by Mariel Dawson The last few weeks of school are often the most exhilarating time of year for kids. The school year is drawing to an end and the countdown to Christmas has begun. Before children say goodbye to their friends and embark on the long summer holidays, the final few weeks of school are dedicated to sharing the excitement of Christmas with peers. Kids learn that Christmas is a time of giving, so at many Australian schools it is tradition to hand out small gifts to friends and teachers.
For most parents, however, the lead up to Christmas is hectic and costly and the idea of having to organise presents for school friends is daunting. Why not try something creative and have a go at making your own gifts? Making gifts is a great way to spend time with your child and teach them that not all presents have to be bought. Get back to basics with homemade cookies or salt dough ornaments!
Salt dough Christmas ornaments
Ingredients
Half a cup of flour Half a cup of salt 2/3 cup of water
Directions
1. Mix ingredients in a large bowl until dough is formed
2. Sprinkle a small amount of flour on to the bench top
3. Knead the dough until smooth and firm
4. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out until 1cm thick
5. Cut out shapes using Christmas-shaped cookie cutters or cut out freehand. Roll out the remaining dough and repeat until all the dough has been used. Line an oven tray with baking paper and place your shapes on the tray
6. Using a skewer make a small hole at the top of each decoration for ribbons
7. Bake for approximately two hours at 120 degrees celsius. When decorations are firm and dry, take out of the oven and leave to cool
8. Then it’s time for a little imagination! Decorate your creations using acrylic paints, glitter and beads
9. Remember to thread a piece of ribbon through the holes in the top of each of the decorations so that they can be hung
10. Allow to cool
Christmas Cookies
Anything sweet and edible is a hit with kids and for most children cooking together is a real treat. Why not make a batch of cookies and wrap a couple together in cellophane for each of your child’s schoolmates? Made with love, this idea certainly beats the obligatory candy cane!
Ingredients
25g of butter ••• cup of caster sugar ••• cup of milk A teaspoon of vanilla extract ••• cup of custard powder 1 ••• cups of self raising flour Chocolate
Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Mix butter and sugar using an electric beater
3. Pour in milk, vanilla extract, custard powder and self raising flour. Fold mixture until all ingredients are combined and dough is formed
4. Dust the bench top with a sprinkle of flour and roll out dough to about 1cm thick
5. Using Christmas cookie cutters, cut shapes out of the dough
6. Line baking tray with baking paper and place cookies on the tray
7. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown
8. Allow cookies to cool
9. Melt chocolate and individually dip half of each cookie into the chocolate
Don’t forget the teacher
Giving a small gift to the teacher at the end of the year is a great way of showing your appreciation. Rather than 30 small gifts from each student, why not pass the hat around and get the teacher something she or he really wants (like, perhaps, a massage gift certificate). Then send a giant Christmas card around the class (as secretively as possible) for the kids to write their thanks for the past year.
No matter what gift your child gives this Christmas remember, learning to give is important. Rather than run around frantically buying gifts on their behalf, why not give them a chance to be part of the giving.
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