When it comes to toddler- and preschooler-friendly activities, wrapping presents may not be the first thing that comes to mind, especially considering that scissors and tape can be involved.
However, today’s hint is an approach to present wrapping that can actually be a great way to entertain young children (as well as a strategy for cutting the cost of wrapping paper). The method: Wrap presents in white tissue paper, and then let your little ones decorate the paper themselves with markers and crayons, creating easy, frugal and custom DIY wrapping paper.
I first learned of this clever trick at my niece’s second birthday party, where she received a present wrapped this way, complete with drawings courtesy of her toddler friend (see the DIY wrapping paper in the image above).
To be sure, white tissue paper isn’t the only material that will work (though if you’re wrapping gifts for little ones, tissue paper does tend to be especially easy for chubby hands to unwrap). Brown packing paper, and any other plain old colored or craft paper on which drawings would show up, would work just as well. A plain old gift box also would look nice decorated with drawings.
However, newspaper, the go-to DIY wrapping paper for many, doesn’t work as well in my experience, as kid drawings don’t show up so well on newspaper wrapping.
Looking for more ways to incorporate little kids in the present wrapping process? Check out fun DIY wrapping paper project ideas over at Mom.Me and Hands On As We Grow.
What are your methods for making wrapping paper, and or for involving little ones in present wrapping?
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We did this with my toddler too! He loves it.
I have never thought of doing this. What a wonderful idea. It does bring to mind a birthday from about 20 years ago when I wrapped my son’s present in brown paper bag (cut out into paper) and then I drew designs and pictures on it. Just never thought of having children do this. Thanks for the great suggestion. And thanks for sharing over at Toddler Idea Tuesday. This post tied with 2 other posts for most clicked, so I will be featuring it. This week’s post will be going live shortly.
Have a great day, and Happy New Year!