Gift Ideas for Homeschooling Families

Christmas is here and it's time to go Christmas shopping. Yes, our intention was to be finished by now and have the presents neatly wrapped, but, even if we've begun to shop, there are still people on our lists.

Gifts to Give as a Family to Neighbors, Friends and Extended Family

We often do a unit study in December. We also take lots of Christmas field trips. Part of our Christmas unit study is making gifts. We make wreaths, ornaments, quick breads, cookies, and, even, perfume. All the gifts we've made for others fall under the subject of homemaking or art. You can teach sewing, serging, quilting, cross-stitch, baking, cooking, canning, and handwriting during the gift making process.

Beside the usual fudge and Christmas cookies, here are some ideas for gift giving:

Pretty dish with a casserole inside that just needs heating up
Ceramic loaf pan with a loaf of freshly baked bread
Photo album or frame with pictures in it
Scrapbook with a page finished by you and the kids
Inspirational book
Christmas mugs with hot chocolate packets or herbal tea bags in them

Another idea is to give theme baskets. Sew up a decorative cloth liner (or simply serge the edges of a square piece of pretty material). School time can be putting together these baskets (sorting for your preschooler/homemaking for the older children!). So, here are some baskets for the....

Seamstress: needle assortment, thread, tape measure, thimble, pins, pin cushion
Coffee Drinker: assortment of coffees, mug, coffee cake
Tea Drinker: assortment of teas, clotted cream, scones, tea cup
Student: dictionary, thesaurus, pencils, pens, calculator, pencil sharpener, index cards
Handyman: screwdrivers, wrenches, nails, screws, hammer, laser leveler, flashlight
Knitter: assortment of yarns and needles
Traveler: gum, mints, Suduko/Crossword books, paperback, travel size toiletries
Movie Watcher: gift card to Blockbuster, popcorn, movie candy

Gifts to Give to One Another in Our Households

When my daughter Shine was little, she would go into our rooms and re-wrap things that belonged to us and put them under the Christmas tree. I have unwrapped my own jewelry and Mike has unwrapped his own T-shirt from Shine. Now, that is an inexpensive way to give presents to one another!

The best gifts are always gifts of time. These can cost money (such as a lunch out together) or cost the giver time rather than money (back rub, pedicure, free babysitting). Think about drawing names or pitching in together for each person if money is tight. Your child could take fabric paint and decorate shirts, tote bags, or cloth photo albums to give to siblings. A school day could be devoted to working on gifts for other family members. Every child can find a private place to work undisturbed--this would take a miracle in my house.

Gifts for Your Children

Yes, I let my children make a gift list, but I also see giving gifts as a way of building my children up in the Lord and communicating what is valuable. Giving Bible study tools (concordance, Bible dictionary, Bible handbook), a new Bible, inspirational Christian book or CD, or Bible Study Workbook is a common practice in our house. I love to give my children books, communicating that books are valuable and reading is a joy! Here are some suggestions for gift giving.

Classic Books (from Salem Ridge Press)
Subscription to Nature Friend Magazine
Action Figures
Noah's Ark Playset
Clean and Flip Cleaning Books for Kids
Kid's Wealth Money Kit
Sarah's Wish & other Sarah Books
Hank the Cow Dog Books
Discovering Who I Am in Christ Workbook
Beautifully Made Approaching Womanhood Books
Book: Understanding the Times (for teens)
Book: Do Hard Things (for teens)

Gifts for Your Husband

Like that old television favorite Tim the Tool Man, my husband, Taylor, loves power tools. I had to quickly throw away the Sears Christmas Power Tool Wish Book Catalog before he saw it. Truthfully, though, power tools make a great gift for my husband; maybe yours too!

Here are some ideas for the love of your life:

His favorite candy, dessert, jam, or food
World's Greatest Dad T-shirt
A fruit tree
A DVD of an old favorite TV show (e.g. Gilligan's Island, Home Improvement)
Surprise weekend away for just the two of you
A new book from his favorite author
Tickets to a concert, movie, play, or sporting event

Gift Suggestions for You!

Okay, here are some things you can put on your own gift list.

Baby Steps to Better Health
2009 Bigger and Better Schoolhouse Planner (or maybe 2010?)
Book: Joyful and Successful Homeschooling
Bible Study: Jesus, Fill My Heart and Home
Book: Master Plan of Evagelism
Book: Homeschooling at the Speed of Life
ABCs Curriculum for Moms
Subscription to Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Oh, and don't forget to take the family Christmas photograph! (Photography, Art, Life Skills, Psychology...) Don't forget gift shopping and gift wrapping is a homemaking skill; be sure to count it as "school!" Don't forget to take pictures and document.

Merry Christmas!