- Use thick red, green, silver and gold paper to make a Christmas scrapbook. ScrapbookScrapbook.com, a website that features scrapbooking tips, suggests alternating red and green backgrounds to represent changes in year. Gather photos from an 8-year-old child's previous seven Christmases and purchase scrapbooking supplies, such as stickers and glitter at a craft store. Some supplies might also be available in the craft aisle of some supermarkets. Ask the child's parents to write their memories of past Christmases in the scrapbook. These memories will serve as a touching memento for the child to look back on in the future. Assemble the scrapbook pages and be sure to leave room for future Christmas celebrations. Until the child is a little older, it may be a good idea to keep the book each year once Christmas has passed, so that it cannot lost before it is time to add another page.
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Instead of cramming lots of small toys and candies suitable for 8-year-old children into one big stocking, fill miniature stockings instead. Choose items for each stocking. If possible, fill each stocking with eight of the same item. Some suggestions include:
• Miniature candy canes
• Lifesavers candy rolls
• Jelly beans
• Matchbox cars
• Holiday-themed erasers
• Sheets of stickers
• Key chains
• Batteries (especially if the child will be receiving a game that requires them)
• Dollar bills -
Unlike their older siblings, most eight year olds still delight in educational toys and games. While school supplies, like book covers and calculators, should be avoided as gift ideas, some learning-focused gifts are sure to be a hit. Educational Toys Planet, which groups products according to the age of the child to whom they are marketed makes the following suggestions for gifts intended for eight year olds:
• Buy It Right Shopping Game, which teaches children about shopping while sharpening their math skills, particularly in addition and subtraction.
• Great States! Board Game, which sharpens skills in geography and communication while players move around a board illustrated with U.S. landmarks and attractions.
• A children's globe. One globe featured on Educational Toys Planet---the Children's Globe and Booklet by Ravensburger---enables children to "create their own 3D model of the Earth by piecing together curved, sturdy plastic puzzle pieces."
• A birdhouse-building kit, which allows children to strengthen building skills while engaging in a fun craft activity. As an alternative, children can also paint birdhouses that have already been constructed. These plain birdhouses can be purchased at most craft stores and given to an eight year old child along with a paint set as a Christmas gift.
