This Holidays

Writen by Norma Schmidt

Choosing and perhaps making teacher-gifts with your child can provide quality family-time while teaching your child to give from the heart. Here are ten ideas even busy families can use.

1. Have your copy shop help you make notepads featuring your child's art.

Have your child create several small designs with a black felt-tip pen or fine-tip marker. Visit your local copy shop with your child and let the staff advise you about which design will work best. The staff can then help you and your child choose the dimensions of your notepads. When you bring the pads home, your child can glue to the cardboard backing a strip of magnetic tape, available at crafts stores.

2. Make potpourri ornaments.

Make a batch of these when you want to remember multiple teachers. At a craft store, buy clear, round, hollow plastic ornaments and holiday- colored potpourri. Help your child pour some potpourri into each ornament. Close and loop a ribbon through the top.

3. Mold glycerin soaps in fun shapes.

Buy colored glycerin soap bars and molds from a craft store. Melt soap chunks in a can placed in a pot of water over a low flame. Let the can cool until it can be safely handled. Supervising carefully to avoid burns, help your child pour the liquid soap into the molds. Let harden and release. Package several soaps in a cellophane bag and tie with ribbon.

4. Shop fair trade.

The "fair trade" label means the farmers or artisans who produce an item are paid fairly. You can find fair-trade coffees, chocolates, bath items, jewelry, home accessories and more at www.globalexchange.org, www.servv.org. and some local stores. In a note, tell what part of the world your gift came from and what "fair trade" means.

5. Make "jar-mixes."

Layer the dry ingredients of your favorite cookie recipe in a jar. Tie a pretty ribbon around the jar's neck and include the full recipe, noting which ingredients need to be added. Hint: Use a small enough jar that the ingredients are held snugly in place to preserve a layered look. Visit www.cooksrecipes.com/cookie/cookie-in-a-jar-mix.html for recipes and tips.

6. Buy a relaxation wrap.

This gift is more expensive than the others listed here. It's a soft flannel wrap that can be microwaved for a minute to provide a half hour of warmth and soothing lavender aroma. This is a fantastic gift for a special teacher, especially in areas with cold winters. Available at www.dodisturb.com.

7. Bake with your child.

This one is great because your children's participation can expand as they grow. Even preschoolers can pour pre-measured ingredients and stir, and middle-schoolers can take pride in baking independently with adult supervision.

Supervise young cooks carefully to prevent burns, and be sure to protect any classmates with nut allergies when your send your gift to the school.

8. Make candles.

Kits are available at craft stores. Supervise carefully around hot wax. For honeycomb wax sheet candle kits that do no involve high temperatures, visit www.islandtreasuretoys.com/ homeschool_supplies.html.

9. Give a gift related to your teacher's children, pets or hobbies. Would the teacher enjoy a subscription to a magazine devoted to cats or dogs? How about a copy of your family's favorite read-aloud book for the teacher's family to enjoy?

10. Give contribution to a charity in the teacher's name. Sponsoring organizations generally provide a card or certificate you can download or have sent. Visit www.churchworldservice.org/tools- blankets/alternativegift/catalog.html or www.altgifts.org or www.catalog.heifer.org.

Norma Schmidt is a parent of two and a former Lutheran minister. Her career includes serving as a pastor, campus minister and cancer center chaplain. She has also worked with children with disabilities. Norma offers workshops on parenting and on living with serious illness. Her writing has appeared in "Coping With Cancer" magazine. She is a former co-host of the "Inspired Survivor" Internet radio program for people with cancer. Download the free report "55 Free and Low-Cost Ways to Have the Best Holiday Season Ever" and look through her other articles by going to http://www.ParentCafeOnline.com