When your child starts mixing with kids their age, you can be sure a few party invitations are going to come your way. In fact, if all goes well on the socialization scale, you can expect to receive at least one a month for the coming years.
When kids get old enough to pick their friends, parties become an exclusive affair. But, when they’re young, it’s likely the whole class will get an invite. Unlucky for you, not turning up could do real damage to your child’s position in the class. So, you’ll have a pretty busy time keeping up.
And, when those invites start rolling, you might wonder what to do about gifts. Do you take them, or is it okay to turn up empty handed? According to etiquette guides like this one on care.com, gifts are a must. But, how can you pick the perfect thing for a child you don’t know? And, how can you do it without stressing yourself out? Read on to discover a few methods worth attempting.
Talk to their parents
Nothing could be better than talking to the parents of the child in question. You should contact them anyway as a matter of manners. While you have them on the phone, there’s nothing wrong with asking what for some gift-giving ideas. Not only does this save you having to trawl the shops, but it also ensures your gift is successful. It may be that their child has a favorite program or something they collect. Either way, it’s unlikely their parents will mind giving you tips. Bear in mind that conversations like these can be awkward if you approach them in the wrong way. Instead of asking ‘what should we bring?’ keep this subtle. Something like a simple ‘does your child have any hobbies?’ could be a better way in.
Get personal
If in doubt, fall on personal gifts. Children can never resist something with their name on it. As such, this is an easy way to get a gift which seems unique without having to put hours of thought in. If you visit sites like makaboo.com now, you could even order online and save yourself a trip to town. Make sure, though, that you check the spelling of that child’s name first. Your genius plan is sure to fall flat if you miss the b in Siobhan!
Have a drawer of basics
You could always keep an emergency drawer of basics in the house. This is fantastic for saving money, as many shops will have bulk deals, so, buying like this can help save you money. Not to mention that there won’t be any worry because the toys will be there ready to go. Make sure that you buy options which are likely to stay in fashion for a long time. Superheroes are always a good bet here, as are characters like Peppa Pig. Avoid the latest trend, as you can’t guarantee that present will still be relevant when it comes time for giving.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks