Kids’ birthdays are trying under the best of circumstances. They usually involve some combination of melted ice cream, cloying music, and the screeches of other people’s children. While there might not be a way to get rid of chocolate ice cream stains and unsettling clown performances, there is one thing in your control that can get better: the gifts.
Because the last-minute mall run for a kid gift is a near-universal parenting experience, we asked real moms how they manage birthday gifts. And, yes, a lot of them use a “gift closet.” But their real tricks are the easy ways they keep it stocked. You’ll never have to run around trying to see what “gifts” Walgreens has — or debate if a seven-year-old would like a Starbucks gift card — again.
When in doubt, call.
“Always remember: You do have the option of checking in with the parent to find out what their child might like, want, or need. A quick text is all it takes. Don’t have their number? Check the RSVP on the invite — 99% of the time it’ll be there, or if not, an email address will be in its place. This will help you avoid the risk of duplicating a toy that their child may already have, and it saves you the time and money of purchasing any unwanted gifts. Plus, there’s nothing worse for the gift-giver than giving a gift that gets tossed to the side as soon as it’s opened, or…hearing a comment from the gift-recipient that they ‘already have that.’ ALL kids enjoy getting something they really want, and it’ll bring a smile to your child’s face when they see that their gift is well-received and appreciated.”
— Courtney Elmer, life coach
Create a “gift pool.”
“As a mom of a first and fourth grader, I field a lot of birthday invitations. Every time I let my kids choose the gift, we end up wandering around Target for an hour before they finally make a decision (with a cart full of other stuff to boot)! I have simplified the gift-giving process by buying something from a small pool of ideas that I change up each year as the birthday kids repeat and get older. This year it’s usually a nice coloring book and gel pens for friends of my youngest, and a Target gift card for friends of my oldest. My kids add their own personal touch by creating a handmade card to go along with each gift. While it would be nice to stock up on gifts ahead of time, I purchase them when the invitations come in so there are no issues with return periods ending, in case anyone receives something they don’t want.”
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