The old cliche says “It’s the thought that counts” but bringing a card without a gift to a child’s birthday party is still embarrassing. There’s no need to show up empty handed, though. There are plenty of inexpensive homemade presents that are received with delight. Here are some suggestions for presents that won’t break the bank.
Special Alone Time
Most children treasure one on one time more than any tangible gift. If you have an idea for some way to spend an afternoon together, gift wrapping a token present representing the event gives the child an item to unwrap and then a fun afternoon to look forward to.
Cooking together and giving a gift wrapped set of measuring cups would go together nicely. Think of the interests and activities which your child enjoys the most and start from there. Is there a favorite restaurant they enjoy - or a favorite type of food or dessert?
Would You Care For Cream Or Lemon?
Most young children enjoy the exaggerated formality of tea parties. Bring out a trunk of costume jewelry, scarves and hats from thrift shops to dress up before the party begins. You can even have a mini makeover session with nail polish and lip gloss.
The simplest tea party only requires a pot of tea with cream and sugar service and a selection of baked treats. It can be made as elaborate as you have the time to prepare, though. Scones and clotted cream, finger sandwiches and cakes are traditional for British cream teas.
To extend the afternoon, taking time with the child to decorate the dining room can be as much fun as the tea party. Drawing pictures for the walls, picking a bouquet of flowers for the table and arranging favorite stuffed animals and dolls add elegance to the room.
Be Creative and Practical
Every child loves a picnic! Depending on the age of the child, it may be easier to surprise them with the details, but older children will enjoy planning the picnic as much as participating in it.
Menu planning depends on the expected weather as much as the child’s preferences in food. Make sure to select items that will not spoil or become mushy or off colored as they come to room temperature. Keep in mind that young children are distractible and are likely to eat in small amounts before running off to play, making finger food more practical than full sized sandwiches.
Don’t feel obligated to stick to traditional picnic food if the child in question is inclined to be whimsical. There is no reason that skewers of cold grilled lamb with tzatziki sauce for dipping, fried chicken wings or sushi shouldn't be served if the guest of honor would enjoy them. No food is wrong for serving at a picnic.
Personalized Junk Food
Every child has a favorite treat. Take the time to find out what could make the difference between a lukewarm thank you to an excited “how did you know what I like?”. If his favorite baked treat is chocolate chip cookies, you can make bar cookies in a round cake pan, then use ganache to write HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! in big letters across the giant cookie.
You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!
For the child who loves ice cream, creating a new flavor for him would be exciting. Start by making a batch of Italian ice cream in a gelato machine. As the creamy dessert finishes being made, you have the opportunity to fold in some of his favorite treats before transferring to the freezer to harden.
If Mark’s favorite ice cream is chocolate and he loves mint candy, then chocolate ice cream with pieces of peppermint stick and peppermint patty candies can be blended together before putting into the freezer to ripen. Put the mixture into a reusable container with an airtight lid to harden overnight. After pulling out of the freezer, dry the outside of the container carefully and then apply labels for the new ice cream flavor.
When creating the labels for Mark’s ice cream, now is not the time for restraint. Pull out your big box of crayons and make a wildly colorful set of labels for his treat. Make sure to give it some sort of fabulous name, too. Mark’s Mint Madness would be the perfect flavor!
In the end, it doesn't really matter what you give a child for a present as long as he knows that you were thinking of him and trying to make something specifically for him. These inexpensive ideas will help make him feel special on his big day without blowing your budget.
Liz is publisher of an Italian cooking website full of recipes and reviews of popular appliances such as meat grinders www.simpleitaliancooking.com used in Italian cooking along with other reviews of gelato machines which are great for homemade desserts and parties.
