Child Gift-Giving: WANT, NEED, WEAR, READ

/ Jodi

Becoming a first-time grandma recently, along with several of my besties, has caused me pause to consider child gift-giving.

It is sooooooo easy to get carried away and spoil – especially these first ones.

So I was thinking it is time to establish the “trend” for hopefully lots more grandie gifts.

I have read several places a good rule of thumb to simplify child gift-giving is to consider four categories:

  1. Want
  2. Need
  3. Wear
  4. Read

Consider gifts in the four categories – buying one of each:  One thing they want, one thing they need, one thing to wear, and one thing to read.

Well – let’s see if I can stick with this…

In the meantime, my bestie’s first grandchild turned one, so going with a fish theme (just because I thought it was fun), I made the above little T-shirt for him (to WEAR), bought him some bathtub fishing toys (I think he would WANT to play with), some socks (I’m sure his mama could say he NEEDs), and the Dr. Seuss Book “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” (to READ).

Happy Birthday Ben!  I hope the years don’t continue to go as fast as this first one did!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

42 thoughts on “Child Gift-Giving: WANT, NEED, WEAR, READ”

  7. Jodi – The following years will not go as fast as that last one, as they will get progressively faster. A year or two ago I said ‘Hi” to my 3lbs grand-daughter through a hole in an incubator. She is now in her 20’s! 🙂

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  8. I have a good friend who does this method of gift giving for her nieces and nephew. One of her nieces asked that her “want” gift come from an expensive (aka popular) youth clothing store. Being an indulgent auntie, she obliged, but added that it also covered the “wear” category as well!! Indulgent, but savvy auntie taught an important lesson!!

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  20. This is great advice, Jodi! We sometimes get carried away as parents and grandparents. Toys are fun and can be a learning experience but can get out of control. Wearing and especially reading are great options. 😊

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  21. You are similar to my way of giving gifts to grandies! I like to stick to a theme. Your fish theme as well as the four ways gifts may meet criteria, keeps you focused and I don’t like to spoil mine either. Happy belated 1st birthday, Ben! 🐟 🐡 Your t-shirt is really awesome, Jodi!

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