How To Buy Children Christmas Presents They Actually Like

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With Christmas quickly approaching our minds are turning towards lists and presents. Many of us may be taking a different approach to buying Christmas presents this year due to the cost of living crisis and that’s totally OK! One rule my husband and I implemented once we had nieces and nephews is that we would only buy for the children at Christmas not the adults. If you’re doing something similar this year or you just really want to look like the super cool aunt and uncle then you definitely need to read this post.

Kids can be brutally honest with their opinions, not in an ungrateful way at all. Just in a they have no filter kind of way! New TV shows, new technology, changing tastes with age and even friends and siblings all have an influence of what children like and are interested in. It can be hard to keep up! The last thing anyone wants to be doing this year is wasting money. And gifts that no one wants is a big waste of money! So if you want to get your gift spot on for the children in your life then read on and discover the best ways to buy children Christmas presents they actually like.

Look at their list

Kids of a certain age usually have a pretty good idea of things they want for Christmas. In those golden years things can be much easier on the gift buying front. Letters to Father Christmas will be your saviour. This isn’t without it’s problems but it can be a good guide. Younger children who very much believe in the magic of Christmas won’t see any issue with sticking things like a unicorn on their gift list. Kids also don’t grasp the monetary aspect of things either. They will quite happily stick 10 super expensive toys on their list. But in-between the gifts that aren’t even real and the gifts that are just too expensive you’ll usually find something that kids really want. So as Christmas approaches check if the child has a gift list.

Pay attention

When you’re spending time with nieces and nephews or little cousins really pay attention. The things they talk about, watch on TV or the toys they’re playing with will usually give you a big clue as to the kind of present you could get for them. From that point have a look around in shops and online for inspiration based on their likes and interests.

Wicked Uncle is a fantastic site to use for this. We’ll definitely be using it for our niece and nephew. What’s so good about Wicked Uncle is that you can set loads of filters to find the perfect gift. You can filter by age, gender and category. For example if you have a 6 year old niece that loves arts and crafts then you can set all those filters and be presented with loads of brilliant gift ideas. It really takes the hard work out of buying gifts for children.

When ever we spend time with our niece and nephew I’m always making a mental note of what they’re telling us about. What they’re asking us to play with or showing us. If they’re telling you about it and they want you to join in it’s because it’s something they’re interested in. Something that excites them and they want to share that with you. That’s one of the most perfect ways to find a gift they’ll love.

Stick to the four gift rule

The four gift rule has become pretty popular with parents at birthdays and Christmas. I’ll be honest, I think it’s set to get even more popular this year as it’s a great way to lower the cost of presents too. Christmas can become very over-indulgent and it’s easy to get carried away. Especially if you love giving gifts like I do. My husband and I don’t want children so we spoil each other at Christmas but we also spoil our niece and nephew too seen as we don’t have children of our own. The four gift rule is a way to reign that in a little and stop children becoming overwhelmed with presents.

If you’ve never heard of the four gift rule it’s super simple. You limit gift giving to four gift that all fall into a specific category. The categories are:

1. Something they want
2. Something they need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read

It’s that simple! If you’re in the habit of spoiling the children in your family, the four gift rule still allows you to buy some lovely gifts but it definitely helps with keeping the cost down.

If you’re a parent looking to implement the four gift rule but have the budget to go a little further without going crazy then Hugs For Kids came up with a five gift rule. The first four gifts are the same bit the fifth gift is a big surprise. Something that your kids probably haven’t asked for but that you know they’ll love. This is where the advice on paying attention will really come in useful, Having that connection with your children is what will help you come up with the fifth gift. It’s also where Wicked Uncle would be super useful for purchasing a unique, wow factor gift!

If all else fails – ask!

If your shopping for kids that aren’t your own and all the above advice just isn’t working out then the best thing you can do is just check in with parents. Ask if any gifts have been mentioned, ask if there’s anything the child needs. It’s best to ask and get it right then go out on a whim and end up wasting your money on something the child has no interest in or already has. It’s a rule I’m sticking by for everyone this year, regardless of age. I’d rather ask and get it right because let’s face it none of us has money to throw away right now.

Buying gifts for children at Christmas that they’ll truly love is absolutely magical. Seeing their faces light up and seeing them getting enjoyment from a gift you’ve bought them is amazing. Hopefully with these handy tips you’ll be able to get your gift-giving for children spot on every time and find Christmas gifts that kids love!

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