GIFT GUIDE

Gift giving tips, etiquette and ideas.

  • Entertainment strongly influence kids psyche and behavior.
  • Gifts can help develop a child's enthusiam for spiritual things.
  • Educational gifts will develop a child's appreciation for educational matters.
  • Functional gifts would make fine gifts for kids of less affluent parents.

Gifts to Build a Child

In giving gifts to kids, give it careful thought... Your gift could either build or destroy. This page gives you tips in giving gifts that will make positive impact on the child.

Wisdom

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
more quotes

Gving gifts to kids

There are so many things kids to want for themselves. Ask any kid and you are sure to get a very long wish list. Whatever they see on television attracts their desire. The question is, are these what they need? Will these gifts be good for them? Below are some tips to make gift-giving meaningful.

Consider Psychological Impact

Studies prove that entertainment strongly influence kids psyche and behavior. Therefore, gifts such as highly violent films, toy guns, demonic or grotesque looking toys and reading materials should be strongly discouraged.

Sure, kids will derive pleasure and excitement from these gifts. But if we want our kids to grow up into persons of good morals, influence their taste now on what to see, read and play with.

Consider Christian gifts that will mold their spiritual and moral life such as:

Christian CDs/DVD films
Story books that have Christian orientation
Materials that will give young hearts enthusiasm for the bible
Wholesome games and softwares

Make a Child's First Communion Memorable

Make a child's first communion something worth remembering. Give gifts that will sustain the child's enthusiam for spiritual things. Below are a few examples of gifts you can give the child to remember his/her first communion.

Educational and Health Values

Learning should be made a fun experience. There are toys, books, games, films and software that enable a child to make use of one's mental or physical capacities. Giving educational gifts will also develop a child's appreciation of educational materials which will pave the way to one's wholesome development.

Functional Gifts

Functional gifts would make fine gifts especially for kids of less affluent parents. These gifts may include bags, hair products, daily and fashion clothes, footwear, radio, beddings and many more.

Tips in Buying Toys/CD Gifts
  • Make sure that the toy is age appropriate. That means that the toy should not be too simple or advanced for a child. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations if you are in doubt.
  • Toys should be sturdy with few breakable parts or sharp edges.
    When purchasing for younger children, make sure the toy is too large to fit in the mouth, and does not have small parts that break away. (Small parts are a choking hazard.)
  • Preview any CD's and videos on your child's list for content.
  • When purchasing scooters, bikes, skateboards, make sure wheels are sturdy, brakes are easy to manipulate and he height of the bike is appropriate for your child.
  • If you are giving a pet, such as a dog for a gift, make sure the child is responsible enough to care for the pet.
  • Buy batteries, if needed, at the time of the purchase.
  • Identify gifts purchased with a name or code after wrapping. Many gifts have been given to the wrong person because there was no label.
  • Make a list. This will keep you from leaving anyone out as well as possibly overspending.

A little forethought can help make your gift giving a wonderful experience. So take time out and consider all of the many selections and make your choice and age appropriate one based on the child's age plus abilities.

Source: Evelyn DeLoatch , Family and Consumer Agent