Stock up on Children's Birthday Gifts for the School Year!
Great Ideas for Children's Birthday Gifts
School is almost upon us, and for many parents, this means that we will be inundated with invitations to birthday parties for our children's peers. On an almost regular basis, we will be expected to find reasonably priced, popular toys to give as gifts. That, my friends, can be a challenge.
How Much Is This Going to Cost You?
Elementary school children are the most likely to be invited to a multitude of birthday parties, putting you in the awkward position of wanting to give gifts that the recipient is sure to enjoy, but not wanting to go broke in the process (keep in mind that your child may be invited to 20+ parties over the course of a year!).
Toys in the $15 price range are generally appropriate; then, invest in a bunch of cheap wrapping paper and cards - don't spend too much effort on card shopping, since children will not pay much attention to the cards anyway.
Let Your Child Be Your Guide
It may be helpful to bring your child with you when shopping for children's birthday gifts (after you have explained that you are shopping for someone else's birthday present, and not a gift for them).
Discount retail stores are a great place to start, since you will most likely be able to find a wide variety of toys themes for various age groups, many of them within your price range.
Your child's interests are usually the best indicator of what is popular with children in his or her age range. If he or she is drawn to a particularly expensive toy within a theme (such as Transformers or My Little Ponies), continue searching among the options until you have found one that is acceptably priced.
What's Hot?
For boys, Matchbox-style cars are always enjoyed (and they have a ton of race track kits!), and Transformers and superhero toys are currently very popular. Action figures within these themes are generally fun.
For girls, My Little Ponies, Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, and other doll and animal-themed toys are trendy. Do any of these toys sound familiar to you? They should - there has been a resurgence of toys from the 1970s and 1980s, such that parents experience a sense of nostalgia when shopping toy aisles.
When In Doubt, Choose An Educational Toy
When all else fails, opt for an activity-type toy, such as science or art kits. Pay close attention to the recommended ages on these toys, since they are particularly geared towards children's interests and abilities during different life stages.
Shop Smart
If you find something at a great price, stock up on several of them and put them in a closet at home, waiting for the next birthday party invitation. Likewise, if a particular gift is a hit at a party, try to find more of them on your next shopping trip. If worst comes to worst and you find that you've overstocked, you can always give your extra birthday children's birthday gifts to your own child for his or her own birthday!