Five Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping for Kids

Consider the Kid.

It’s not brain science, but often we forget to consider the kid we are shopping for. What is he interested in? Or more importantly, what is he not interested in? Chances are the artsy kid just doesn’t want that chemistry set (chances are no kid wants it!). Don’t get the unathletic kid a soccer ball to try to force an interest. It’s about the kids and their interests, not what we think they should be interested in. That’s not to say you can’t expose them to something new, just try to be considerate. You don’t want a disappointed kid on your conscience.

Read the Label.

You should really try to read beyond the marketing fluff and random award stickers when perusing the toy aisles. Just because it says “Won Outer Mongolia’s Most-Played-With Award for three years running,” doesn’t mean that it will in fact be appropriate or safe for the kid you are buying for. Appropriate and safe are the buzzwords here. Your three year-old nephew may be advanced for his age but that doesn’t mean it’s smart or safe to buy him a toy intended for a seven year-old. His parents will be flattered but you’ll be flattened if he ends up in the emergency room with a Bionicle piece in his nose. The toys are rated for a reason and the suggested ages listed on toys are a good indication of a toy’s safe and enjoyable use.

Also, check the label to make sure there are no toxic or dangerous materials used in the manufacturing of the toy. Parents have been bombarded with toy recalls this year, so they’ll be relieved and duly impressed to know that you were alert to lead-danger when gift shopping for their kid. Warning words to look for include “toxic,” “lethal,” and “Made in China.”

Consider the Size of My Apartment.

Really! Ask yourself if you would want that big pink plastic Barbie kitchen in your living room? If the answer is no, and the gift receiver doesn’t have a west wing in her home, don’t buy it. Bigger is only better when it comes to buying gifts for adult women. Kids will be impressed by the size of the box sure, but you can wrap a small gift in a big gigantic box and win the same, if not a better reaction. Plus you can get perverse kicks out of watching the parents exhale that you didn’t in fact buy them a big plastic monstrosity. Leave the really big gifts to the parents––they’ve put in the sleepless nights and potty-training hours, and they deserve the Biggest Gift Award. Same goes for noisy gifts. Remember, what goes around comes around!