If a child needs to buy a friend a gift, they will usually be full of ideas about what the friend would like and what they are interested in, and they often know what the friend has already got. You can then filter all the expensive or inappropriate suggestions and come up with a gift that the friend will like, and your child will be excited about giving. Even if they don’t have any ideas, buying modest presents for children is not a very big problem. You’re a parent of a similar aged child, so you know what kids are interested in and you know what their parents would rather they didn’t have! It far more problematic when your child needs to buy a gift for an adult in their life though.
Why buying for adults is tricky
Kids will generally be uninterested in shopping for anything except what they want for themselves, so getting them engaged in coming up with ideas and choosing items can be an uphill battle. There is also the problem of buying for people neither of you knows that well, like teachers and sports instructors. You might know them in their professional capacity, but the rest of their life is probably something of a mystery. This means choosing gifts that will be appreciated can be a bit of a headache. The gift also needs to be age appropriate for the child who is giving it, so alcohol or anything remotely adult-themed, such as an age-restricted DVD would be a non-starter.
What do you know about the recipient?
Even if you don’t think you know someone, there are still little clues that can indicate what sorts of things they like. If they regularly wear strikingly colored nail polish, then a gift bag with some pretty colored and special effect nail polishes is a great idea. Maybe they drive a nice car, in which case you could get a luxury car shampoo gift case. Or you can see what sort of jewelry they like to wear, or whether they use scrunchies and hair combs. Use any clues like these to find suitable gifts.
Looking for inspiration
If you’re still at a loss, try browsing through some gift and multiple product websites like trend-gem.com for ideas. These sites are full of products you might not have realized existed, and they can be a treasure trove of unusual items. There will be themed gifts like Best Teacher mugs that may look perfect, but bear in mind that there will probably be many other parents thinking along the same lines, and your child’s teacher will probably have a shelf full of Best Teacher mugs at home! You could get something personalized instead, like a key fob or a wallet with the person’s name on it and a message from your child, or have something printed using artwork your child has designed.
It’s a good idea to get your child involved in the whole process of finding, wrapping and giving gifts, as it will show them how much work is involved, plus they will be a little more prepared for the future, when they will be responsible for buying their own gifts.
