Christmas is never far away enough for parents. While children might wait till the holiday season to send their wish list to the North Pole, you might not have enough time to wait till they post it. Parents need to play the perfect Santa each year, someone who knows what their children want. Buying the gifts while the stocks last and avoiding the holiday rush plays a massive part in securing the best gift as well. Satisfying kids has never been simple, and as they grow old, their demands become more bizarre.

Shopping for Christmas requires you to keep many things in mind –

i.                    Age-appropriate toys

ii.                   Pocket-friendly items

iii.                 Safety and quality of the choice

Do gifts have to be expensive?

The holidays are gift-season for the children, but there is more to Christmas than the rustle of wrapping papers and the smell of eggnog. It is a time to be happy and grateful. The tradition of gifts should be able to teach the kids to be modest and appreciative. That is the only reason parents wait for 12 long months. The look of sheer joy in the eyes of the young ones makes up for all the haggling, long queues at the POS, window shopping, and sacrificed spa days! If your little one is not old enough to understand the value of the new toys, then you should probably pick a more cost-effective version of it that they can use, play with and manhandle. You can visit Toybuzz.org for some good range of affordable gift options.

What happens when you over-buy?

Children love to count the number of presents for them under the tree. They often unwrap one and quickly move to the next without really checking what is inside the first one. Kids need to learn how to appreciate their new things. Giving them too many new stuff at one go will never teach them the true meaning of the holiday season and the gift exchange tradition. If you have bought more than one present, you can spread them out over the next few days. This practice is especially necessary for children below the age of 10, who are still learning about family values and gratefulness.

Big or small; Expensive or cheap; what comprises the ideal gift?

Research says children enjoy the act of unwrapping more than actually playing with their new toys or using their new stuff. While the thing is in wraps, it has an element of surprise. That is what makes their faces light up when they are handling their new gifts under the tree. Spend time on wrapping and make the presents more memorable with unique cards and ribbons. They will appreciate the same toy or gadget more when you wrap it up in a fun and creative way.

Christmas, birthdays and other occasions for exchanging gifts are time for families to spread joy and love. It is never about the cost or size of the present. It is more about the togetherness and celebration.