|
|
Choosing A Toy Gift For A Child You Do Not Know
Buying a gift for a child can be a challenge at the best of times. What if you don't even know the child? This easily leads to a state of panic or embarrassment. Panic that you might not the child the right gift, and their rejection will embarrass you? First, remember this. There is no real wrong gift; at least you were thoughtful enough to buy a gift in the first place. Here are four tips that may save the day for you.
Talk To The Child's ParentsThe two most important questions are (1) gender and (2) age. The answers to those two are crucial. A boy probably would not appreciate the newest Barbie, and a 4-year old would probably not get much joy out of a Mechano Set, which requires intricate use of tools. The child's parents may also be able to offer you concrete ideas, based on their knowledge of what their son or daughter like to do.
Use Gender To Help You AlongEven though it may sound sexist, gender can really help you choose a great gift. If the child is a younger boy, try Matchbox cars. All little boys love to crash the cars together or have car races. Most boys like Lego's. (see our separate articles about Lego's at Selecting the Best Lego Kit and Lego - Perfect for Boy Or Girl) Simpler sets for younger ones and more complex sets for older boys. According to our other Lego article, some girls also enjoy building with bricks. Traditionally, girls love Barbie's. What little girl wouldn't want to fantasize about being that beautiful when she gets older? My granddaughter must have over a dozen varieties.
Check with Other Parents
If you do not have a child in your family of the same gender and age group, check out your relatives, friends, neighbours, and co-workers. One of them is bound to have a child that fits the description. You can then ask the parents for ideas. You could even ask the parent to ask their kids what's hot.
Current ChoicesMake sure the toy is current. Get the child something that is new, such as a toy that has just been released. This way you can almost be certain they don't already own one. You can get ideas from other children, or even ask a clerk at a toy store. They can both advise you. WARNING: Stay away from fads. Fad toys tend to get used for a bfief period of time, and then ignored. Look for something that you or your "advisors" feel will keep the child's interest for the long term. For teens, a simple idea is to buy a cd wallet and insert a gift card for a store that sells cd's and dvd's in one of the sleeves.
Do your homework, work the stores, and watch the happy look on the child's face as they open your gift to them.
Although not an exhaustive list, here are some traditional ideas:
- Lego
- Sports equipment
- Board games
- Stationery sets
- Electronic gadgets
- Craft sets
- A movie treat
- Sidewalk chalk or stickers for younger children
|
|
