Kids loved the sock monkey way back when and the craze continues to this day. Part of the charm of the sock monkey comes from its homemade feel and charming expression. What would you say if I told you that you could make your very own sock creatures for your little ones? It’s true and I will show you how. So turn off the TV, take a break from all those pressing bills, loans and adt home security issues, and take a look at my guide.

For starters, you will need socks. Preferably clean ones. You can also buy some cheap stretchy kinds from places like K-mart for 50 cents for 3 pairs. You will need stuffing, I used Poly-fil. Next, get some tiny rubber bands, which you can find in the hair accessories section of your local drugstore. Lasly, you will need some 8 mm eyes, scissors and a hot glue gun – all of which can be purchased at a craft store.

Now that you have all these things, your imagination is the only limit. Fill the sock with stuffing and tie it off. Use the rubber band to section off nubs that will serve as arms and legs. Eyes can be added to define the face and you can use the scissors to trim any excess sock. Just have fun with it and see what develops. You’ll have fun and your little ones will love it.

For those handy with as sewing or carpentry, make a doll or animal toy out of material no longer needed for anything else. Perhaps the child prefers a certain texture or color the creator can use to give the gift an added personal touch.

For those without any particular skills in craftsmanship, take ribbons or threads and make gifts like friendship bracelets or beaded bracelets. Take a container no longer being used such as an egg carton or a can then decorate it in a motif that the child will enjoy! Create a makeshift treasure box to hold secrets and favored trinkets or for holding pencils and crayons.

Some old clothes would make a good dressup kit. Some old makeup can be used to let the child paint their face and play pretend. Even better, join the child for some fun with the gift!

Gifts do not have to be complex or expensive. Children take delight in simple pleasures that show them they are valued and noticed that they are loved.

Babies are the easiest to buy educational toys for. Any toy that has bright colors, textures and sounds improves baby’s brain development. Teaching baby to focus his eyes, control his hands and feet, sensory development, and gross motor development, just to name a few. Look for bright, interactive toys that are safe to chew on, lay on, toss, and most importantly, easy to clean!

Toddler/preschool toys can also be easy to find. Toys that require counting, stacking, building, sorting, color knowledge, letter knowledge, or number knowledge. The best ones are toys that can be used to entertain the child while the child learns “accidentally”. Then, as the child grows a little older, it can be used to reinforce knowledge. For example, the toy can “accidentally” teach the child the ABC song, then when the child knows the song, the toy can then be used to teach each individual letter and sound. Most toddler toys have multiple modes to them. In the first mode, it sings the alphabet song, second mode it sings the letter sounds, then in the third mode it asks the child to press the button with the correct letter on it. The child learns the alphabet without realizing it!

School aged children’s educational toys are usually in the form of games or electronic/computer games and hand held devices. However, there are some “oldie but a goodie” games and toys out there! An old fashioned game of cards can be used to teach memory skills. There are other games that require critical thinking and strategy, such as chess or checkers. There are computer or video games that teach, again, “accidentally”. Video games that require mental math to accomplish the task or to point the angle of the tank just right to blow up the other tank teaches basic physics/geometry without the child realizing it. Video games of golf or tennis where the player must factor in the wind speed and direction encourage critical thinking. Board games that use paper money help with math and money counting. Word board games help with spelling and vocabulary, while other word games help with creative thoughts and puns and riddles. Other ideas might be larger scale building toys. Building a roller coaster that requires that child to follow the “blueprints” teach discipline, spatial reasoning, and fine motor skills.

In all of this, don’t discredit pretend play toys for all ages. Pretending to be the parent of a baby doll, or cooking with play food or play-dough, or pretending to set up a store or be a super hero encourages imagination. Using pretend play also teaches children how to behave appropriately society, how to be a grown-up.

Educational and fun do not have to be separate from each other. There are many toy options for all the children in your life.

Shop second hand: Most children do not care if their new toy or clothing item is actually new if the item is clean and in workable condition they will be happy. Shopping at thrift stores and yard sales for gifts is a great way to save on cost

Shop online: Auction sites as well as discount sites often offer high quality new and used items for a lot less than retail

Use Coupons and discount codes: Having an idea what you want to buy for kids on your list and searching the local papers and internet for coupons and codes, will not only save money it will save time also

Make a gift: Do it yourselfers and craft minded individual can save a lot of money by making toys, cute clothing and other fun items for children instead of buying.

As your child grows into teen hood however, there will come the time to change how you perceive buying gifts for them, as they come to want the new computer tablets on the market, both made for music and their continued social networking addictions. These tablets however can be made for all ages, as some apps are dedicated to alphabet, numbers, sounds, and shape learning for babies, and as children grow, more interesting apps about the galaxy and languages come into play. If you would like to give your child the learning experience he/she deserves, consider the “Think Outside the Box” toys that will really stump your child, I promise you wont regret their boost in intellectual integrity later in life.