Everybody Loves Raymond's Madylin Sweeten Offers Budget-Friendly Holiday Gift-Giving Tips for Kids
Thursday December 11, 2003
Couples Company
CINCINNATI, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- While adults may be hitting the malls for gift-giving ideas this holiday season, kids can find inspiration on what to give by tuning into one of their favorite peers: 12-year-old actress Madylin Sweeten, who plays Ali Barone on the hit TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. With two families to shop for (real life and those on Raymond), Sweeten has become a pro gift-giver with great ideas that will encourage kids of all ages to get into this holiday tradition without having to dip into their piggy banks.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031211/NYW129 )
"Each year, I love coming up with new, fun ideas for easy presents that make my friends and family feel special," says Sweeten. "It adds to the excitement of the season, and you don't need to spend a lot of money to make it memorable." Madylin offers the following creative holiday gift-giving tips on a kid's budget:
and photos from trips, parties and other special times together. Kids
can make it unique to their family by adding fun captions to the photos
and using markers and paper in their parent's favorite colors. It's a
great opportunity to create something with siblings that can be given to
parents as a special reminder of time spent together as a family.
* BUY A GIFT THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE: Find a fun and healthy gift that can
appeal to the whole family like Crest SpinBrush, which makes a great
stocking stuffer and costs less than $6. They are available in adult
models, like Crest SpinBrush Pro, and cool kid's designs that make
brushing fun -- and you can choose models that meet the taste and
personality of everyone on your list, like fire truck, princess and
astronaut.
* FILL A COOKIE JAR WITH A YEAR'S FULL OF LOVING MESSAGES: Create a jar of
365 reasons why you love your special someone, so that each day they can
open one up and receive a heart-filled message from you. Write the
messages on decorative paper, fold them in half and put them in a big
cookie jar. This is a great gift for friends or relatives who live far
away and who kids may not see very often.
* GIVE GIFTS WITH A THEME: Create a themed gift based around the special
interests of family and friends. For example, if someone on your list
loves cooking, fill a large, pottery mixing bowl full of their favorite
spices, pasta, recipe ideas, seasonal cookie cutters and special cooking
utensils. This idea doesn't cost a lot, but looks substantial and
thoughtful.
* CREATE PERSONALIZED MUSIC: Burn a CD or make a tape for friends or
siblings with all of their favorite songs. Choose tunes that they love
by a new singer or from a movie and create a personalized CD on a stereo
or computer. Customize the case cover with a photo or decorate it with
fun designs. It's a surefire way to give them something that they will
enjoy and use.
CREST BACKGROUND A trusted
leader in oral health, Crest was the first oral care brand to secure
the ADA Seal of Acceptance for a clinically proven fluoride toothpaste.
Since first introducing a fluoride toothpaste 40 years ago, it is
estimated that Crest has helped prevent more than half a billion cavities
in the United States. In addition, Crest created Crest Healthy Smiles
2010, a national outreach program designed to help improve the state
of oral health in America. By providing education, tools, and increased
access to dental professions, Crest hopes to reach 50 million children
and their families. Headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, Crest is owned
and distributed by Procter & Gamble
.