When did you kids start giving presents?

[didireallysaythat]

Every year I buy all the presents, and when I wrap them I label some to DS1 from DS2, when neither have had any involvement.

When did your kids either help choose gifts or even contribute to the cost? They can't come up with ideas for themselves, let alone others

You can google 'stocking fillers for teens' to get ideas for cheaper presents.

Mine have both being helping pick some presents from around 3 years old . They pick each other a gift and pick presents for their dad and childminder .

Mine have been making since they were old enough to plant a painted hand on something

You could start by getting them to brainstorm ideas for people with you. They don’t have to have ideas; they have to do some of the mental work to generate those ideas. Establish a budget to work within to keep it real.
Then delegate some of the internet shopping search to them.

@didireallysaythat - completely appreciate mine are younger so probably a lot easier

My dc have always picked a small gift for their sibling which we pay for (when dd1 was 2 she insisted baby dd2 would like a silicon pastry brush for christmas - I was skeptical but she loved it).

They make a gift for grandparents (or sometimes we do a photo calendar that is from them). All other gifts are from the whole family.

I cant believe you have let your kids get to those ages and they have never personally bought a present for someone else?!

So they think someone else does it for them and they get the credit?!

My daughter is 3 and has a part in every present she gives at birthdays and christmas, she always makes a card or draws a picture for the person.

From birth via us. From 5 with help from us and now at 15 has been buying for me, dh and my mum independently since about 12.

@Lazypuppy yes it does seem a bit remiss of me.

I've never really thought about the "credit" side of things. I guess the gifts that I get are usually because someone has asked me what I'd like, and I've told them. So when I unwrap that said present, of course I'm delighted and grateful, but I don't think I associate that with credit. But like I said, we appear to be a family that completely lacks imagination when it comes to gifting.

I don't think I could have faced taking my kids when they were nursery aged to the shops on a Saturday to choose presents to buy for grandparents - I take my hats off to people who have that level of patience. But we also have grandparents who don't want stuff which helps with the low expectations.

@Bbq1 so maybe we're just entering the age at which my eldest might be expected to do this unassisted? Trouble is, he appears to spend all his allowance on buying sandwiches and grapes while skateboarding at the weekend....

[quote didireallysaythat]@Bbq1 so maybe we're just entering the age at which my eldest might be expected to do this unassisted? Trouble is, he appears to spend all his allowance on buying sandwiches and grapes while skateboarding at the weekend....[/quote]
@didireally Yes, my usually spends all his allowance on comic books! I do usually help him out a bit with money for presents but this year he has actually saved money for Christmas. Could you help your ds out this year but tell him to save for next year?

DS (11) has always taken present buying very seriously. I’m not sure when the first time was but I do remember him going into the ‘secrets room’ at his cousin’s school fair aged 3. He was soooo proud of the present he bought me which turned out to be a tie pin and cuff links which I had to attach to my jumper like a badge 😂. Usually we give him some money but this year he has a GoHenry card, £10 a week pocket money and is able to go into town after school (when they’re open) so he’s buying his own. He also likes to buy a present for his favourite cousins with his own money.

I asked DS (2) what we should get daddy for his birthday he said a boat.... I think I'll leave it until he's a bit older! DH is now getting a small boat bath toy because I felt like i couldn't ask then ignore him, not that he'll even remember i asked in a week!