Young Children

• Give preschoolers and kindergartners a basket full of puppets. You can buy sets of puppets with a theme, such as occupations, family members, fairy-tale characters or animals. Add some simple costume elements for the child to wear, such as a hair bow that matches a puppet's or a chef's apron.
  
  Give little ones a wagon full of books. Make a cardboard wagon from a sturdy box and glue on cardboard wheels and handle. Paint it or leave it plain. Stencil on the child's name or apply some stickers. Fill the wagon with story books and coloring books. If you're on a budget, look for used books at library sales, thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets.
  
  

Grade Schoolers

• Get grade-school children into crafting with baskets full of simple craft kits and supplies such as safety scissors, school glue, construction paper, markers, glitter, cookie cutters, foam sheets and simple patterns. Add coupons for hours of crafting time with you.
  
  Give an entertainment basket filled with tickets for movies, live children's productions at local theaters or colleges, sporting events, water parks or theme parks. Or, make it a party with tickets for an event for the child and a group of friends. Put each ticket in a separate envelope, add basket fill and tie balloons to the handle.
  
  

Older Children

• Give a teen-aged girl a basket filled with cosmetics, shower gel, body lotion and hair accessories. For a teen-aged boy, fill a basket with snacks such as microwave popcorn, chocolate-covered pretzels, gummy worms and honey-roasted peanuts.
  
  Give girls or boys a pizza-party basket, filled with all the ingredients for homemade pizza, a baking stone, cutter and recipe book. Include a package of invitations to send to friends.