This year I was stuck in that predicament. Our daughter's total gifts cost more than our son's plus she's getting a few more than him. He's old enough to notice now & if he's unhappy, boy-oh-boy, you better take cover. ;) Not that I'd blame him, mind you. It's never fun to feel like some one else is getting special treatment! However, I am not one to run out & spend money on yet another toy he doesn't need just because it's gotta be fair.
This led me to make some fun, easy, hands-on kits that he could do himself with minimal help. Most parents have a sizable & diverse array of craft supplies anyway. With a few dollar store purchases, I was able to put together some kits that encourage creative free play & utilize his imagination.
Here's the Popsicle Stick Doll Kit.
Supplies:
- Photo box (I had an empty one laying around), or a plastic shoe box with lid (dollar store), or an old cardboard shoe box covered with a brown paper grocery bag (they can decorate it)
- Dollar store baskets to fit inside (the long ones were 3 for $1, the fabric pieces are in a clean, empty tofu container, cut to size)
- Popsicle sticks (I used 20 extra wide ones) or old-fashioned wooden clothes pins
- Googly eyes & glue (or sharpie)
- Fabric and/or felt pieces for clothes
- Pipe cleaners, cut in half, for arms
- Lengths of yarn, ribbon, etc used to tie the clothes on (learning to tie a bow is a bonus!)
Here's a better look at the kit:
Nearly a year ago the kids each made a wooden doll with similar supplies. They had a blast! Not only making them but playing dolls with them later. They would have happily made more but all of the supplies weren't in one spot & I didn't have time to help them figure out which pieces of my fabric they could cut a piece out of. ;) Now it's all in one place & after Christmas he can use it whenever he wants to. And if his sister is nice I bet he'll let her make one too. ;)
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