Christmas Gift from a Two-Year-Old

[Samantha]

I think it would be different if the recipient wasn't family with a bond to the child. I don't know what I'd think of a painted ornament from a friend's child, but one from my cousin's kids (even though I only see them once a year)? I'd be in hog heaven, and so flattered....

I'm not actually related to my "neices" (best friends kids 3yo & 5yo  - I've known best friend since she was 6mos old and I was 18mos). I'm actually kinda disappointed that I didn't get one of the handmade ornaments this year. Money is tight for my friend and her husband so they went the homemade gift route for family members from the girls.

Then again, just about every time I go to their house, the girls have colored a new picture for me to bring home with me.

[Lisbeth]

I think it's a nice idea-it helps imbue your child with the spirit of giving.  All too often for children, the December holidays are about getting gifts and they develop a really obnoxious sense of entitlement.

What annoys me as "cutesy" is a thank-you note in the parents' handwriting, that the child clearly could not and did not write, signed with the child's name instead of the parents'.  I would much prefer a note from the parents that says something like, "Janey [child] just loves the wonderful present you gave her-she's worn her new top all over the city!  Thank you so much.  We look forward to seeing you soon.  Love, Kathy and John [parents]."

[housewife2k]

Give them the ornaments. Make sure you let them know that your young'n made them, and they have no obligation to put them on the tree. If they do not want them, they will probably give them back to you under the "Something so special should be kept by you" guise.
My mom still uses the ornaments my sister and I made as children, as does my aunt. My oldest two have made ornaments for everyone, and next year, my youngest will. It's a nice way to remember that yes, you kids really were that young, once.

[andi]

What annoys me as "cutesy" is a thank-you note in the parents' handwriting, that the child clearly could not and did not write, signed with the child's name instead of the parents'.  I would much prefer a note from the parents that says something like, "Janey [child] just loves the wonderful present you gave her-she's worn her new top all over the city!  Thank you so much.  We look forward to seeing you soon.  Love, Kathy and John [parents]."

i'm totatlly guilty of that - although i do have him scribble a bit on the other side as his "mark".  hmm - may change my wording a bit

[beakiebean]

DD has made something for the grandparents (and great, and great-great grandparents) every year. We also always have pictures taken around the holiday to give to family. What we normally do is take the stuff to the Christmas celebrations with us and have DD give them to the people. She has that toddler shyness around family members she doesn't see all the time but she loves giving the presents so much that if you tell her to give the picture to Poppa or Aunt Nell she'll run right over and it makes her feel comfortable that much faster.

Becca

[Fabrashamx]

Every year I still lovingly unwrap the macaroni and construction paper ornaments my boys (now 23 and 19 ) and put them on a place of honor on our tree. Anyone who cannot apprieciate an ornament hand made by little fingers just for them has forgotten the real meaning of Christmas, In my opinion. I think they will be thrilled with them, and if not, oh well, I feel sorry for them. Lovely idea and a great way to teach your little on about the joys of giving to others.
Merry Christmas!
~Fabby 

[Gileswench]

One year some friends of mine gave out prints of a masterpiece their two-year-old son had drawn to just about everyone on their list. The boy is in high school now, but I still proudly display his toddler artwork in my front hall. It's actually quite a cool picture aside from the sentimental pleasures, but even if it wasn't that much of a much artistically, I'd still keep it.

I'd say anyone close enough to the children to care about the artist is probably going to be fine with receiving their handiwork.

[kckgirl]

So, did you send the ornaments? I hope you did. Until something happened to my box of Christmas ornaments, I used the ones my kids made every year.

[Bijou]

I think it is a great idea.  They can enjoy and appreciate it for the season, then tuck it away for the next year. 

[Lisbeth]

What annoys me as "cutesy" is a thank-you note in the parents' handwriting, that the child clearly could not and did not write, signed with the child's name instead of the parents'.  I would much prefer a note from the parents that says something like, "Janey [child] just loves the wonderful present you gave her-she's worn her new top all over the city!  Thank you so much.  We look forward to seeing you soon.  Love, Kathy and John [parents]."

i'm totatlly guilty of that - although i do have him scribble a bit on the other side as his "mark".  hmm - may change my wording a bit

Well, this is through about age 4.  By age 5, I think kids should be old enough to write "thank you" and their names if nothing else.  I just don't like it when parents try to make letters and thank-you notes come from toddlers who couldn't have done it for themselves.  My SIL does this for her daughter who is 2.  I've never spoken to any of my relatives about it, and wouldn't dream of doing so, but I do feel irritated that the parents think that they can't take responsibility for what they themselves write.

[WestAussieGirl]

So, did you send the ornaments? I hope you did. Until something happened to my box of Christmas ornaments, I used the ones my kids made every year.

Thanks everyone for your comments, and sorry I haven't had time to reply before now.  I did read and take on board all  of your comments and was very happy to hear that everyone thought it was a nice idea.  I did give the ornaments and they were generally well received.  My family really loved them and I can tell that they will be taking pride of place (and emarassing my daughter for years by the sounds of things).  My in-laws seemed a little less enthusiastic but they have a much larger family and things were very hectic.  It was one of those events that I think everyone here would have hated, presents being given out all over the place, no time to watch others open their gifts, listen to thanks etc.  Bit like a feeding frenzy.

I had my daughter give each one to the recipient (she actually remembered who each one was so that was good) after the worst of the frenzy was over, and they all thanked her nicely so hopefully it's a start in teaching her about giving.

[Slartibartfast]

I've got a slightly different experience with this.

I have two cousins who are significantly younger than I am (they're about 10 and 6 now).  A few years ago, I opened the Christmas box from my aunt and uncle and found a poorly-painted plastic turtle (obviously an art project from the then-3-year-old) and a broken dragon knickknack.  Apparently they let their children pick out presents for everyone that year.  And then the two years following that.

Now, I wouldn't have minded AT ALL if this was presented as a gift from their kids - but this was from "the family."  For three years running now, DH and I have received little-kid artwork and something my other cousin probably found in the dollar store discount bin as our Christmas present, replacing the simple-but-adult card we used to get from my aunt and uncle.  (Which is a big improvement on when my uncle was single - I used to get birthday cards at random times of the year, or mailed to me but personalized to my sister, etc.)  I don't expect a "real" present - I know money is often tight with that family - but it would be nice to either send the artwork AND a card from the parents, or to have the kids make something actually useful.  There are tons of projects that elementary-age children can do that aren't just "cute" - bake cookies, make a functional pencil holder and decorate it, etc.  Each year, I felt like the "gift" was just the result of an afternoon's play time, that would have gotten thrown away otherwise and didn't have any thought put into us as recipients.

This was just my experience, so I don't want to make this sound like I'm passing judgement on anyone who stands by child-made gifts :-)  IMHO, child-made gifts given from children = fine, child-made gifts given from adults = lazy.

[WestAussieGirl]

Now, I wouldn't have minded AT ALL if this was presented as a gift from their kids - but this was from "the family." 

I presented the gifts as from my daughter rather than from the family, and I had her hand them out to each person.

There are tons of projects that elementary-age children can do that aren't just "cute" - bake cookies, make a functional pencil holder and decorate it, etc. 

Next year, I think I might have her help me make cookies (we call them biscuits) and give those out instead.