You might think that buying gifts for a child is easy. There are so many toys and games around that you can just walk into any store or go online and pick up the first thing you see (or order it). If it’s bright and colorful and looks interesting, surely the child you’re buying for is going to love it? 

The truth is that this is not necessarily the case, and there are better ways to buy gifts for kids than this random approach. Once you know what these ways are, you’ll never have to worry about buying an unwanted or inappropriate gift again. Read on to find out more. 

Photo by Thirdman

Look At The Age Recommendations 

If you’re keen on buying games and toys, there will usually be age recommendations on the box. This is to help people work out whether or not that gift is going to be a sensible option for the child you have in mind. 

However, it’s really just a start. This indication is there to help you get a gauge on things and narrow your options down, but you do need to consider the child as well. For example, a child who is slightly delayed in their development may need a toy that is made for younger children. A child who is more advanced might need something for older children. As we said, it’s a good place to start, but you have to do a little more thinking before making the final decision.

Gifts That Encourage Family Time 

If you’re buying a gift, why not make it something the entire family can be involved in? Of course, you don’t want the child to feel as though the present isn’t for them, so you’ll need to be wary of how you talk about the reasons behind buying it, but gifting something that means people can spend time together – especially if they wouldn’t normally do so – is a great idea. 

A game is a perfect example, and whether it’s a video game or a board game, if it needs more than one player, everyone can join in and have fun. However, there are other options too. A book is something that can work here. Although reading might be seen as a solitary pursuit, wouldn’t it be lovely to have the entire family reading together on the couch for a little while each day? If that sounds ideal, you can look at the best books ever to choose a great one for the child you’re buying a gift for. 

Another option could be tickets to an event, show, or activity. Not only will this be something everyone can do together, but it’s also a good way to create some wonderful memories that will last long after all the other gifts have been used and worn out. 

What Are Their Interests?

If you go into any store or look online, you’ll find lists of best-selling kids’ products that, supposedly, every child wants. And while this might be true of your child, it might not be. In other words, don’t assume they’re interested in the same things as the majority, or what you and they have been told to be interested in by advertisers. Instead, think about what they really love and buy a gift based around that. 

Perhaps your child loves baking. You could buy them an age-appropriate baking book, a subscription to a baking magazine, or tickets to a baking event. You might even be able to find cookery classes for kids in your local area. Or maybe they love math. If that’s the case, some math exercise books they can spend hours enjoying would be fantastic, even if it’s not what you might first think of when it comes to buying gifts for children. Gardening is another example of an activity a kid might enjoy, and you can get them some seed packets to plant.

These are just a couple of examples, but the point is that you should always try to find something that links to the child’s particular passions. In that way, you’ll know they’ll love it, and you can help encourage their love of whatever it is they are into. 

Something Personalized 

One of the first things a child learns to read is their name, and seeing that name on a gift is always exciting. These days, you can personalize pretty much anything, from water bottles to bags and teddy bears, as well as everything in between. Kids love to see a personalized gift as it feels so special (which is it, of course), and if they have siblings, it can feel even more important because it is just for them and they don’t have to share, but equally it won’t get mixed up with their brother or sister’s possessions. 

Although you can spend a lot of money on a personalized gift, you don’t have to. In fact, you can even make your own. A photo book is a personalized gift, for example. Why not gather together photos of the things you’ve done over the past year and put them together in one place with a short description of what you did and where you were on each page? This is something you can make year after year with new images, and it will become something the child looks forward to receiving every Christmas or birthday. 

Another idea would be to make some vouchers for your child to use when they want to spend time with you. This makes them feel as though they’re in control, and they can pick and choose what you do and when. 

Final Thoughts

There are so many options available when it comes to finding the right gift for a child. Whether it’s your own child or someone else’s, the last thing you want to do is buy them something they’re not going to like, and that won’t be enjoyed. However, if you go through the ideas we’ve mentioned above, you should be able to come up with something wonderful that suits the child perfectly and that you can feel good about giving. After all, as much fun as it is to receive gifts, it’s the giving that most people tend to enjoy, especially when it comes to children.