How to Give Gifts that Kids AND Parents Will Appreciate
Gifts that are generally well-received by parents:
- Anything that is small, doesn’t make a mess or a lot of noise and doesn’t require the parent to do the activity FOR the child (e.g., a Rainbow Loom for a 4-year old).
- Outings Clear a date in advance with the parent and go to a playground, movie, sporting event, play or attraction (depending on your budget). Wrap a folder containing a brochure, advertisement or picture of the activity. For a playground date, include a small toy and the promise of a picnic. Or, sign up your child and the recipient for a one-day cooking or art class for kids.
- Books For non-avid readers, picture books about favorite passions or junior novelizations of a favorite movie or cartoon are good options, or ask what author/series the child likes and what volumes he or she doesn’t have.
- Music CDs Choose tunes you know the child likes (soundtracks of a kid’s favorite show/movie are usually a good bet). Burn a mix of current favorites and label it “[Child’s name’s] Greatest Hits.” Include an inexpensive portable CD player (with headphones if you really want to make the parents happy!). This gift is best for young children. Older kids just want iTunes gift cards! Our kids loved playing with an “old-fashioned” tape recorder. They would record themselves talking and singing and would play it back repeatedly. It is fun to have the tapes now to hear their cute baby voices again.
- DVDs If a child is a fan of a movie that is not yet out on DVD, pre-order it online to be delivered to the child. This provides a gift to anticipate after the main occasion (and gift overload) has passed.
- Clothing or practical items Kids rarely enjoy receiving clothing items UNLESS they are emblazoned with their favorite character. Be sure to get the parent’s permission first if there is any question about a character’s suitability. Some examples: Disney character pajamas, a LEGO water bottle or storage bin, a character T-shirt, sleeping bag, blanket or beach towel. HINT: Pair a practical item with a small toy. Some of the best gifts we have received (in my opinion, not necessarily my children’s) are cute storage accessories.
- Sports equipment Sports accessories beyond the basics a child already has make nice gifts. For example, a gymnastic/dance bag, cool goggles or a mask, licensed apparel for a favorite team (Sporting Kansas City has a great new apparel line out). Offer to come to a practice or event and take photos of the athlete in action with a good camera. Frame the best shots or put the photos in a book or on a mock sports magazine cover.
Gifts to carefully consider before giving:
- Yo-yo Don’t give a child under age 6 a yo-yo. For younger children, a yo-yo is pretty much a rock tied to a string, and it makes a great choking hazard.
- Noise Please reconsider gifts that make a huge amount of noise and don’t have volume control or off switches (unless you are trying to get revenge against the parents). HINT: If you do receive such a gift, and your child loves it, put duct tape over the speaker. This can help control the volume.
- Stuffed animals According to most parents I know, unless the child has specifically asked for them, these fluffy toys tend to multiply and, aside from a few special ones, do not get played with very often.
- Toy weapons Only give these if you have cleared it with the parents first.
- Bubbles While many kids love bubbles, they might already have a cabinet full at home. This is another item that can multiply, so resist unless they do something special, or the child has specifically asked for them. (Same goes for sidewalk chalk and Play-doh.)
- Coloring/activity books Typically, the activities in these are too difficult for the target age range. For example, superhero activity books that appeal to a preschooler have complicated word searches, code breaking and activities more appropriate for older children who, by the time they could do the activities, wouldn’t want a “babyish” coloring book. A longer-lasting gift might be a DIY plastic bin with a lid or zippered pencil case with crayons or colored pencils, sketch pad or construction paper, stencils, stickers, etc. Avoid glitter and glue and definitely glitter glue!
Most importantly, when in doubt, ask the parents for suggestions!
Laura Miller McEachen is a part-time attorney and full-time mommy. She lives in Overland Park.