How to Buy Presents for Other Peoples’ Kids

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By Melody
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I don’t know why it’s so hard buying presents for other peoples’ kids, but it is. Before having my own babies, I thought it was just inexperience that made buying gifts for our nephews so difficult. However, I’ve found that people who do have kids can blow it just as bad as those without kids! So here are a few tips that might make the exercise a little bit easier.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Inspiration!

Step 1

Look for age appropriate gifts. Packaging normally displays the target age in a prominent location. Buying the correct age level not only ensures that the toy is safe, but also indicates that the toy is likely to hold the child’s interest and he or she will be able to manipulate and enjoy the toy. Some family members buy my children presents that are beyond their age level. Often, these toys create frustration or simply don’t hold their attention.
Step 2

Think clutter-free. Books, DVD’s and CD’s make good gifts and don’t increase the pile the toys spilling out of the toy box. Along the same lines, avoid purchasing sets with lots of small parts, especially for small children. The parts become scattered from one end of the house to the other, with very little hope of ever being consolidated again. I am guilty of this offense myself. Before having kids, I bought a nephew a set with lots of little colored plastic shapes that could be arranged to create pictures. Looking back on that gift, I realize what my own son would do with such a set and see the error of my well-meaning ways.
Step 3

Don’t waste your money on stuffed animals. Unless it becomes a devoted sleeping buddy, stuffed animals are quickly abandoned. And despite popular belief, children don’t require a bevy of new bunnies every Easter; same goes for stuffed bears holding red hearts at Valentine’s Day. Candy will suffice on these particular holidays!
Step 4

Don’t worry about duplicating gifts. You can’t be expected to know what these kids already have in their arsenals at home, or what someone else will give them. We happily leave duplicates at grandparents’ homes so the kids have nice toys to play with when they visit. And my daughter has absolutely no qualms about playing with “twin” Barbies.
Step 5

Hit the Internet for ideas. I surf Amazon and eToys for ideas for my own kids. Filter by gender and age, and then sort by price. Customer reviews are super helpful in choosing presents … if a toy has a shortcoming, you’ll definitely read all about it. Then you can either order from Amazon, or hit the stores with a shopping list.

Comments

gahazeleyes said

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on 7/28/2009 Thanks for sharing your information. Nice article.

AllFYB said

on 3/16/2009 Great gift buying tips, it's always so hard to determine what to buy

MIghtyDreamer said

on 3/13/2009 I think steps 1, 2 and 4 of your article should be like a mini bible for people to contemplate when it comes to trying to buy gifts for other people's children... good suggestions