Shopping for children is a challenging, yet rewarding experience. When it comes to Christmas or a birthday, children usually have their “lists” out long before the actual holiday arrives! But, most parents are in the business of teaching their children that in life you don’t always get everything you want, and so most parents shy away from giving them everything on their “list” or maybe some of the more expensive items on the list. Some parents even try to teach their kids the importance of working for something themselves by encouraging them to use the allowance they’ve earned or their birthday/Christmas money to purchase something they really want off their list. While all of these are great values to instill in your children, purchasing them gifts doesn’t have to get you off track of these values. Here are some ideas on how to get your children what they want without trashing the values you want them to embrace.

1. Go ahead and have your children give you their list, but maybe have them write out the list in order of what they want the most to what they could live without. Even if they say that they want it all the most, tell them that they won’t be getting everything on their list, so its important to pick the top three or five to increase the chances of getting what they really want.
2. Another option would be to give your child a toy catalog or have the browse the Internet with you and pick three or five things that they would like to have. By doing this with them, you will have the opportunity to encourage them to choose educational toys or less expensive options. But, don’t be too pushy, its okay to let your child’s imaginations roam.
3. If your child tends to behave well at the store, you might venture to take them to the toy aisle at a local department store. Be sure to do this several weeks before their birthday and take notes. This will decrease the chances of ruining the surprise and will also allow you to guide your child to take interest in more educational or less expensive options.
4. If your child is older, you could teach them the value of money by giving them a price range. For instance, you could tell them, “You are going to get 5 things for your birthday. The first one can be in between $30.00 to $50.00, the second and third in between $20.00 to $30.00, and the fourth and fifth have to be between $5.00 and $20.00.” Your kids are sure to have fun hunting for items in the specific price range and it will teach them that toys and games cost money and don’t just magically appear.
5. If you have children that are close to the same age and they have the same interests, you may consider purchasing similar items, but make them as different as possible. This will eliminate arguing, and the likelihood of one child’s toy disappearing because the other one like it too and decided to claim it. While teaching your children to share is important, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to give them similar things to give them a better opportunity to play together.

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