gifts for kids

[finallyME]

I figure this could help others, not just me.

We are pretty broke this Christmas. Not destitute broke (I still have a job with income). But, I just put on a new roof, and we have had a bunch of car problems that required parts...etc. So, the kids aren't getting tablets or game systems, or other high end stuff.
The wife and I have been making a list of stuff we can either make or not spend much on. Think bang for your buck. We have a full range of kids from 18 month old, to 2 teenagers and 3 in between. My kids are artsy and like to play games. I have been looking at more "pioneer" or settler type games and toys. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to add.
Here is the list I have made so far:

Make:
stilts
wooden airplane
wooden guns
jewelry box
drawing board
wood blocks
beads on a wire (think doctors office toys for toddlers)
ring toss
jump rope
sling shot (david and goliath style)
toy box
drawing notebook (buy paper, bind it diy style)
piggy bank
cat's craddle string with illustrations (and later youtube searching for tips)
button string spinner
sword/shield/helmet roman style (sword and shield out of wood, helmet out of foam)
toddler puzzle
chess board

buy:
rubix cube
puzzles with 1000+ pieces
marbles
wooden dinosaur skeleton (harbor freight has cheap ones)
dominoes
chess pieces

[1stimestar]

Yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, looms...

[finallyME]

Knitting needles and crochet hooks might work well. My sister-in-law does a lot of knitting, not so much my wife. I am sure my SIL will be willing to teach my kids how to do it. I made a loom a few years ago for Christmas. Unfortunately, it wasn't well received. Great ideas...thanks.

[kyratshooter]

One Christmas I was making wooden toys for a gift shop and my 2 year old got all the little cars and trucks I had slightly messed up on.

Many years latter I made both my kids, then 10-12 wooden stilts and we had a heck of a time getting them and all the cousins off the things so they could eat Christmas dinner.

When my daughter was in her late teens I made and decoupage covered a really nice jewelry box. She is now 37 and that box still sets on her dresser.

I also made my Dad a nice inlaid chessboard which he used until his death. He was big into long distance "mail games" and that board stayed set up on the window seat in his study playing one game after another for more than 40 years.

All the things you list should be appropriate and usable for the assortment of ages.

[Winnie]

When Winnie jnr was small he had a lot of home made toys. Some of his favourites were a simplified wooden tank with rotating turret, a farmyard and some animals, a wooden side by side shotgun and a pull along wooden train.

[hayshaker]

teach them how to build a B,O,B or make char cloth or even a bow drill.
how bout a 2litre improvised water filter. stuff like that skill sets for christmas.

[Faiaoga]

stilts are a great idea - my sister and I were given stilts made by carpenters my father worked with when we were 10 or so. We walked up and down concrete stairwells and should have broken our necks..............but didn't

Magnifying lens to look at small insects and such

Dive mask or viewing box to see things underwater

Kaleidoscope

Book of basic knots and lengths of colored cord

[crashdive123]

PVC bow and arrows from dowels
flint knapping kit (if you have materials locally)
walkie talkie.....well - two cans and a string

With your sewing skills....
tents
tarps
hammocks
packs from their favorite worn out clothes
possible bags
"camping" clothes

fishing net from old stockings
fishing poles and kits

[LowKey]

My dad made us stilts one year. So much fun. Then we got the idea to use some 10' 2x4s to make some really tall ones. Even more fun. Had to get up on a tall rock to get on em and control fall to get off em but once you master the short ones, the tall ones just take a little more gumption.

We spent hours playing cribbage on boards he made for us too.

[finallyME]

My kids play chess all the time, so that is why I thought of making another board. I will look at the cribbage board. My kids LOVE games, so those are always good ideas. Classic games that stand the test of time are best. There is a reason people still play them.

[finallyME]

I never played cribbage, so a quick google search shows that it would definitely be a fun one. Are there any other games that I am missing that use simple board items? I know there is one with rocks and a board with holes in it, but I can't remember the name.

[crashdive123]

Backgammon and Acey Ducey were always popular onboard ship.

[sjj]

edited.....