Tips on buying birthday gifts

We are in birthday season. Seven birthday parties in 6 weeks' time. With more to follow, I'd guess. For me, the hard part is the gifts. I like to give gifts that the receiver will enjoy. Hopefully does not already have. Is easy to exchange if they already do. Of course, my kids are rarely any help in deciding what to get:

Me: So what does the birthday boy like?

Kid: Oh, games.

Me: What games?

Kid: He has them all already.

Me: Does he like certain themes or animals? Like dinosaurs, amphibians or mammals?

Kid: No, he never draws animals.

Me: Well, if he had a choice of frogs, elephants or dinosaurs, which do you think he'd pick?

Kid: I don't know. What do you think?

Me: I don't sit next to him in class, but you did... What did you talk about?

Kid: Nothing.

Surely you've had these conversations too. I used to always shop at Target. Games, toys, gift receipts. Emphasis on gift receipt. Now, due to the all "made in China" lead-tainted worries, I don't want to shop for these kind of gifts any more. I also try to stay away from Target, so I don't blow a whole paycheck in one lousy little shopping outing. They must have subliminal messages coming thru the Muzak saying: "impulse buy! impulse buy! impulse buy!" Or maybe I'm just weak.

Do you have any tips on buying birthday gifts for kids you hardly know?

Comments

[Marianne]

I confess. Just last night we stopped at Target to buy a birthday present. We were having dinner nearby, so it was convenient. Their selection of toys is great. We picked up an age-appropriate board game -- and the gift receipt. I shut out the Muzak and made it out of the store with only one other small purchase. (Stain remover, if you must know.) On another day, I may have patronized a nearby independent toy store because that's an establishment I like to support and there are higher-quality toys there. But yesterday, it was all about doing the easy thing. For the older kids, I have been doing gift cards -- usually for bookstores.

[Becky]

I think this one is tricky. I don't want to shop at target for toys either. I can't stand looking up and down the isles looking for something thats isn't full of lead paint, ect. I really want to support local toy shops, but the problem I am having is the prices. I don't want to have to spend 20+ for every present I buy. Thats a lot of money b/c we have/are being invited to a lot of b-day party's. Heck I don't even want my kiddos to receive that many presents, we don't have the space anyway, and I don't think other parents should spend that much either.
For the last party we went to (for a 2 yr old) we bought bath paints ($11 for 4) and these tablets that turn the water different colors ($1 for 12 tablets). I know, I guess that $12 isn't that much, but it's a lot to us. And besides that, I spent 1/2hr in the store trying to find something that didn't cost more than $15, that was age appropriate. The cost of books can add up pretty fast too.
How much does everyone else spend? Am I the only one that thinks that we are spending too much? Will it get worse as my kids get older?

[Heather]

I have recently solved this gift dilemma by buying multiples of one thing that my daughter has used and loved. There's this book called 'I Can Draw Animals' by Ray Gibson that my daughter has referred to for the past two years while teaching herself to draw. She loves it, and I love it. I think any kid would love it. So I bought 10 of them online and 10 packs of colored pencils. http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-9780746029435-1 This is the gift that we give everyone. My son will give it to his 3-4 year old friends, and my daughter gives it to her 6-year old friends. I think we end up spending $6-7 on each child with these two items, which considering the sheer number of parties each month, is about all we can afford. I hope the children like it, and if not, they can pass it along to someone else who might.

Other gift ideas: I like to give the 6 and older crowd the original Uno, which is a HUGE favorite in our home ($8). For toddlers I like to give the board books 'Mr. Gumpy's Outing' or 'The Snowy Day' (about $7 each). For new walkers my favorite gift to give is the black wooden Brio pull-along train that Thinker Toys or most independents carry for around $12. Or a sun hat. I really don't think people expect you to go all-out on gifts. Aren't we all overwhelmed with presents our kids get at birthday time? Less is better!

[Julie]

I usually just pick up a toy that my son has had and loved. One of my favorite things to give is books. (Balls, bubbles, sidewalk chalk - also big hits.) I'm sure as kids get older that seems like a lame gift, but for now it works.

[lilah]

Puzzles, books, art supplies, kites, and airplanes. Those balsa wood airplanes are fun. They make some that you can put together and that have a rubber band "engine". Super cool. Those run anywhere from $3.95-$15.95. I usually won't spend more than that for kids we hardly know. All those birthday's add up and I think most Mom's completely get that.

[Phyllis]

Ditto on all of the above gift ideas. One gift that may not be as educational but is always a big hit (don't know why but it is) is the "hundreds of plastic nail like things that leave an impression when you push on it" toy. I don't know what's it is called, obviously. It is in a frame and they have a large version at the Gilbert Discovery House in Salem. ALL the kids love it. From 3 years to 13 years old. Go figure. I think it cost 12 dollars at a local toy store here.

For smaller kids we've given (if the season is appropriate) a living strawberry basket. Cute small leftover easter hunt basket + plastic liner + extra potting soil leftover from a previous project + everbearing stawberry plant + big ribbon = wow factor and a gift that keeps giving. OK, it is not a convenience purchase but my kids loved that they got to help put it together and had something to do with the gift they are giving. Maybe we will try those cute little tet-a-tet daffodils next time. The recipients loved that it was "their own" garden to take care of.

[Amy]

I look at the invitation theme to figure out the kid's interest. One time the birthday card for a 2-year-old had cars and trucks all over it. So our gift was a big book of cars and trucks. It didn't cost more than $10. Another time the party theme was Transformers. I don't care for that stuff, but it wasn't about me. So I picked up a pair of Transformers walkie-talkies at Target. Minus: Another plastic toy made in China. Pluses: Birthday kid LOVED it, it requires him to use his imagination and interact with another person, and it cost about $11.

[Christmas Gift Ideas]

One of the things that make Christmas special is the spirit of giving. As children we can’t wait for Christmas morning to open presents. We thought in terms of receiving. As adults we think in terms of giving. And hopefully, our unique Christmas gift ideas are gifts of love. Men look for just the right gifts for women. Women usually shop for men, their own children as well as others, and for family and friends. Here are some suggestions to get you started. http://unique-christmas-gift-ideas-tips.blogspot.com .

[gift to Philippines]

Nice. I like the way you collected all the information. Very informative!

zaijan