Good Gift For A Child?

[marla]

I need lots of ideas on good gifts to give to children - both boys and girls - that don't cost a lot. I have lots of nieces and nephews and I want to give them something without breaking the bank. What are good gifts to give to children?

[PrincessPerky]

If they like art, supplies are relativly inexpensive and get used up, leaving you with something to get next year.

I try to stay away fromt he fad toys, cause those we never see agian after the fad dies.

But I love building stuff, Legos are a family favorite. (duplos for the very young) you can get stocking stuffer sized gifts, ebay lots, or the basic sets fairly cheap. And I always see them again.

[Bruce Wayne]

Give them your time. Spend the whole day with them doing the things they enjoy.

[jodi]

I like Bruce Wayne's reply. Why not take them to the zoo, a play, a park, or just to McDonalds (if you are local)? Or how about a gift certificate to a one-time class they would enjoy, such as ceramics or painting. Without trying to sound completely ungrateful, my kids get a glut of toys each birthday and holiday that they use only a few times. I would love to see more gifts like this. I also love the previous suggestion of building onto existing sets - ask their parents what sets they have and play with all the time. My sons love their Legos, train set, and Little People. They probably play with those three things at least 75% of the time, and don't touch their other 50 toys.
Books are always welcome, but some older kids might not find them so fascinating (ditto on the clothes). Coloring books are good, like pp said, because they get used up and then are needed again.
I have toyed with the idea of getting savings bonds for some of my nieces and nephews instead of something tangible. Nothing huge, probably $25. They probably won't be too thrilled now, but I bet they will be in 10 or 15 years when they add them all up and really could use the money for college or real world expenses.

[PrincessPerky]

Oh the nieces love the day thing, but as they get older it is harder to pin down a time, always a friend to be with (that and currently no room in our car for anyone but us)

So do it while you can, tons of fun for them and us.

[TBH]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wayne

Give them your time. Spend the whole day with them doing the things they enjoy.

I love this idea, too. My kid doesn't need more bathtub toys. He needs time with the cool adults in our family.

I have a friend who gives her grandchildren "a memory" every year for their birthday. The thing is, she's set a precedent for big things--amusement parks, Disney-on-ice, etc. So it ends up being more expensive than just buying a regular gift. But at least it teaches the kid something about time with family being more important than mere stuff.

[TBH]

Originally Posted by jodi_m

I have toyed with the idea of getting savings bonds for some of my nieces and nephews instead of something tangible. Nothing huge, probably $25. They probably won't be too thrilled now, but I bet they will be in 10 or 15 years when they add them all up and really could use the money for college or real world expenses.

Yeah, the parents will be thrilled, though. My grandmother has opened UGMA accounts for all her great-grands and puts in $50 once a year (25 for bday, 25 for Xmas). This takes some of the pressure off me to save for college. I wish my parents would do this too instead of buying him Baby Einstein flashcards and noisemaking toys.

(I sound so ungrateful. But it is easy for toys to take over the house)

[TBH]

BTW, thanks, Marla, for this series of threads. It's a great idea.

[jnsaver]

What about using some of the unfinished wood peices that you'd find at Micheals or Ikea to create your own craft kits for the kids? With a few paints and beads, they could make personalized picture frames, treasure boxes, step stools, whatever.

[Gailete]

I always vote for books which you can combine with time with you. Spend time reading the books to the younger children. Work on activity books and projects with older children.

My own personal plug here, I've been selling Usborne books this year through my ebay store and my Usborne website: www.RodgersEducationalBooks.com not only do they have fascinating books for kids of all ages, they also have kid kits that combine a to do book with bits and pieces of fun items for making some of the projects in the book! When I get my sample books and kits in the mail, I always want to go out and grab a child and get them to go through the book with me! But I'm a book lover since I was a little child and I see some of these books and wish I had had them when I was younger. I actually sit and mentally cross my fingers that some of my favorite books won't sell so that I will have them around for if and when I have a grandchild!

Kids need more quality and quantity time spent with them and away from all electronic devices. A quiet session teaching a child to knit, crochet, paint, color, etc. can open up worlds of discussion and openness that sitting in front of a new DVD can never do.

Just my 2 cents. Happy holidays.

Gail

[PRICEPLUS]

I like giving bonds. This year I'll be giving one of nephews a certificate of stock bought directly from a company. I am still trying to figure out which one. My thought is to turn kids on to saving and investing rather than just consuming and spending!

[PrincessPerky]

I like the stock idea, a kid could really get into watching it go up or down, it is sortof money for the future, but alot more fun than a bond I think (course a lot less likely to earn the same rate, since a kid isn't likely to be watching it and all)

[Luv2shop]

Cash is the best gift. They can buy what they want!