More Extending Gifts

I talked yesterday about how one mother extended her daughter's Christmas gift by giving her something to do/make, thereby extending Christmas a little longer.

I was thinking of other gifts that extend the present:

• books - that they can read over and over again, even trade with other children when they are done - just like Paperback Swap (where you get free books!) but in real life with their friends and neighbors
  
• paper dolls - they color them, cut them out and play with them over and over again, they can even create new clothes for their dolls. There are LOTS of patterns online, or create your own.
  
• a deck of cards - hours of fun with card games not to mention you can build with them too!
• board games - need I say more?
• blank sketch books and color pencils - for the artist in the child, plus this might make some good decorations!
  
• pattern and fabric to make a doll - there are lots of free patterns out there for fabric dolls and clothes.
  
• spool knitting/knitting nancy kit - give a spool knitter and some small balls of yarn (bits left over from what you have made) and a plastic yarn needle
• kits - where you have to put your gift together in order to be able to use it. But be careful. Buying something that requires batteries is only adding to the cost of the gift!

Do you have any ideas?