As a father of three girls, the thought of buying Christmas presents is a little intimidating. It’s not that buying presents is difficult or even time-consuming, but the fear of getting the wrong gift is always in the back of my mind. It seems the older the girl, the more specific the wish list becomes. I suppose that’s true for boys as well, but I relate more to a boy’s way of thinking.
My youngest daughter is seven, and she’s by far the easiest to shop for. At this age, the most important thing is that there are presents, not necessarily what’s inside. As long as she can play with it, she’s happy. She even pretends to appreciate the various articles of clothing mixed in with the toys. Of course, the “must-have” toy of the year plays into her wish list, but she’s not too picky.
As the Kids Get Older, Shopping Gets Tougher
My middle daughter is twelve, and it starts to get more challenging with her. The social structure of her peer group is more developed, so clothing choices are now more important. Everything has to be trendy while still practical. Shoes are a bigger deal for girls these days than when I was young—I don’t remember the girls in school caring about what shoes they wore. And the “toys” get more expensive at this age, too. No longer are Barbies acceptable, although she still plays with her little sister from time to time. Today’s tweenagers are more interested in the latest cell phone or MP3 player. Music is the great equalizer across generations. While we listened to different genres, music is still just as important today as it was 30 years ago.
My oldest daughter is fourteen. I’m sure it will only get worse as she gets older, but she’s already pretty expensive. The clothes now need to be brand name, and the price of electronics is starting to melt my wallet. She thinks she “needs” her own laptop now, and her headphones must be studio quality. It’s interesting to see how she interacts with her friends when it comes to gift-giving. They get quite creative in their gifts, and they’re almost always linked to an inside joke. Since when did an orange with a face drawn on it become an acceptable gift? But the whole group of girls burst out laughing when it was opened, so I guess it was the perfect gift.
As it always turns out, they love everything regardless of the content of the package. When you are engaged in your children’s lives, the right gift idea seems to naturally come to mind. Whether it’s something related to a hobby or an extracurricular activity, being an active part of your child’s life is the best way to ensure you get the right gift.
When it comes to shopping, I just can’t do the mall thing. It’s too crowded this time of year, and it takes too long to browse the stores. I can get much more done online in the relative peace and quiet of my house. While many people line up at midnight on Black Friday to get good deals at stores, I shop on Cyber Monday to get the best deals online. Don’t forget to search for coupons that will add to your savings. Then, just sit back and wait for the packages to arrive at your doorstep.
The last thing to consider is stocking stuffers. This area is wide open for creative ideas. Great stocking gift ideas range from candy to jewelry. My girls love to get hair clips, fancy ponytail ties, earrings, makeup (for my oldest), and lip gloss. These are all small items, so you can save yourself the hassle of trying to wrap a stick of lip gloss by simply putting it in the stocking. Gift cards are another great idea for stockings. A gift card for their favorite store will ensure they get exactly what they want without any concern. I usually stick to iTunes gift cards, since I never know what kind of music they want anyway. A few pieces of special candy, like Lindor balls, always top off the stocking. Stockings are usually done after the presents under the tree, as the girls are winding down, so the smaller things help them calm down after all the excitement.
Another thing to keep in mind is gift-equality. You may not remember doing it yourself, but kids will always add up their gifts and compare them to their siblings. This is usually seen in the younger kids, since the older ones realize their gifts are more expensive, so they get fewer. It can lead to a tense discussion on Christmas morning about the true meaning of the holiday.
In the end, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing the joy on their faces on Christmas morning as they tear into the wrapping paper.
