Inexpensive Christmas Gifts for Kids - Colorful and Fun

There's not many families that haven't been hit by the crunch of the recession. Christmas is such a special occasion that we're all trying to find ways to keep it special without going broke. Children are at the top of most holiday shopping lists. While it may seem like the only way to please your child is to buy them the most expensive and trendy toys, that's just not true.

Children absolutely love gifts that are unique and special. When we go out of our way to get a child something that is very personal, they notice. Few of us will get by with skipping trends all together but that doesn't mean that every gift under the tree has to come from your nearest shopping mall. Even if you're not particularly gifted with crafts or building things, there's ways you can make gifts personal and inexpensive. Here's just a few ideas to get you rolling.

A Bundle of Balls :
There's so much fun to be had with a big bunch of balls. It really doesn't matter what age your child is, you can't go wrong with this gift. Just about any nickle and dime store will have a variety of balls in all shapes and colors. You can get everything from a tiny super ball to a huge plastic ball and everything in between. Be sure to get as many varieties in color and size as you possibly can. Don't spend more than two dollars on any ball. Go to your nearest craft store and buy a few yards of some very colorful netting and bag up the balls with the netting and ribbon. It will be a huge present under the tree that any kid will love. It will be very inexpensive and will also encourage the child to get up and play.

Coloring Books or Pages :
Nearly everyone has a computer and printer these days. Making this gift can be as cheap as the price of printing out free pages. Just by searching on the Internet, you can find a vast variety of free coloring pages. The key to making this gift special is to find pages that would be a unique liking of the child it's meant for. If your child likes unicorns, search for unicorn coloring pages. Bind the pages with a folder cover that you decorate with the child's name and a picture or something else to make it special. This gift is excellent for any child ages three to ten. It's inexpensive and it encourages them to show off their artistic side.

Comic Books :
It can be a task to get a child to sit down and read. I know that I discovered my love of reading through comic books and I believe it's a great way to encourage reading for children. Again the key is to make sure you choose appropriate comics for the child you're gifting them to. Comic books aren't the same as they were twenty years ago so you might want to give them a good look before purchasing. Be sure you get fun and silly comics instead of violent or scary ones. Comics can be a bit pricey but with a little investigating you can still purchase a bundle of them for under twenty dollars. Wrap a shiny ribbon around each one and then pile them into a cute basket. It will make a great gift and when you see a child reading and smiling, that gift may make you as happy as it did them.

Home baked treats :
If you ask anyone what their fondest memories of Christmas are, most people will include food in their lists. Children need these same memories and it's up to adults to make them happen. Few things stay locked in our memories as well as the taste of some favorite treat that you only have on the holidays. It's so easy to make treats into a special gift. Just package them in a beautiful shiny box with their name in glitter on it. Be sure to include a note that tells the child these treats are just for them.

As you can see, the key to all these gifts is keeping them personal. A small note or personal packaging can make all the difference. Very young children often love the boxes more than the gifts inside. If you decorate a pretty box well enough, you may find that it becomes a treasured air loom for that child. Keep things simple, sweet, and personal this year. Stay away from ads on television and use your imagination instead. It's easy to keep the holidays inexpensive with just a bit of thinking. Happy Holidays to all!