jar by sealing it with the lid, and decorate by tying ribbon around the jar’s lid!  

Christmas Bath Bombs

Christmas can be stressful for many people, making luxurious bath bombs the perfect DIY Christmas gift to give! These easy Christmas-themed bath bombs will have your friends and family begging for with each passing holiday season!   

Supplies Needed: 

• ½ baking Soda
• ¼ cup food grade citric acid
• ¼ cup sea salt
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• Essential oils of your choice
• Bath bomb molds, available online, or use silicone molds

How to Make: 

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together to combine. 

2. Melt the coconut oil using the microwave. 

3. Mix the coconut oil into the dry ingredients, and stir well until the mixture feels like wet sand. 

4. Optional—at this stage, mix in a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Use peppermint, tea tree oil, orange oil, lavender, etc. 

5. Add the mixture to your bath bomb or silicone molds. Pack in the mixture tightly and let rest for at least 2 to 3 minutes. 

6. Remove the bath bombs from the molds, but be careful! They are extremely fragile at this stage. Let the bath bombs sit out and dry for at least 1-2 days. Be sure to set the bath bombs somewhere they won’t be disturbed during the drying process. 

7. Package the bath bombs and wrap as gifts! Your family will love a pampering, self-care retreat as the bath bombs fizz and release the skin-nourishing coconut oils! 

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark 

Holiday candies and treats are amongst the most popular gifts to give, but don’t head to the candy store this Christmas season! Presents that are made homemade with love and care are the best Christmas gifts to give and receive! This dark chocolate peppermint bark will delight your child’s family and friends with homemade goodies straight from your kitchen! Don’t forget to dress up your candies by gift wrapping it in a small holiday-themed box! 

Supplies Needed:  

• Peppermint candy canes, about 3-4
• 12 ounces of premium quality semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Small decorative candy gift boxes
• Ribbon, twine, or gift wrap (optional) 
• Wax paper, cut into squares

How to Make:

1. Crush the candy canes by placing them in a Ziploc plastic storage bag, and crushing them with a rolling pin, or the flat side of a meat tenderizer. Set aside.

2. Carefully melt the chocolate chips, using either a double boiler, or by melting in the microwave. If using the microwave, melt by heating in short increments, such as 15-30 seconds, stirring between each session until melted. Be careful not to burn the chocolate. 

3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and pour the melted chocolate onto the baking sheet, smoothing it out flat using a rubber spatula.  Spread until the chocolate is about ¼ inch thin. 

4. Sprinkle the crushed candy cane pieces evenly over the chocolate. Allow the bark to cool by placing in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or by setting out at room temperature for at least 3 hours. 

5. After cooling, chop the peppermint chocolate bark into large pieces to use as gifts. 

6. Cut wax paper into squares that fit the gift boxes you will be using to package your bark. Place the wax paper into the boxes and fill with the candy. Seal the box, and use gift wrap, ribbon, or twine to complete the look! Use the peppermint bark as a tasty stocking stuffer, or as a standalone DIY gift! 

DIY Christmas Gifts for kids do need not be difficult or lengthy projects! Take full advantage of your child’s winter break from school in the days before Christmas Eve! With a little planning, it’s easy for your child to participate in the magical spirit of gift-giving this holiday season to create handmade gifts, made with love, that your whole family can enjoy!