Parents and grandparents also appreciate handmade gifts from older children. This can be a particularly difficult bonding time for teens and pre-teens. A small gift personally made may help to open dialogue.

Allow older children to experiment and express themselves with audio tapes and video cameras. You may be pleasantly surprised by just how much talent your child has. Remember that talent comes in many packages and give encouragement when and where it is needed.

Gift Making for Preteens and Up

1. Make a parent or grandparent memory scrapbook.

Supplies: Old photos of mom, dad or other gift recipient as a child; blank photo album or collage supplies.

Directions: Find photos of the gift recipient as a child. Put together a collage or small photo album with captions. Look for photos of the recipient at the kids' exact ages. Both child and adult will enjoy looking for any resemblance in their looks and antics.

2. Make mom or dad Queen or King for a day.

Supplies: Depends on what teen plans. Child may need a spending money and assistance.

Directions: Plan a special day or night for mom. Plan and make her favorite candlelit meal, rent her favorite video, put on a skit, run a bubble bath, make this mom's time. Plan a special for dad. If he is the one to take out the garbage, do it for him, rent his favorite video, help to make his favorite dinner, etc. Start the special day with a handmade card, designating dad or mom king or queen for the day and showing the events to take place. Teen should do this at least a week in advance so parent can make appropriate plans to receive this gift of love.

3. Make an 'I am Grateful for you because' audio tape.

All of the children can get involved with this. This is the perfect gift for a parent or grandparents who live far away. Parents will get a kick out of hearing the children on tape.

Supplies: Cassette player and 30 minute blank cassette tape.

Directions: Make a cassette recording of the children telling why they are grateful to mom, dad, etc. in their own words. After each child has paid his tribute, end tape with song by children or record a favorite song on the tape.

Older children may want help when making gift tags or wrapping their gifts for gift giving.