Toy Store Shopping Without Favoritism

Toy Store Shopping Without Favoritism

As the holidays draw near, many adults will have to buy gifts for a sizable number of kids. Having a closer bond with one child makes shopping for that child much simpler than shopping for the other child, who may not share the same level of closeness, which can make gift-giving for both children a challenge. Gender is at the heart of this problem in many circumstances. It's common to see a semblance of ease in relationships based on gender. To put it simply, many people prefer having a child of one gender over the other. This occurs far more frequently than the general public realizes, but it is rarely acknowledged for fear of giving the impression that one side is being favored over the other.

It's normal to want to pull away, to gift the kids something conventional or mundane to prevent the idea of favoritism, if you're worried that you're trying to combat the pain surrounding such a delicate matter. Whether or not you choose to accept it, you do have a preferred option. Try to see the bright side of this situation instead. There are a variety of approaches you could take. For sake of simplicity, we'll pretend that you have just two kids, a brother and a sister, a boy and a girl. But in reality, your family may be more complex than that.

In that case, go ahead and buy it for the kid with whom you feel most comfortable if you have a specific gift in mind. Take this as your new profit margin. The monetary value of a present is not necessarily indicative of how much thought was put into it. There's no need to look like you're favoring one item over another if you spend $50 on one and $30 on the other. The truth is that the gift's value depends on how much the child appreciates it. The purchase of a bicycle for one youngster and a bundle of pants for another child is both clear and cruel.

You want to get to know the kid you're having trouble shopping for so you can feel more at ease when making purchases for them. Start by giving the kid some of your undivided attention. Be observant of them even if you can't fully comprehend them. Maybe you have no idea what to do with her because you were never into pretend play as a child and she seems to enjoy playing dress up, having tea parties, and building houses. That's fine with me. I mean, you're just observing her methods of operation. Perhaps it has come to your attention that she is in need of some new art tools or that her bedroom is currently being remodeled, and the color pink is her absolute favorite. You can use these basic tips as a map. You want to get her a gift that she will truly appreciate, not one that you simply find amusing or interesting.

If you can't find a way to spend quality alone time with her, it can be helpful to talk to the child with whom you share a closer relationship. Telling him you're at a loss for a Christmas present idea for his sister may elicit a long list of suggestions. Brothers are usually the first to know what presents their parents got their sisters for the holidays. It's common for siblings to understand one another in ways that no one else can. They may not always get along well, but they know a lot about each other even if they don't like each other.

If it's not your kid, the child's parents are a great resource. If you need anything, you can always ask. They will aid you if they are able to. Parents, who are understandably hesitant to spend other people's money on their kids, also typically respond with cost-cutting measures. Tell them how much you plan to spend on all the kids and if you have already bought a present for one of them. This is meant solely to improve understanding and is not an opportunity to boast. Parents will frequently respond specifically about the gift you already purchased for their second child.

If you're at a loss as to what to buy and you don't have a solid, healthy way to narrow down your options, consider giving a number of smaller presents instead of one large one. Fingernail polish, a new dress-up set, or anything else you can think of that would work nicely in a set is probably going to hit the nail on the head if you spread the cost over a little bit. At first glance, it may appear that you are providing "more" for that youngster, but when both kids are content, it's unlikely that they'll be keeping score.

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