1: Money

Lets face it, no kid is comfortable asking for cash for a gift, it is considered rude and impersonal. Money, however is the easiest gift to give, eliminating the time spent picking out and buying a gift. So in no way is this a rude gift to ask for or to give. It is a bit impersonal, but this problem could be solved by picking out a clever Christmas card to go along with it. It’s the building block of all gifts. It gives the receiver free range to purchase any gift they lay their eyes on, any gift they want, that money can buy. This guarantees that they will buy what they want the most, if not necessarily need the most.

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2: Gift Cards

Kids love to have cards in their wallets or purses, especially gift cards, it makes them feel like they have the power to walk into a store and walk out carrying something they wanted but didn’t have to pay for. Essentially you are paying for a gift they will later choose out themselves. Gift cards are also a great choice if you want to let them pick out their own gift, but would like to direct them into a general category; toy stores, massive stores like Walmart, book stores, etc. Some kids tend to just stash away money when given it, if you would like to make sure that one of these buys themselves a nice gift, a prepaid debit gift card is a great option. These cards are available in many stores, such as CVS, or online. If you would like to give them all the benefits of money, along with the ability to purchase gifts not only from stores but also from the vast collection available on the internet, prepaid debit gift cards are a great choice for a gift, and much more personal and fancy than money.

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3: Electronics

Teenagers especially, along with most other people, love playing with all the new gadgets of the modern age. Getting them a brand new piece of technology as a gift, wether it be a laptop, phone, iPod, game console, or something else, is never a bad idea. You just can’t go wrong. I know a five year old who’s older brother got a shiny new computer for college. Wen she became extremely jealous, her parents simply bought her a little calculator made of pink plastic, and now she proudly displays her brand new “computer” to anyone she happens to meet. These types of gifts are great because they can be opened and played with on Christmas morning.

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4: New Privileges

Younger kids love being allowed to do new things, it makes them feel like they are getting to be more mature and have more freedom. This is why giving them something they have always wanted but never been allowed to have before is a great idea, as long as they, and you, can handle it. These things can range from cellphones and bank accounts, to pets. For boys, anything from BB guns and lasers, to fireworks. For girls anything from simple makeup to body piercing. Maybe even a tattoo in some cases, who knows.

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Author’s Note: Only give these gifts with the permission of the child’s parents and a guarantee of supervision for the dangerous ones.

5: Popular Trends

Keep track of what is popular in the child’s peer groups. For younger kids it could be some type of collectable, maybe some type of trading card or remote controlled car. For teenagers this could be a new game console, sports equipment, or a particular style of clothes, maybe a hoodie or skateboarding shoes of some type. Maybe a skateboard itself. Teenage boys and girls alike like to wear jewelry, chrome chains or hemp bracelets for boys, shiny necklaces, bracelets, and rings for girls. Girls also like to obsess over shoes and clothing, it might be a good idea to take one shopping in a mall as a Christmas gift, and some quality bonding time. Help them start their own trend.

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6: Large Gifts

By large gifts a mean gifts which are a bigger hassle and usually much more expensive. These gifts could be trips to the Caribbean islands, cars, or things such as trampolines or playhouses. Because Christmas is cold, and filled with snow, it might not be possible to deliver this gift on Christmas morning. Because these gifts are either massive, or not material objects, it can also be hard to deliver these wrapped up under the tree. If this is the case, it is a great idea to include an image of the gift together with a description and personal message written by you. These gifts, obviously, may be given from multiple persons together, in order to make purchasing them more of a reality.

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7: Objects of Sentimental Value

Many children and young adults have some type of familiar object in their home, or belonging to a family member, which they have always loved throughout their young lives. Great-grandpa’s watch, or grandma’s old wedding ring. Objects like this are an extremely personal and caring gift that will signify a step along the road to adulthood for children and young adults, perhaps this is a family heirloom, or otherwise soon to become one. Whenever the child in question glances at this object they will remember you, so make sure it is something they will wear often.

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8: Things They’ve Asked For

Finally, you cannot go wrong by buying someone something that they have actually asked you for. However, make sure that they are not simply hesitant to ask for something that they really want because they think it is impolite. Those kids that give a straight answer really simplify the process. Also if they always talk about one thing or are clearly interested in something specific, it can be a good idea to use your instincts.

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