WebParenTips - The Online Parenting Newsletter vol.5 no.12, Dec 2004 

                  THE BEST GIFTS OF ALL

Whether you can afford to shop at the best stores or are on a tight
budget spend some time with your kids this holiday season making
some of the gifts.

Nothing in the way of a purchased gift could be more precious to
me than a series of little drawings my 8 year old granddaughter
made for me of a trip we took together last summer in Alaska.
She drew me a bald eagle, a seal on an iceberg, a salmon, a
humpback whale, all of which we saw together and are currently
framed and proudly on display in my home.

Set aside some time in this busy season for the kids (and you, if
possible) to do some drawings or cards or crafts for Grandma and
Grandpa or beloved neighbors. Older children and teens can write
a note expressing how they feel about the person or they can write
a poem or story especially for the person.

One trick another parent taught me was to write and illustrate a
family holiday story together. You all sit down around the table
and brainstorm what your holiday story will be about. You can
take notes if the kids are small or a teenager can input on the
computer. Decide which pages should be illustrated and who should
do what drawing. Think up a catchy title and put the "book"
together. Photocopy if your story goes to more than one person,
and get it in the mail before the rush.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS!


Happy Parenting,
Marilyn Heins, M.D.


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Dr. Marilyn Heins is a Tucson pediatrician, parenting
columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, author of the book,
ParenTips, as well as a mother, stepmother and grandmother.

She is available for workshops and lectures to groups of
parents, teachers, and grandparents. See:

Dr. Heins' Lectures
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