If you’re short on cash and out of ideas for what to give mom this Mother’s Day, you might be searching for a free gift you can make. The good news: moms treasure heartfelt, homemade presents more than anything bought in a store. Below are five meaningful gifts kids — from toddlers to grandparents — can create using materials likely already at home.
So gather your creativity and sentimentality and get to work.
5 Free Mother’s Day Gift Ideas Kids Can Craft at Home
A Mom Book
Rather than mom filling out a baby book about a child’s first steps and favorite lullabies, assemble a book of prompts for mom to record her memories of motherhood. You can craft questions that invite stories from any stage of her life.
- What other names did you consider for your children but decide against?
- Which children’s books did you most and least enjoy reading aloud?
- What did we do that earned us a timeout?
- What memories do you have of my friends?
- Can you recall a special Christmas gift you gave me or I gave you?
- How did you choose what you would be called as a grandmother?
Or turn the book into a broader collection of life memories, not limited to motherhood.
- What were your favorite foods when you were a child?
- Which games did you play with friends or siblings?
- What did you do that got you into trouble?
- Where did you most enjoy vacationing?
- What was your first job?
Write each prompt at the top of a sheet of notebook paper. Decorate the pages with a small border pattern or doodles. Tie the pages together with yarn or ribbon.
The key part of this present is to have mom answer the questions herself or dictate her responses to a “family historian” by the end of Mother’s Day. Unlike many baby books, this Mom Book becomes truly special only when it’s completed.
My Mom Rocks
Collect smooth stones from the yard and paint them using nail polish or leftover paint for a free Mother’s Day present. Paint flowers, bugs, suns or decorative patterns. Arrange them on a plate and paint the rim or a tag that reads: “My Mom Rocks!”
Coupons for Time Together (Not Chores)
Homemade coupons have been a classic gift for years, but they often promise chores like washing the car or walking the dog — and those offers frequently go unfulfilled. Instead, give coupons that MUST be redeemed on Mother’s Day and that gift quality time together. Kids of any age can promise to:
- Take a trip to the park.
- Go for a bike ride.
- Watch a movie together — her choice.
- Look through photo albums together.
- Take a walk together.
Portrait Made From Found Objects
No drawing or painting skills required — just gather objects. You don’t need to be an artist to compose a striking portrait of yourself, your mom, a favorite celebrity, or a cultural icon.
Take inspiration from Hanoch Piven, the Israeli mixed-media artist known for his celebrity caricatures. He rarely sketches much, instead assembling found items that relate to the subject. Broken chains can form Abraham Lincoln’s beard; a light bulb becomes Albert Einstein’s nose; Barbara Streisand’s nose might be a microphone; Bob Dylan’s mouth could be a harmonica.
If mom works in IT, use a tangle of old cords for her hair and USB sticks for eyebrows. If she’s a math teacher, try dice for eyes and pencil stubs for a smiling mouth. If she loves books, print titles from her favorites to make her eyes and mouth, and use a light bulb for a nose. You get the idea.
Not every element has to reflect a job or hobby. You can also use sticks, leaves, candy, coins, nails and bolts. (Even the red rind from snack cheese works nicely for a mouth.)
Game On for a Custom Necklace
Create a pendant or brooch using board game pieces or puzzle pieces. If you don’t have games at home, thrift stores often sell them for a dollar or so.
Glue together two or three poker chips, then attach them to a pin backing from a craft store. (You can pick up a pack of ten affordably.)
Personalize it:
A younger child can paint an abstract design and sprinkle glitter on top.
- Paint a miniature picture on puzzle pieces or game pieces used as a tiny canvas.
- Add a Monopoly little house and a note that says: “Mom Makes Our House a Home.”
- Use Clue pieces like the candlestick, rope and lead pipe with a card that reads: “I Wouldn’t Have a Clue What to Do Without You.”
- Attach dice with a card that says: “I’m so Lucky You are My Mom.”
Katherine Snow Smith is a freelance writer and editor in St. Petersburg, Florida, and author of the book Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker: Missteps & Lessons Learned.
