With two young kids in our family, I can't resist making homemade gifts this holiday season. Magazines and websites are filled with adorable and easy DIY crafts for babies and toddlers.

Our kids, especially our daughter, are still too young to make these gifts entirely on their own. So I end up doing most of the work while my son plays and his sister sleeps.

I know some people do not appreciate homemade gifts (both making and receiving them) as much as store bought ones. Sometimes these crafts turn out nothing like they are suppose to. And sometimes they end up costing more than it would have to simply buy something similar at the store.

But making these gifts has turned into a wonderful way to teach our son about the joys of giving. He is curious about what I am doing when I am finishing up his crafts. And his curiosity has given me many opportunities to talk about the holidays being about giving and spending time with loved ones.

Of course we've also done some holiday shopping, but I've found it to be much more difficult to have these meaningful conversations when also searching for a place to park, navigating a stroller through the crowds and waiting in long lines.

I don't expect my kids to catch the crafting bug like I did. If nothing else, I hope my holiday crafting teaches them a little bit about the true meaning of the holidays. And gives my kids a not-so-subtle hint that I would love homemade gifts for any and all celebrations in the years to come.

Are you making gifts this holiday season? Do you enjoy receiving DIY presents?