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(BPT) – It’s the way your baby gazes into your eyes as if pondering the meaning of life. It’s how your infant grabs onto your shirt to play with the buttons and collar. It’s your toddler stacking and sorting, as if addressing a problem that only he can solve. These are all examples of curiosity at work, and it’s something all kids have in common.

“Curiosity is an inherent characteristic that starts when we are babies and is important for brain development throughout life,” says Rochelle Wainer, Ph.D., vice president of global insights at Baby Einstein, a leading baby product and toy brand. “For parents and caregivers, it’s important to celebrate and support this curiosity as it’s a trait that will help them lead a successful life. It helps cultivate many fundamental skills while building confidence and a love of learning.”

While kids may be naturally curious, you can help plant the seeds of success by nurturing their drive for curiosity. Wainer offers simple research-backed ideas for inspiring curiosity at home:

Engage through play

Play-based learning is one of the most effective ways for small children to develop basic skills that set the stage for educational success. Kids are always interacting with their surroundings, so parents can foster this important exploration by engaging with their little ones through talk and touch as they discover everything around them. In fact, getting on their level and checking out the world from their vantage point is the perfect way to start.

Next, parents can inspire curiosity and creativity in infants by setting out basic child-safe instruments for kids to interact with as music plays. Art is another great activity for young children. For example, get some non-toxic finger paint, cover baby in a smock and let them go to town as a little Picasso. Finally, get a plastic bin or table and transform it into a sensory space by placing a variety of different items infants can explore, including utensils like wood spoons and items made from different materials like stuffed animals and fabric swatches.

Stack the toy bin

Quality is more important than quantity for toys, and not all toys are created equal when it comes to inspiring curiosity and fostering development of critical skills. Because playing with toys is a favorite pastime for kids, be sure to stock your collection with toys that inspire curiosity and learning. Plus, according to a Baby Einstein survey, 90 percent of parents agree that toys that encourage curiosity interest their child for a longer period of time than toys that don’t.

Baby Einstein is focused on developing toys that support curiosity and learning in kids, and the Baby Einstein Easy Touch Piano is the perfect example. This simple wooden piano features innovative cap-touch technology that is designed with sensors embedded underneath. As the child touches the wood keypads, different notes respond almost magically. It’s perfect for infants and toddlers alike and is predicted to be a top holiday toy. Learn more at www.babyeinstein.com.

Read, read, read

It’s never too early to start reading to your child. Reading is one of the most valuable ways to help children’s language and imagination grow. A whopping 77 percent of parents in the Baby Einstein survey said they read with their children at home or at the library to help fuel their curiosity. Whether it’s board books for babies or picture books for toddlers, try sitting down daily with your child and a good book.

You can make reading an interactive activity for you and your little one by having them pick out the book and help flip the pages. Ask them about the things they see on the pages. Have them point to different pictures and feel different textures. Even if they can’t speak yet, you’ll be communicating and building language skills.

“Encouraging your child’s curiosity today will cultivate their confidence, creativity and discovery for tomorrow,” says Wainer. “These are just some of the countless activities that can help set your child up for success as they grow and develop throughout life.”

(BPT) – You want to find unique gifts for everyone on your list this holiday season. Rather than search endlessly, have you considered making your own presents?

DIY gifting is a growing trend, providing people the opportunity to create the ideal present with loved ones’ personalities in mind. Because it’s homemade, it’s customizable and one of a kind, with deeper meaning than anything that can be purchased at a store.

Whether you’re an amateur DIYer, an avid crafter or don’t consider yourself creative at all, you can make the perfect holiday gift guaranteed to impress everyone on your list. Here are five easy holiday DIY projects for inspiration:

Canvas handprint art

Handprint art is great if you want to involve kids in DIY gifting. This is a present that can be proudly given from the entire family and has loads of meaning for recipients like grandparents or aunts and uncles. First, get white canvases and acrylic paint from your local craft store. Then gather the kids and cover up clothing (acrylic paint is not washable) and decide what you want to create with their tiny handprints. From green wreaths and holiday trees to thumbprint snowmen and snowflakes, options are endless to make a unique gift that perfectly freezes a moment in time through their hand impressions.

Family ornaments

DIY ornaments become cherished holiday decorations that are loved year after year. Stylish, classic and sentimental, ornaments featuring the silhouettes of your family are guaranteed to become keepsakes. Using the ultimate smart cutting machine, Cricut Maker, you can upload images of your children and family in Cricut Design Space, quickly create a design and then the machine seamlessly cuts the design from your choice of materials. A timeless black vinyl silhouette adhered to a natural wood round, both cut on Cricut Maker, is an elegant ornament. Or, get creative with a standalone silhouette design cut from black leather brushed with glitter. You can even use images of pets if you want to include fur-family members, too.

Hot chocolate in a jar

Tasty treats are plentiful during the holidays, but instead of going with the standard cookies, gift a beautiful mason jar filled with all the ingredients for decadent hot chocolate. Start with a glass mason jar and fill about two-thirds full of hot chocolate mix. Then add in a few small layers of dry extras to customize the flavor, such as chocolate chips, crushed candy canes or peanut-butter chips. Finish with a layer of mini marshmallows and screw on the top. Add a bow and directions for making the hot chocolate and you have an adorable gift for anyone on your list.

Custom t-shirts

Does your mom have a fun nickname? Does your brother have a trademark greeting? Does your best friend adore the ’80s? Pick up any type of plain shirt and get ready to make it spectacular with a few fun catch phrases or designs. Iron-on projects are an easy and fun way to make your gifts truly personal this holiday season. To make custom t-shirts, use the Cricut Maker to cut out your designs and the Cricut EasyPress 2 to get perfect iron-on results in less than 60 seconds. Not feeling a t-shirt? Consider customizing a canvas bag, hat, a special blanket or the sides of socks or a special blanket, if you want to try something different.

All-in-one movie night in

Give the gift of a wonderful night in by creating a movie gift basket customized to your loved one’s personality. First, start with a big container that can hold all the goodies, such as a themed plastic popcorn bowl. Then choose a movie of special meaning, such as a beloved childhood film or one you watched together on a special occasion, like a first date. Include the movie and every treat you can imagine to complete movie night, from popcorn and classic theater boxed candy to comfy extras like a blanket or throw for staying cozy.

With a little DIY ingenuity, some crafting materials and smart tools, you can make the ideal present for everyone on your list. Let your imagination soar and get creative during the most festive time of year.