Do you have a grandson or granddaughter that already has everything they need? You can’t figure out what to get them, that has a good purpose. I may have found the right gift. A toy box can be very helpful to both the child and the parents. This article looks at toy boxes as a Christmas present.
You can go to Lowe’s, Target or Home Depot and find a toy box. I am not that wild about plastic light weight toy boxes. I wanted my present this year to be something special. I went and visited a wood worker. I told him the dimensions of the box that I wanted. I also said, that it had to be durable with a safety hinge to avoid busted fingers. However, I told him that I didn’t want a finish on it.
I want to personalize and customize the box to the child’s desire. I am going to paint it and put decals on it. I have decided to paint it a high gloss white enamel. I am then going to stencil and paint the child’s first name on the front of the box. In one corner, I will put the date of the child’s birth. In another corner goes the child’s baptismal date.
Once the paint dries, I will add decals of little boys toys to the lid and sides. I will use decals like fire engines, tractors, balls, blocks, cars and trucks. You could easily substitute other decal images for a little girl. You can get your decals, stencils and paints at any hobby store.
The great thing, about an unfinished toy box, is that you can get fresh ideas and personalize it to meet what your child’s likes.
The size that I ordered is 3 feet in length by 20 inches high and 18 inches wide. A good wood worker can work with any dimensions that you need. The cost of my box was negotiated at $75. The paint and decals will cost more.
A wooden toy box will last for years. It might even be passed down from generation to generation. Parents can always use the extra storage. It also helps in teaching the child the importance of picking up and storing their toys. A toy box can make this learning task simple. If you can not find the right gift this holiday season, a wooden toy box might be what serves your purpose.