Children's Gift Basket Ideas (and Books) that Inspire Creativity

Remember the days when you played with a pot and a spoon and imagined that you were in a rock band? How about the times you tied a blanket around your shoulders and pretended to be a super hero? It seems to me that some of today's toys take all of the "pretend" and "imagine" out of play. But this sort of play-time experience is exactly what our children need. In fact, creative play during childhood leads to better problem solving skills and the ability to "think out of the box" in adulthood.

Below are a few ideas for children's gift baskets that inspire creativity and imaginative play. You can customize these ideas for your special little recipient; these ideas are focused primarily on the four- to eight-year-old age range. With a little bit of tweaking, you can make them work for your gift-giving needs.

• Ahoy, Mates! Pirate Basket - Use a treasure chest as your base. You can find cardboard versions in many novelty outlets. Include some treasure maps, a pirate hat or scarf, a flag, a play telescope, a compass, and some gold coins in a loot bag. As a finishing touch, for the younger crowd, try the book How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon. Older children may prefer the Magic Tree House book #4 Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osborne and the accompanying Magic Tree House Research Guide Pirates by Will Osborne and Mary Pope Osborne.

• Abracadabra! Magician Basket - Use a black top hat as your base. Add a plush white rabbit, a magic wand, a cape, a bow tie, some white gloves, a few small magic trick kits, and a how-to book of magic tricks for kids. Some great how-to books come from the Self-Working Magic series by Karl Fulves. Younger children will enjoy Arthur's April Fool by Marc Brown or Franklin and the Magic Show by Sharon Jennings.

• Backyard Safari Basket - Find a pith helmet (you know, the kind you see people wearing "on safari") through a novelty retailer (see recommended links). Fill it with binoculars, a journal for taking notes, a few see-through bug boxes, some neat pencils or pens, and maybe a plush bug or two. A great book to include for children ages eight to twelve is The Complete Backyard Nature Activity Book: Fun Projects for Kids to Learn about the Wonders of Wildlife and Nature by Robin Michal Koontz. Younger children are sure to love any title from the Backyard Books series by Judy Allen.

• A Day at the Beach Basket - Fill a beach bucket with a shovel, a rake, some sunglasses, an inflatable beach ball, a pair of binoculars, and seashells. Top it off with a plush Curious George and a copy of Curious George Goes to the Beach by H. A. Rey.

• Junior Gardener Basket - Find a flower pot or watering can. Nest inside it some kid-size gloves and gardening tools. Include seed packets and a magnifying lens. The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: a Book about How Living Things Grow by Joanna Cole would be a perfect addition to this wonderful gift.

• Little Baker Basket - Use a mixing bowl as your base. Include a wooden spoon, some measuring cups and spoons, a child-size apron, a dish towel, and maybe even some nonperishable goodies like chocolate chips. Add The Everything Kids' Cookbook by Sandra K. Nissenberg for a recipe for fun!

• Let's Play School Basket - Find a canvas tote bag; one with a teacher design would be very fitting. Fill it with supplies that every "teacher" needs: a small chalkboard or whiteboard, some chalk or dry-erase markers (low-odor is best), some stickers, special pencils, a notepad, and a clipboard. Don't forget the book My Teacher's My Friend by P. K. Hallinan.

Hopefully these ideas will get your creative juices flowing! Check out the resource links for places to purchase the titles and gift items mentioned above. Don't get stuck in this box, though. Use your own imagination and create the perfect gift to spark the imagination of a child who is special to you.