Give Gifts, a Sensory Activity for Gratitude

It is better to give than receive. You’ve heard it–we’ve all heard it and, of course, it’s true! I know my heart fills with delight in seeing others truly happy with something I’ve done for or given them. Letting children experience this helps them to develop a sense of gratitude.

Giving can be done in many ways:
—————————————————helping around the house
—————————————————–choosing a special gift; or
——————————– ————spending time with someone.
Giving of your time is especially important because TIME is something that cannot be regained. Priorities shine through where you spend your time. And children notice!

Let kiddos give of their time and effort for others and, in doing so, they’ll be more grateful for what they have! And did you know, studies have shown, people that are grateful also are happier and satisfied with LIFE?

————————————So GIVE & LIVE happily!

Speaking as a grandma there’s no better gift to receive than a picture of one of my grandbubs! If your kidlet is too young to make a homemade picture frame, pick up a relatively inexpensive one at a local craft store. If your kiddo DOES want to make their own frame, try one of these option

Button Frame

Materials Needed:

Picture of your child
Pre-cut matting—available at craft stores like Michaels & Ben Franklin
Thin cardboard
Buttons—various sizes & colors
Tacky glue
Small container for glue + tooth pick or Q-tip to use as applicator
Clear tape
Scissors
Optional
Glitter or glitter glue

Instructions:

●Place a small amount of tacky glue in a container
●Cut cardboard to the same outer dimensions as matting
●Let your kiddo use a tooth pick/Q-tip to apply glue onto matting for buttons
●Have your kidlet continue decorating as they’d like with buttons, adding glitter if available/desired
●Set aside to dry
●Once dry, turn frame over—align photo and tape in place
●Place small amount of glue around the edge of the back of matting
●Set cardboard onto back of matting, pressing ends together—set aside to dry.
●While the glue is drying, if you have extra buttons you might want to try Buttons–There’s More to Do with Them Than Buttoning!

Follow these basic steps for a Popsicle Frame…be sure to add either colored sticks or markers to color the sticks as well as any other accessories to add a bit of flair to them!

Develop & Grow through GIFT GIVING… 

Say, unlike me, you’ve already begun wrapping holiday presents. Give your kiddo the opportunity to have fun while developing:
*motor skills
*eye-hand coordination
*problem-solving skills
*math-readiness/awareness: length, area, volume concepts
*visual discrimination
*creativity/aesthetic appeal
….how you wonder???

With a sensory tub of wrapping materials of course!

GIFT WRAPPING Sensory Tub…

Materials Needed:

Shallow plastic container
Shredded paper confetti/gift bag filler
Bows
Ribbons
Gift Bags
Various sized, small (empty) boxes
Wrapping paper
Tissue paper
Gift tags
Markers
blunt-tipped scissors
tape
Optional

Holiday accents*–for example, artificial holly sprigs, Santas, jingle-bells
*** Be mindful of any and all items provided if your kiddo is still putting things in their mouths. Be aware of possible choking hazards! ***

Instructions:

●Fill plastic container with shredded paper, bows and ribbons
●Add bags, boxes, wrapping & tissue paper, and gift tags
●Provide markers, scissors and tape
●Let your child explore the sensory tub—creating decorated packages and bags!
●If your kidlet hasn’t used a tape dispenser before, demonstrate how to pull a small amount out and tear it off; similarly demonstrate using scissors if necessary
●Let your kiddo wrap, unwrap and rewrap as much as they’d like…here re-gifting is encouraged!
●To tie wrapping and giving together, consider adding a few small items. For example, toiletries:
◦small tubes of lotion
◦lip gloss
◦packet of tissues

Or some treats like:
-packs of gum
-tins of mints or
-small boxes of raisins
for your child to actually wrap up to GIVE!
●If your kidlet DID make a frame definitely wrap it up and send it to or put it under the tree for a grandparent, aunt or uncle!

Remember, it’s not the GIFT, but the THOUGHT that counts! Asking why they chose a particular item as a gift for someone could just melt your heart…

Yours in Play!
Teacher Karen