6 Instant Gifts for Kids from Your Kitchen!

6 Instant Gifts for Kids from Your Kitchen!

Are you starting to panic yet?  The holidays are right around the corner and many of us are feeling the pinch of much higher prices for everything.  How do we make the holidays a wonderful celebration without feeling like a Grinch?  Simplify our purchases and beef up the gift-giving by adding some easy, economical and oh-so-fun homemade gifts right from our own kitchens.  We don't even need to buy anything (unless you want to purchase some cheap extras) ---we can raid the pantry and use what we have to make things jolly.  Gifts from the kitchen for kids may seem an impossible task, but it isn't.  So, if you have a kiddo or two on your list, this is for you. These are some easy recipes that will bring some delight, and I've listed my favorite ones below.

Air Dry Clay Dough

Kids can mold all kinds of things from cartoon characters, heroes, animals or even ornaments, all by themselves with this white air-dry clay.  

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 cup baking soda

Essential oil of your choice (10-15 drops---clove, cinnamon, orange, peppermint, lavender)

Various acrylic paints and some cheap artist brushes

This will last for 2 to 3 weeks if stored properly and kept wrapped airtight.

Kool-Aid Play Dough

This recipe lasts for months.  The key is to make several colors for the best presentation and maximum fun play value.  The Kool-Aid gives this recipe a nice color and scent.

This recipe is for 1 Kool-Aid packet (no sugar added), so you will have to make the recipe for each color.... I like Purple (grape), Orange (orange), Red (cherry and Green (lime).

1 cup flour

1/4 cup salt

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

2 Tablespoon cream of tartar

1 packet Kool-Aid mix

3/4 cup boiling water

Combine ingredients and mix well.  Add the boiling water stirring well with wooden spoon.  It will be wet and sticky at this stage.  Let cool 6-8 minutes.  Knead until it comes together for several minutes.  Wrap in plastic wrap and find a nice container for presentation---clear plastic containers work best.  Add ribbons, stickers and attach a cookie cutter or other items to help in making shapes and molding.  Be sure to store safely airtight so it will last.

Bubbles

This is great fun for kids.  Find nice plastic containers with secure lids and decorate for the season with ribbon or homemade labels.  For the wands, add drinking straws or make wands with wire, wire hangers cut to shape or pipe cleaners shaped.  This recipe makes 1 cup of bubble solution.

1 cup very warm water

2 Tablespoons liquid dish soap

1 Tablespoon corn syrup (for long-lasting bubbles)

1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Mix all ingredients in with the warm water until all is dissolved and mixed. Let mixture rest at least 1 hour before use.  Add 5-10 drops of food coloring for different colors and optional 15-20 drops essential oil your choice for scented bubbles.  When not in use, store in the fridge up to 6 months.

Bubble Bath Treat

This is perfect for kids with sensitive skin and makes bathtime super fun, especially on those chilly winter nights.

1 cup Castile soap

1/4 cup vegetable glycerin (for lots of bubbles that last)

20-30 drops essential oil your choice for scent

Mix the liquid Castile soap with the vegetable glycerin and add the essential oil.  Place in a pretty clear plastic jar decorated accordingly.  Save a pump-bottle that has been washed thoroughly for this one.  When ready for a bubble bath, add up to 1/4 cup under warm running water.

Bath Bombs

Fizzy orange or lemon scented bath bombs are a hit with kids. Plus, you can go to the dollar store to get little surprise small toys to hide inside.  Makes 6 bath bombs.

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup citric acid

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/2 cup Epson salt

2 1/2 Tablespoons coconut oil (melted)

2 Tablespoons water

food coloring

Mix the baking soda, citric acid, corn starch and Epson salt together in bowl.  Whisk and break up chunks.  Mix the oil and water together, then slowly add to dry ingredients while whisking...you don't want too much fizzing to happen at this time so go slow. If it seems too dry, add a little more water but not too much. It should look like wet sand.  Color sparingly with food coloring if so desired and mix well.  Take a small amount to form a ball with your hand and press the small toy into center, pressing it into a ball smooth as possible.  You should get 5 to 6 balls.  Let it dry overnight.  Wrap in plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon.  When ready to use, open and drop the ball into a warm bath and let the child watch it fizz as the toy is revealed.  Make sure the toy is removed from the bath before letting the water out of the tub.

Reindeer Chow

A great treat that takes minutes and is very cost effective.  What a wonderful item to stick in a stocking. This recipe makes 24 servings and depending on how big your treat bags, you may want to adjust the recipe up or down to suit your needs.

Get your recipe and free printable tags from The Fresh Cooky https://www.thefreshcooky.com/christmas-muddy-buddy-recipe/

Bonus:

Introduce kids to Herbs with an Herbal Coloring Book

You can make your own by doing a search for Free Printable Herb Color pages and create your own cover for your color book, or you can get a free one here:

Free Herbal Coloring Book!

Add some crayons and the kids will enjoy hours of coloring fun and is a great educational project for teaching children about plants, gardening and nature.  Great for a stocking stuffer.