I have three grandchildren for whom I enjoy buying presents, but sometimes I’m not sure what to get them. Any suggestions?
We assume you’re looking for more creative suggestions than simply asking their parents what the kids want, so here are some ideas:
Sit down with the children and flip through catalogs to see what strikes their fancy.
Better yet, take the children on a shopping expedition. One grandmother who adopted this strategy set aside a day for each grandchild, and set a price limit of $100 for the teenage girls and $50 for the younger boy.
“The girls shopped with an eye on price. I had to tell them that if it cost $5 or $10 more and they really loved it, they shouldn’t worry about the price,” she says.
Her grandson, on the other hand, “tried to talk me into everything. By the end of the day I was completely exhausted.” But there’s an ulterior motive here: Whether leafing through a catalog or going on a shopping spree, you get gift ideas and you also get to spend time with your grandkids.
Suggest that the children keep a running wish list of things they’d like but won’t necessarily get. On birthdays and holidays, you can take your pick. Send money, or a gift certificate to their favorite store.
If it’s a large amount and you want the children to save some of it, or if you intend that it be used for something practical such as a new winter coat, let the kids blow at least a portion of it themselves.
Before you buy anything, check with the children’s parents to make sure your grandkids aren’t trying to wangle out of you something their parents have nixed.
