Comments on: 2009 Gift Giving Guide: Gifts for kids http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: vivian http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-53431 vivian Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:16:24 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-53431 When I say that my husband and I have everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Aside from a few (very) small gifts, we agreed among all of us (friends and family) that we wouldn't do this anymore - the after Christmas debt load was insane. When the kids were small, I restricted the amount to $20 for each gift and was able to find wonderful things. Now we take the money we would have spent and donate it to an inner city school for their annual Christmas dinner. It's much more satisfying. When I say that my husband and I have everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Aside from a few (very) small gifts, we agreed among all of us (friends and family) that we wouldn’t do this anymore – the after Christmas debt load was insane. When the kids were small, I restricted the amount to $20 for each gift and was able to find wonderful things. Now we take the money we would have spent and donate it to an inner city school for their annual Christmas dinner. It’s much more satisfying.

]]> By: Mike http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46758 Mike Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:32:18 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46758 LEGO/Duplo is an absolute slam dunk of a gift for most children of the appropriate age range. As soon as each of those things clears the chokeability threshold by virtue of my daughters growing older, they will be welcomed with relish into my home. (My older toddler has Duplos, but we're going to put them aside when our newborn starts crawling, just until she's a bit bigger.) LEGO and such are the very essence of learning-but-fun spatial/coordination toys, so effective they make Montessori look bad by comparison. I don't care how much those Danes keep jacking up the prices. It's worth it. I wish I had kept mine from childhood from the late 1970s... probably worth a fortune on eBay today. As overexposed as they are, it's hard to beat video games as a gift for people of any age. And, plastic guitars aside, MOST video game experiences are either low on clutter or lend well to a wide range of storage solutions. I own five consoles, but you'd never know it to look around our house. The X360 is in the entertainment rack and the controllers and such are all in drawers (out of sight but easy to access). It serves as our Netflix player as well, so naturally it's going to stay where it is. My older consoles are in a mobile "game rack" that I made out of a microwave cart. It has back to back small LCD TVs on top, has wheels, and it can sit in the middle of a room and be played from both sides. There is a power strip fastened to it, so only one cord and plug to manage when you move the whole thing. It's fantastic for parties and such. And it was surprisingly cheap. Because broadcast TV is digital now, 4:3 LCD HDTVs that don't have ATSC tuners are available in the $60-120 range from blowout liquidators online. Used older consoles are DIRT cheap -- I bought a 2001 Xbox with 20 games and a bunch of controllers at a garage sale for $36. I think the total I've spent for a Gamecube with half a dozen games bought here and there has been $60 or so. That's bang for your buck and it gets a lot of mileage with children. LEGO/Duplo is an absolute slam dunk of a gift for most children of the appropriate age range. As soon as each of those things clears the chokeability threshold by virtue of my daughters growing older, they will be welcomed with relish into my home. (My older toddler has Duplos, but we’re going to put them aside when our newborn starts crawling, just until she’s a bit bigger.) LEGO and such are the very essence of learning-but-fun spatial/coordination toys, so effective they make Montessori look bad by comparison. I don’t care how much those Danes keep jacking up the prices. It’s worth it. I wish I had kept mine from childhood from the late 1970s… probably worth a fortune on eBay today.

As overexposed as they are, it’s hard to beat video games as a gift for people of any age. And, plastic guitars aside, MOST video game experiences are either low on clutter or lend well to a wide range of storage solutions. I own five consoles, but you’d never know it to look around our house. The X360 is in the entertainment rack and the controllers and such are all in drawers (out of sight but easy to access). It serves as our Netflix player as well, so naturally it’s going to stay where it is.

My older consoles are in a mobile “game rack” that I made out of a microwave cart. It has back to back small LCD TVs on top, has wheels, and it can sit in the middle of a room and be played from both sides. There is a power strip fastened to it, so only one cord and plug to manage when you move the whole thing. It’s fantastic for parties and such. And it was surprisingly cheap. Because broadcast TV is digital now, 4:3 LCD HDTVs that don’t have ATSC tuners are available in the $60-120 range from blowout liquidators online. Used older consoles are DIRT cheap — I bought a 2001 Xbox with 20 games and a bunch of controllers at a garage sale for $36. I think the total I’ve spent for a Gamecube with half a dozen games bought here and there has been $60 or so. That’s bang for your buck and it gets a lot of mileage with children.

]]> By: hkw http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46702 hkw Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:31:19 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46702 Let me second Sarah's comment about magazine subscriptions. There are great ones like Wild Animal Baby available for even the youngest kids -- the grandparents started us last year when our son was 2. He loves getting something new to read every couple of weeks, and we get to talk about the person who sent them. Plus there are a lot of great activities inside. And when we're done, we can cut them up for collages, pass them on or get rid of them. Let me second Sarah’s comment about magazine subscriptions. There are great ones like Wild Animal Baby available for even the youngest kids — the grandparents started us last year when our son was 2. He loves getting something new to read every couple of weeks, and we get to talk about the person who sent them. Plus there are a lot of great activities inside. And when we’re done, we can cut them up for collages, pass them on or get rid of them.

]]> By: glamazon79 http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46664 glamazon79 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:39:58 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46664 For the junior high/high school set - what my mother and I used to do (after many years of terrible gifts in both directions) was buy each other outfits. I would let her know my favorite store of the moment, and she would go pick something out that she thought I'd like, and I'd do the same for her. The results were usually pretty funny, but we had something to open other than just a gift card and after the holiday we could return it all for what we really wanted (on sale by that point). The key is to be open about what you're trying to do - you want help in narrowing down the store at least, but you want to try and match their taste for the actual gift. Oh, and to be really careful about gift receipts. For the junior high/high school set – what my mother and I used to do (after many years of terrible gifts in both directions) was buy each other outfits. I would let her know my favorite store of the moment, and she would go pick something out that she thought I’d like, and I’d do the same for her.

The results were usually pretty funny, but we had something to open other than just a gift card and after the holiday we could return it all for what we really wanted (on sale by that point).

The key is to be open about what you’re trying to do – you want help in narrowing down the store at least, but you want to try and match their taste for the actual gift. Oh, and to be really careful about gift receipts.

]]> By: Amanda http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46659 Amanda Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:39:14 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46659 I love the "experience" idea! I have two small kids who have more than enough. I am struggling to keep it all stored and rotated in and out. The great thing about the experience gift is that it makes Christmas last longer. The experience can take place prior to Christmas or even into the next year. The kids will still get toys on Christmas day from someone and they won't feel like they don't have "stuff" to open. Some ideas my kids (and I) have loved: -bubble bath soap -IMAX trip with my friend - even educational -a trip to a fun/favorite restaurant -a special trip to a near by park The thing that makes the experience idea fun for the younger kids like mine is just the special one on one attention they get. They will have those memories forever. I also love the subscription idea. I usually ask for books because my kids use them over and over and they are educational but that is even getting out of control here. At least with a magazine, you can recycle them. I love the “experience” idea! I have two small kids who have more than enough. I am struggling to keep it all stored and rotated in and out. The great thing about the experience gift is that it makes Christmas last longer. The experience can take place prior to Christmas or even into the next year. The kids will still get toys on Christmas day from someone and they won’t feel like they don’t have “stuff” to open.
Some ideas my kids (and I) have loved:
-bubble bath soap
-IMAX trip with my friend – even educational
-a trip to a fun/favorite restaurant
-a special trip to a near by park

The thing that makes the experience idea fun for the younger kids like mine is just the special one on one attention they get. They will have those memories forever. I also love the subscription idea. I usually ask for books because my kids use them over and over and they are educational but that is even getting out of control here. At least with a magazine, you can recycle them.

]]> By: prairiegal http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46655 prairiegal Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:29:06 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46655 Sandi - I love your idea. I especially like the idea of it as a keepsake to look back on when the kid is older. Sandi – I love your idea. I especially like the idea of it as a keepsake to look back on when the kid is older.

]]> By: Sarah http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46654 Sarah Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:20:05 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46654 Magazine subscriptions are great for kids. Things like National Geographic for Kids or Sports Illustrated for Kids. Children love getting mail, it comes throughout the year, and it gets children to read. Additionally, parents can recycle the magazines after they've been read. One other point: Gifts of experiences, vacations, and magazine subscriptions are great, but remember that kids really enjoy opening up an actual gift (especially if they are young). So, also buy a small (and inexpensive) gift related to the experience so that kids have something to open. When I got my nephew a subscription to Sports Illustrated for Kids, I wrapped up a baseball. If you're going on a vacation to Disney World, wrap up a Disney coloring book or something like that. Magazine subscriptions are great for kids. Things like National Geographic for Kids or Sports Illustrated for Kids. Children love getting mail, it comes throughout the year, and it gets children to read. Additionally, parents can recycle the magazines after they’ve been read.

One other point: Gifts of experiences, vacations, and magazine subscriptions are great, but remember that kids really enjoy opening up an actual gift (especially if they are young). So, also buy a small (and inexpensive) gift related to the experience so that kids have something to open. When I got my nephew a subscription to Sports Illustrated for Kids, I wrapped up a baseball. If you’re going on a vacation to Disney World, wrap up a Disney coloring book or something like that.

]]> By: PJ Doland http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46648 PJ Doland Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:56:03 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46648 We actually own that block set. There is about an inch of foam at the bottom of the wooden box, which you just throw out. And since the blocks are all based on standard unit sizes, they're very easy to arrange back into the box when you're done using them. We actually own that block set. There is about an inch of foam at the bottom of the wooden box, which you just throw out. And since the blocks are all based on standard unit sizes, they’re very easy to arrange back into the box when you’re done using them.

]]> By: Jack http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46637 Jack Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:45:55 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46637 For smaller kids, gift cards to a restaurant like McDonalds or a favorite, parent-approved snack. That way mom and dad don't say, "Oh, we don't have money for that." Its a consumable gift and (typically) doesn't involve additional clutter. As a parent with my own LEGO collection, I have to agree with DUPLO blocks as gift. My kids have a huge bin and they incorporate them in their pretend-play, making fishing poles, light-sabers, and anything else they can think of. BTW, those wood blocks will only ever fit back in that container the way they were shipped. Simply dumping them back in will not work. Ever. For smaller kids, gift cards to a restaurant like McDonalds or a favorite, parent-approved snack. That way mom and dad don’t say, “Oh, we don’t have money for that.” Its a consumable gift and (typically) doesn’t involve additional clutter.

As a parent with my own LEGO collection, I have to agree with DUPLO blocks as gift. My kids have a huge bin and they incorporate them in their pretend-play, making fishing poles, light-sabers, and anything else they can think of.

BTW, those wood blocks will only ever fit back in that container the way they were shipped. Simply dumping them back in will not work. Ever.

]]> By: Leann http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46627 Leann Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:01:56 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46627 Am I the only person who gets frustrated trying to buy for the child who has EVERYTHING? I liked, appreciated and enjoyed the gifts I received when I was young because they didn't get lost in the pile of junk I already owned. Seriously, what more do these kids need? Am I the only person who gets frustrated trying to buy for the child who has EVERYTHING? I liked, appreciated and enjoyed the gifts I received when I was young because they didn’t get lost in the pile of junk I already owned. Seriously, what more do these kids need?

]]> By: Peg Bracken Fan http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46625 Peg Bracken Fan Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:43:51 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46625 Music! Helps a lot with car trips. For reading-age kids, maybe make a book of the lyrics at readable size so that they can sing along. Babies love to look at themselves--a mirror that can be hung (securely) at their height is great. There are also photo albums made specifically for babies--with soft edges and pages that won't get damaged if they're chewed on. http://www.amazon.com/Gund-My-Family-Photo-Album/dp/B000GKW6CY Music! Helps a lot with car trips. For reading-age kids, maybe make a book of the lyrics at readable size so that they can sing along.

Babies love to look at themselves–a mirror that can be hung (securely) at their height is great.

There are also photo albums made specifically for babies–with soft edges and pages that won’t get damaged if they’re chewed on. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi.....tterer-20/

]]> By: Sandi http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46620 Sandi Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:04:25 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46620 Younger kids like "The Book of Me" where you use a three ring binder (slide their picture in the front) and put captioned sheets inside. I titled individual sheets things like "My favorite animal" and "My favorite color" and "My favorite activity" etc. I cut out different pictures of animals, crayons, kids jumping, and as many pictures of the kid themself into page protector sheets so they could pick from them if they wanted, or they could draw out on the pages if they chose. I also included markers, glue sticks, glitter (I know, so messy!!!), and other things to decorate "their" book. They loved them! Younger kids like “The Book of Me” where you use a three ring binder (slide their picture in the front) and put captioned sheets inside. I titled individual sheets things like “My favorite animal” and “My favorite color” and “My favorite activity” etc. I cut out different pictures of animals, crayons, kids jumping, and as many pictures of the kid themself into page protector sheets so they could pick from them if they wanted, or they could draw out on the pages if they chose. I also included markers, glue sticks, glitter (I know, so messy!!!), and other things to decorate “their” book. They loved them!

]]> By: nicole 86 http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46617 nicole 86 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:22:46 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46617 I think about crafts material : paper, glue, brush, pencils, canvas .... origami shapes, .... A small and simple camera is a lot of fun Puppets are great to play with or to create. I think about crafts material : paper, glue, brush, pencils, canvas …. origami shapes, ….
A small and simple camera is a lot of fun
Puppets are great to play with or to create.

]]> By: CJ http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46616 CJ Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:21:39 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46616 My brothers & I had that block set as kids and *loved* it. I think we actually took it as a challenge to put them all back in the box without having any sticking over the top. My brothers & I had that block set as kids and *loved* it. I think we actually took it as a challenge to put them all back in the box without having any sticking over the top.

]]> By: Andrea http://unclutterer.com/2009/12/02/2009-gift-giving-guide-gifts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-46615 Andrea Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:06:02 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=7488#comment-46615 In the "experiences" category would be tuition to a class or program (dance, music, art, gym, soccer, etc.) It gets expensive trying to offer your child different opportunities to express themselves! In the “experiences” category would be tuition to a class or program (dance, music, art, gym, soccer, etc.) It gets expensive trying to offer your child different opportunities to express themselves!

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