Ideas for gift bags for my CCD kids' families

[leonie]

I want to prepare gift bags for my ccd student’s families for Christmas. I have to do it on the cheap, but if I start now. I think I can assemble a pretty good mix.

My primary purpose will be to give them catechetical resources in hopes of evangelizing/catechizing the parents. I am going to order some cds from the Mary Foundation. And, I will get some CA tracts. I will include some candy, of course and maybe some homemade cookies. I’ll include a spiritual bouquet card, or even better, a Mass card for them.

Is this a good idea? Or, do you think it would be better to send some of this stuff home spread out over the school year. If they get it all at once, will it seem overwhelming?

Even with the free stuff, I’ll have to make donations to cover the basic costs and shipping. So, this will require a sacrifice. I’d consider it part of my giving, but do you think it’s worth the effort?
Have you tried anything like this?

If I proceed with the gift bags, do you have any ideas for things to include?

 

[puzzleannie]

I save cards and envelopes, and all the freebies that come in the mail from missions and religious orders, and other parishioners save it for me, for exactly such purposes.

have them make ornaments from old greeting cards, personalized, perhaps with their picture if you have a polaroid, or a parent will take and print digital pix for you.

get as many of the “handouts” free from the internet, such as saint pictures and bios, rosary how-to etc.
try the website of your textbook publisher for Advent/Christmas resources intended as parent take-homes
look in the back of the book, there may be a project perfect for this purpose, too.

look for Advent Wreath prayers free online to print out, with directions for making an advent wreath.

make kits for rosaries, and print cards on your computer with the Joyful Mysteries, including the relevant gospel passages. you can get the pony beads, hemp string or stretchy string from walmart, and even sometimes cheap crosses. Ask your DRE she may be able to buy crosses and religious medals in bulk for making rosaries. either have the kids make rosaries in class, or send the kits home with directions on how to make, and how to pray, the rosary.

you can make holy cards or religious bookmarks from old greeting cards as well. Print verses from psalms, Christmas gospel readings, even religious Christmas carols on your printer on 3" labels, to stick on back of the pictures, or have the children carefully print their own favorite verses. add a christmas sticker from the dollar store, punch a hole to string a colorful yarn tail.

holy cards or ornaments can be made sturdier and longer lasting by reinforcing with clear contac paper from the dollar store.

placemats, make by the kids, using finger paint, poster paint, markers, collage or whatever on construction or craft paper, again laminated with clear contack paper

your catechist magazines or free websites will also have templates for ornaments, angels, stars etc. to print, copy, color and cut out.

advent calendars–if your DRE gets a catechist magazine there will probably be a reproducible one, or you can make one from Outlook, have the kids add things to do each day to prepare for the coming of the Lord, print, color etc.

pencil pals
get christmasy pencils from the dollar store (start shopping now, the stuff is there, and won’t be around if you wait, and much cheaper than the craft stores).
using the same ornament templates, or pictures cut from old greeting cards, punch two holes a couple of inches apart, and stick the pencil through it, decorate with a ribbon bow.

the take-home can be gift bags from the dollar store, or plain white cups decorated by the kids with permanent markers. wrap the goodies in plastic wrap, tie with a bow, and stick in the cup.

 

[HouseArrest]

I think it’s a great idea, and very kind of you. I love all the ideas from the last post. If it were me I’d be happy to receive such a bag.

I do have one idea for you - you may have already heard about it and it may be too juvenile if you are teaching high schoolers but for the little kids: My kids go to the Catholic school, and early in Advent the teacher in Kindergarten sends home a “manger” - it’s just a piece of brown construction paper made into a small box - and pieces of tan construction paper cut into “straws” and finally a little plastic baby Jesus figure. We are supposed to have the child do good deeds and put a “straw” into the manger every time. That way the baby Jesus will be cozy by the time he’s “born”. I absolutely loved it and relied on it for our major family Advent project every year. When our oldest daughter was in Kindergarten we had three other little ones at home and I thought to myself “If I don’t do another thing this Advent I’m getting her to fill up that crib”. It took major stress off of me! It reminded me of what was important at Christmas time!

Also - I think early in Advent would be a good time to send home the gift bags regardless of what you put in them. Anything that comes from you will remind them of the real reason for the season. Also it won’t get lost in the shuffle of the other gifts.