Choosing Christmas Gifts For Your Child
By Heidi Hoff
 The other day a friend and I were enjoying a cup of
tea when she
picked up a brochure from my kitchen table put out by a major toy
manufacturer and started to leaf through it. "Look at
this"
she said, "underneath every toy there are two boxes to check,
either "want it or got it", what could be more
intimidating?"
Every year you look at the over abundance of toys stuffed into toy
boxes, in closets, on bookshelves and anywhere else you can find room
to store them and wonder, "what more can my child possibly
need?"
It's true that today's children have more toys than ever
before but we only have ourselves to blame. Must we give in to
every
ad telling us our child will be deprived if they don't have the
newest and the best? I know this year I am rethinking what my
children will receive from my husband and myself and these are the
steps that I'm following:
1. I am going to go through all the children's toys and separate
them
into these categories:
ˇ Broken or missing pieces
ˇ Has been outgrown but is still in good condition to donate to a charity
ˇ Keep in the storage space for my grandchildren (!)
ˇ Still popular and stimulating
I will also keep a large garbage bag by my side and be merciless at
what I throw out. My children have so much that they have never
asked me where anything is after I've thrown it away.
2. Every time my daughters see something
on television that they
would like, instead of shouting "I want that!" they say
"Can I put that on my list?" My girls are five and
two-and-a-half and believe me, they can't remember what goes on
the list and what doesn't, it's just not as annoying for me to
listen to them greedily want everything they see. I also get a
sense
of what they would really like by how often they talk about it,
though the Poo-Chi Emily wanted so desperately last Christmas is
collecting dust on her dresser.
3. If they receive duplicate gifts on their birthdays they put
them away and donate them to the Christmas bureau. Hopefully
this
will make them aware that there are children who don't have a lot
and teaches them what giving is all about.
4. My husband and I focus on items the kids can use to express
their creativity with or learn something from. Paints, books and
craft items are simple but popular. Last Christmas my five-year-
old's favorite gift was a bag of brightly colored feathers;
I'm not kidding! That bag of feathers cost only two dollars but
decorated every project she made throughout the whole year.
5. You can make items like microscopes and globes fun! Last
year my mother-in-law bought my daughter a globe and it's one of
her favorite things. She loves to look for different countries
where
friends and family live. Emily also finds it fun to learn about the
different customs and lifestyles of children around the world.
6. If relatives ask what they can buy for the children I usually
suggest gift certificates to the local toy, craft or children's
clothing store. I like to give the kids an opportunity to pick
something for themselves and don't veto it even though it might
be a package of shiny purple fake fingernails.
7. I try to put some gifts aside to be played with at a later
date. Tearing open packages and playing a little with everything
takes away the newness. Videos and games are perfect items to
keep
in the closet for a rainy day.
8. I also try to balance the types of items I buy and throw in a
few surprises. Every parent knows their own child's interests.
Sometimes the surprises go over well, sometimes they don't but
it's always worth the gamble. Stores that specialize in
educational toys are my favorite because I know that everything they
sell will benefit my children in some way. They also carry items
that are not always found in regular toy departments, making them
unique and ideal for those surprises.
9. I also like to put together kits for the kids geared towards
their own interests. It's exciting to pick a theme and center
little gifts on it; packaging it in an inexpensive container or bag.
It's kind of like a little treasure chest when they open it!
10. Because I start my Christmas shopping so early I tend to go
overboard. If I feel I've bought too much I either give it away
or return it to the store. My family has cut back too; we no
longer
participate in a children's gift exchange, preferring to spend
the time together enjoying each other's company instead. After
all, isn't that what the holidays are all about?
About the author:
Heidi Hoff is a freelance writer and publisher of Preschool Planet,
an ezine for parents and care givers of preschool aged children.
She is also the author of the ebook: "The Play Date
Handbook".
For more information please visit www.preschoolplanet.com
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