Children giving gifts to adults, what is your take on this?

[Flightattendant]

I was just reading another thread referring to this and it made me realise thata ctually, as a grown up,. I really dislike the idea of children spending money on me. (I don't like haivng presents from adults either, unless it were a partner)

Anyway I have told ds1, who said he wanted to buy me some curling tongs (bless!!) that I don't want him to buy me anything, ever, but that if he made me a card that would be wonderful.

Later on when he is getting bigger of course a shop card would be great too, just to show he still cares...but I certainly won't be expecting gifts and will feel quite uncomfortable if he buys me stuff.

I remember buying presents for all my relations when I was young - from about 8 or 9 at latest, if not before - I'm not sure if this was expected but they were always getting us stuff and seemed to appreciate it.

Wondered what others feel about it.

How many young children actually spend their own money though?
Mostly another adult buys it for them and helps
said child wrap it surely? Not all children get pocket money.
Although in one-parent families with no support this obv doesnt work.
HOWEVER, It is an important experience for children to learn that there is give and take. It is a nice feeling generally among adults who give presents, the thought that u might have made someone smile. Why should it be different for children? It may only be a few pounds, but its the fact that they themselves bought it, and wrapped it. And they have seen your reaction! It is an important learning experience that helps childrrn not grow up spoilt.

My DDs (11 and 13) buy (or make)small presents for their grandparents and us. We usually pay half towards them but they use a little of their pocket money for the rest.

They always seem to enjoy giving presents and like charlotte I think its a really important to realise that christmas is about giving and receiving.

I think that giving presents is a)very enjoyable and b)an important thing to learn to do, so yes I think children should give presents to adults (and to each other). Also adults should give presents to each other. I always give gifts to my siblings and my parents, an they give presents to me. I'll exchange small gifts with any other relatives I see over Christmas too, and to close friends as well.

With the children I usually help them to make presents for their grandparents/uncles and aunts, although now we have moved so far away that's not really sensible anymore (no food allowed and expensive postage), so I'll have to think of an alternative. For me and dh and each other I give them an allowance for presents, and we do lists too. They have to make the choice and pay themselves, and wrap them up. They are very enthusiastic about their gift giving, and often refer to gifts given long ago. Likewise all the adults are very pleased, and the gifts are often treasured.

What's not to like? Giving presents is fun, and when you get it right very satisfying. My mother has a very nice story about one of my nieces at the age of four or so rushing over on Christmas morning and announcing that she was giving her a special wooden spoon (or something similar) - she was so excited that she couldn't wait for my mum to unwrap it!

Our (infant) school do a "buy your parent a present" morning. We have to send them in with £1.50 and they come home with a small giftwrapped parcel. It's a fundraiser so the presents tend to be things the PTA have begged from local companies. But the children love doing it, and get so excited about it.

And they do presents for gps too - something they've made. This year, coasters with their drawings on (another PTA fundraiser!).

I do think they need to experience giving as well as receiving.

Dd(7) has also bought ds1 a present this year - she found something at the school fair and bought it with her pocket money. It was her idea and I was quite pleased that she chose to spend her money on him!

DD (who is 9 now) has wanted to buy people presents for the past couple of years. She always says she wants to use her own money, but I never let her.

She buys for 3 people, me, her dad and my DP. I take her out to do her dad and DP, her dad takes her to buy me. She really enjoys picking things she thinks people will like (even tho it sometimes things people wouldn't have bought themsleves, one year she was determined to get DP wet look gel, and all credit to him, he used it a few times as DD was so pleased with it! )

What I am basically trying to say, is that DD gets a lot out of giving too.

I LOVED giving (and therefore buying) my parents presents at Christmas. Never thought about the money - I had money given to me by grandparents etc, happy to use it on parents at Christmas. Rarely were the presents outside pocket money price. I used to do stockings for mum and dad - actually usually my Home Economics basket (do they still make kids buy baskets for that!).

My children all love giving me presents.

We have a fabulous gift shop at the top of the road and when I was on my own I would go up there, give them £5 each and they would choose something for me. Bring it home and wrap it up and then it give it to me.

I treasure every one of those things.

Now I am married my other half takes my kids and gives them the money to do the same thing, or orders something they have found on the internet.

If my children want to spend their pocket money on me for, say Mother's Day, I have to say, I let them. I dont want to refuse, though I do find a way to "repay" the money another way.

I think it is important that we allow children to be a part of the present giving process as early as possible.

As a child I always went with mum and dad and i chose my mum and dad a present and then would wrap it and that would be from me. Sometimes dad and i chose some presents that were from both of us. It was so sweet and I cant wait until I can do that with my bub.

Entirely up to you what we remember and treasure about christmas are the family traditions that carry on every year way into adulthood.