My daughter is regularly invited to birthdays. Sometimes these are not close friends, but girlfriends from kindergarten or other extra classes. And often I have to break my head over the acquisition of a suitable gift, because I really do not know either the child or his parents.
Having some experience behind me, I would like to share with you ideas of good gifts. Thanks to them, the perpetrators of the celebration will not think where to put things they did not like, but will remember you with gratitude.
Clarify the range of interests in advance
Before I had a child, I was sure that the perfect gift for a boy was a typewriter, and for a girl a doll. Moreover, any. How wrong! According to my daughter, I see how rapidly her interests are changing, and any first doll she finds will not suit her.
Most children are addicted to something. Starting from the designers and ending with collecting dinosaurs. In order not to guess, it is better to clarify in advance the sphere of interests of the child.
There are two options here. Usually, I ask my daughter to clarify with the birthday boy what he would like to receive as a gift, what is interested in or ask leading questions (Does Olya weave rubber bands ?, Does she like beads? Etc.).
The second option is to clarify with the parents of the birthday boy the range of interests of their child. Usually, the invitation contains the contact phone number of the mother of the child, which must be confirmed in advance attendance. Making a call, I specify that it is better to donate.
There are gifts that will be useful and will please, if not everyone, then most children. This includes cosmetics (hair and body wash everything), cute socks or panty hoses (don’t give underwear very well-mannered), hair accessories (hairpins, elastic bands, hoops), boxes for toys, dishes, etc. .
My daughter has a birthday soon and I’m slowly starting to buy presents for her. No, not from myself, but from her friends. Who knows better than me what my girl dreams? No matter how close she communicated with friends, their parents often have no idea about her desires.
In order not to receive standard envelopes with money or a gift bought in a hurry, I prefer to buy presents in advance from almost all the guests, and quietly give them to them in advance. Parents return money to me, everyone is happy.
By a similar principle, I myself sometimes suggest that parents buy something that they want as a child, then give it to me in exchange for money.
I do not like this option. Although, my daughter is already quite adult, and understands what to do with them. And she doesn’t have any thoughts about the lack of time and imagination of such donors. Therefore, you still should not write off this option, but consider it as the most extreme.
For a change, instead of money, you can present a certificate for shopping at a toy store or visiting attractions.
Sometimes we give tickets to various events. It is better if they are without a date, after all we can not be aware of the plans of the parents of the child. Exhibitions, museums, rides, bowling, etc. will do.
Useful advice: look for a gift on the sites-coupon, there every day you can find a lot of suggestions on various topics. And almost all coupons out there have a great expiration date.
I hope my advice will be useful to you, and all the birthday men will be satisfied! And what ideas of universal gifts do you know?