Post by sunshine on Mar 31, 2006 15:32:23 GMT 10
"The Bath Basket" (birth to one year old)
Line a large white, wicker basket with a soft baby bath towel and fill with a
bottle of baby bath, shampoo, wash cloths, a comb and brush set, a rubber
ducky, powder lotion, a good ointment for diaper rash, and cotton balls.
Attach a big bow on the side. Make a tag in the shape of an old claw foot tub
and include your best wishes.
"The One Man Band Basket"(one to three years old)
If you can locate an old bushel basket (the type apples used to come in),
this would be a perfect start. Fill it with a drum (you may want to make one
out of an empty oatmeal box, or purchase a more sophisticated one at the
store), a whistle, a harmonica, a tamborine, a xylophone, etc.
"The Budding Artist Basket" (three to five years old)
A bright colored basket would work well for this particular age. Include any
of the following; Crayons, washable markers, coloring books, "paint with
water" books, water color paints, and brushes, safety scissors, and a few
containers of play dough, with cookie cutters. Make an artists palette for
the tag.
"The Backpack Basket" (five to seven years old)
These items may be put in a backpack for the child, or the backpack and all
of the items may be put in a box or a basket: Bookplates, with the child's
name engraved on them (these may be purchases at most stationery stores),
pencil box, three or four books suited for this age, a ruler, pencil
sharpener, and last-but-not-least, a wallet with the child's own library card
in it. You might include a note with the promise of a trip to the local
library within a few days.
"The Desk and Doodle Basket" (ages seven to ten years)
Fill with his or her very own personal set of desk accessories or craft
"tools". You might include items like a nice pair of scissors in a neon or
pastel color, a stapler, a scotch tape dispenser, a ruler, pencil sharpener,
some engraved stationery and stamps. Or a nice tool box could be filler with
a *****driver, a hammer, a tape measure, a ruler, a block of wood, nails,
pliers, etc.
Ten to Twelve Years Old...
This is perhaps the most difficult age to please in gift-giving. They are
not yet young adults. But they definitely do not consider themselves
children. It seems best to try and concentrate on a hobby or special
interest, and make that your theme. For example:
"The Beach Basket" - sunscreen, a beach towel, large-toothed comb, a teen
magazine, a deck of playing cards, sunglasses, etc.
"The Nature's Friend Basket" - a bug catcher, books on endangered species, a
cricket box, binoculars, bird seed, a compass, bug repellant, a canteen,
etc.
"The Baking Basket" - a cookbook, some measuring spoons and cups, a rolling
pin, some spatulas, cookie cutters, hot pads, etc.
"The Good Sport Basket" - baseball cards and album, tickets to a game,
sporting equipment, etc.
******
"The Bottomless Pit Basket "(Twelve to Fifteen Years Old)
Fill with snack foods of all varieties, gift certificates to local fast food
chains or ice cream shops, a roll of quarters for vending machine
emergencies
"Driving You Crazy Basket" (Fifteen to Seventeen Years Old)
Make a tag to resemble a license plate, and include inside: the keys to the
car, a key chain, car wax, a chamois, a contract stating under which
conditions the car may be driven, with blank lines for you and the young
driver to agree upon and fill out, stating what will happen if the rules are
broken, and a business size card on which you will write of your
unconditional
love for them. This card should be carried with them right alongside their
drivers license.
"You're on Your Own Basket" (Eighteen to Twenty One Years Old)
A mending kit, and address book, a dozen stamped envelopes all addressed to
Mom and/or Dad, quarters for laundry, coupons, a Bible, family recipes, etc.
Any Age Adult.....
Again, it's best to find a theme that surrounds a particular interest or
hobby. Food is always a welcome sight at any age. Perhaps a specific type of
food or beverage that you know this person loves could be the central idea.
You could also concentrate on their chosen profession as a theme. For
instance, a teacher might enjoy a ....
"Teacher's Pet Basket"
Fill it with several big, polished apples, a calendar, notecards, pencils,
paper clip holder, memo pads, post-it's, etc. (not mentioned, but gift
certificates to a good book store are probably most welcomed by a teacher)
*****
"The Best is Yet to Be Basket" (senior adults)
An assortment of greeting cards and a card organizer that lists special dates
involving friends and family members, fresh fruit, gift certificate for
favorite restaurant, a miniature purse size photo album with all of the
children and grandchildren pictured and a short message written by each one
of
them, a deck of playing cards, theatre tickets.
"Car Travelers Basket":
a phone card (so they could phone home and let us know where they were and
get news), a road map, snacks, and a few other things I can't remember, but
you could include emergency road flares or a kit, fast food gift
certificates,
a neck pillow, a tape or CD, books on their destination, a small reading
light
for the car, a flashlight, etc.
Line a large white, wicker basket with a soft baby bath towel and fill with a
bottle of baby bath, shampoo, wash cloths, a comb and brush set, a rubber
ducky, powder lotion, a good ointment for diaper rash, and cotton balls.
Attach a big bow on the side. Make a tag in the shape of an old claw foot tub
and include your best wishes.
"The One Man Band Basket"(one to three years old)
If you can locate an old bushel basket (the type apples used to come in),
this would be a perfect start. Fill it with a drum (you may want to make one
out of an empty oatmeal box, or purchase a more sophisticated one at the
store), a whistle, a harmonica, a tamborine, a xylophone, etc.
"The Budding Artist Basket" (three to five years old)
A bright colored basket would work well for this particular age. Include any
of the following; Crayons, washable markers, coloring books, "paint with
water" books, water color paints, and brushes, safety scissors, and a few
containers of play dough, with cookie cutters. Make an artists palette for
the tag.
"The Backpack Basket" (five to seven years old)
These items may be put in a backpack for the child, or the backpack and all
of the items may be put in a box or a basket: Bookplates, with the child's
name engraved on them (these may be purchases at most stationery stores),
pencil box, three or four books suited for this age, a ruler, pencil
sharpener, and last-but-not-least, a wallet with the child's own library card
in it. You might include a note with the promise of a trip to the local
library within a few days.
"The Desk and Doodle Basket" (ages seven to ten years)
Fill with his or her very own personal set of desk accessories or craft
"tools". You might include items like a nice pair of scissors in a neon or
pastel color, a stapler, a scotch tape dispenser, a ruler, pencil sharpener,
some engraved stationery and stamps. Or a nice tool box could be filler with
a *****driver, a hammer, a tape measure, a ruler, a block of wood, nails,
pliers, etc.
Ten to Twelve Years Old...
This is perhaps the most difficult age to please in gift-giving. They are
not yet young adults. But they definitely do not consider themselves
children. It seems best to try and concentrate on a hobby or special
interest, and make that your theme. For example:
"The Beach Basket" - sunscreen, a beach towel, large-toothed comb, a teen
magazine, a deck of playing cards, sunglasses, etc.
"The Nature's Friend Basket" - a bug catcher, books on endangered species, a
cricket box, binoculars, bird seed, a compass, bug repellant, a canteen,
etc.
"The Baking Basket" - a cookbook, some measuring spoons and cups, a rolling
pin, some spatulas, cookie cutters, hot pads, etc.
"The Good Sport Basket" - baseball cards and album, tickets to a game,
sporting equipment, etc.
******
"The Bottomless Pit Basket "(Twelve to Fifteen Years Old)
Fill with snack foods of all varieties, gift certificates to local fast food
chains or ice cream shops, a roll of quarters for vending machine
emergencies
"Driving You Crazy Basket" (Fifteen to Seventeen Years Old)
Make a tag to resemble a license plate, and include inside: the keys to the
car, a key chain, car wax, a chamois, a contract stating under which
conditions the car may be driven, with blank lines for you and the young
driver to agree upon and fill out, stating what will happen if the rules are
broken, and a business size card on which you will write of your
unconditional
love for them. This card should be carried with them right alongside their
drivers license.
"You're on Your Own Basket" (Eighteen to Twenty One Years Old)
A mending kit, and address book, a dozen stamped envelopes all addressed to
Mom and/or Dad, quarters for laundry, coupons, a Bible, family recipes, etc.
Any Age Adult.....
Again, it's best to find a theme that surrounds a particular interest or
hobby. Food is always a welcome sight at any age. Perhaps a specific type of
food or beverage that you know this person loves could be the central idea.
You could also concentrate on their chosen profession as a theme. For
instance, a teacher might enjoy a ....
"Teacher's Pet Basket"
Fill it with several big, polished apples, a calendar, notecards, pencils,
paper clip holder, memo pads, post-it's, etc. (not mentioned, but gift
certificates to a good book store are probably most welcomed by a teacher)
*****
"The Best is Yet to Be Basket" (senior adults)
An assortment of greeting cards and a card organizer that lists special dates
involving friends and family members, fresh fruit, gift certificate for
favorite restaurant, a miniature purse size photo album with all of the
children and grandchildren pictured and a short message written by each one
of
them, a deck of playing cards, theatre tickets.
"Car Travelers Basket":
a phone card (so they could phone home and let us know where they were and
get news), a road map, snacks, and a few other things I can't remember, but
you could include emergency road flares or a kit, fast food gift
certificates,
a neck pillow, a tape or CD, books on their destination, a small reading
light
for the car, a flashlight, etc.
