Easy Christmas Gift Wrapping Techniques for Kids

I still remember my mom teaching me to wrap Christmas presents. It wasn't easy. For her, I mean. I had a ball. It was the first year I had money to buy presents. My parents saved it for me in a Christmas club account. I wasn't old enough to earn it yet. Still, it was my money just the same. It was my small hands doing the wrapping too. My mom taught me how to wrap presents all different ways. By the time next Christmas rolled around, I was a pro. These days, there are easy gift wrapping alternatives for kids. Here's a few mixed with Mom's advice.

The easiest gift wrapping involves gift bags. Kids can just pop the present in the bag, tape the top together and be done with it. Most gift bags even come with a built in tag. Don't forget those gift boxes, either. Nothing could be simpler. No corners to fold. No tearing of the paper. No starting over. Of course, this wouldn't be a very good article if I only gave you advise you already know about, would it?

My next tip, Mom used to call candy wrap. It's a perfect gift wrapping technique for clothes. Kids master it quickly. Roll the clothes you want to wrap into a tube shape. Then, roll a length of wrapping paper around them. Use ribbon to tie the ends close to the gift. Your present should look like a piece of old fashioned hard candy with twisted ends. Is it a gift for a girl? Use scrunchies or hair ties in place of the ribbons for a double gift.

Low on tape?

When kids do the wrapping, tape disappears fast. Here's some tricks you can teach them to use when tape is low or out:

*Fold in all four corners, one at a time. Seal with one piece of tape.

* Tie the gift together using ribbon

*Use a paperclip to hold a gift bag shut.

*Use glue.

Out of clear tape?

*Roll up masking or duct tape, sticky side out; Use it like double stick tape.

No tags?

Teach kids these tricks:

*Use file folder labels

*Use folded wrapping paper scraps

*Use a permanent black marker

Out of Christmas wrapping paper?

Teach kids to wrap Christmas gifts in:

*Aluminum foil

*Another gift

*Sunday Paper Comics

*Brown paper bags (they can decorate them with crayons)

*Fabric

*Colored construction paper

Teaching kids Christmas gift wrapping techniques is fun. Plus, it's a sneaky way to spend time with them. You know, spending time with your parents is so uncool. Don't be hard on them when they mess up. Remember that time you taped Mom's hand to the package? Your kids aren't supposed to be perfect. Neither are you. That's how holiday memories are made.

More from Jaipi:

Choosing Christmas Gifts from Daughters to Dads

Easy Handmade Gifts Kids Can Make for Christmas

Unique Homemade Christmas Gift Embellishments