The Dos & Don'ts Of Getting Gifts For Your Daughter

Whether it’s a birthday, graduation or holiday event, buying gifts for your daughter is always a challenging yet rewarding task. Afterall, the look of sheer excitement and joy when your child tears into their gift offers parents a feeling that words fail to describe. If there is a special event right around the corner, chances are you’re already on the hunt for the perfect gift for your special girl. 

With so many items, toys, gadgets and gizmos available on the market today, it can be somewhat of a challenge trying to pick the perfect gift for your daughter. On top of that, the added pressure of impressing your child can make this task that much more stressful, since the last thing anyone wants is to disappoint their little one! Thankfully, we’re here to make things a lot simpler with our top 8 do’s and don’ts of buying gifts for your daughter. 

• Do: Ask Her What She Wants 

This one may seem obvious, but our best piece of advice when purchasing gifts for your daughter is to simply ask her what she wants. This advice is especially applicable if you have a daughter who is either a pre-teen or a teenager, as the needs and wants of an adolescent greatly differ to that of a child. There are many stores, both online and brick and mortar, that cater to a variety of good gifts for girls, and a great start would be to pick a store and allow your daughter to choose exactly what she would like as her gift. Although this may take away from the surprise factor, you can ensure that the gift you end up buying is something that your child really wants, loves and appreciates. There’s really nothing else you can ask for! 

• Don’t: Purchase Pets 

As tempting as it may be to purchase your daughter a little bunny rabbit, puppy or kitten, we urge parents to avoid purchasing pets as gifts. For most children, taking care of a pet is simply too big of a task which can often lead to pets suffering neglect, behavioural problems or worst of all, ending up in shelters. It is important to remember that pets are living, breathing creatures and that pet ownership is no joke. Unless you have discussed the matter with your child, partner or spouse and are ready to take on the responsibility of owning a pet (because chances are the parents will be the ones bearing most of the burden), we highly recommend skipping the pet store this gifting season. 

• Do: Pay Attention To Age 

Age is another important factor to take into consideration when choosing gifts for your daughter. Buying toys and dolls for a girl under the age of 5 is a pretty simple task, but trust us when we say that it only gets more challenging the older your child gets. Most items you’ll find in stores are designed with a specific age range in mind, so be sure to take note of that before making your final purchase. 

Note: Be sure to avoid buying toys or items that could pose as a choking hazard for young children. If you are unsure, be sure to ask around or do your research before making your purchase. 

• Don’t: Purchase A Gift Too Early 

It may seem like a good idea to purchase gifts earlier than necessary to avoid the holiday rush or last minute scurrying, but we suggest holding off till at least a couple of weeks prior to when you plan on gifting your daughter. Most children have fickle minds, and their ideal gift on one day may end up being completely irrelevant or forgotten within a week or two. The main reason for this is that most times, kids get engrossed in various toy trends that are being marketed, whether that be through kids movies, advertisements or a combination of the two. The solution? Simply wait for a week or two until the big event before asking her what she wants! 

• Do: Consider Quality

There is nothing more frustrating than buying a toy or present, only to have it fall apart in a matter of days. Unfortunately, this is a common situation with most kids toys that end up being a disappointment for your child and a complete waste of money on your part. This is why we highly recommend considering quality when choosing a gift for your daughter. Although a high quality gift may end up costing more, you can be sure that your child will be able to use it for years to come instead of having to throw it in the bin after just a month or two. 

Tip: If your child ends up outgrowing a toy, consider recycling at your local charity donation point. 

• Don’t: Think You Know Best

Many of us parents are guilty of always thinking we know best, and although this may be true in many situations, the notion doesn’t always apply when purchasing gifts for kids. Rather than buying something you think your daughter should have, consider purchasing something she will like instead. It doesn’t matter if you think your gift is silly or even nonsensical – all that matters is that she is happy with her gift at the end of the day! 

• Do: Put Effort Into Gift Wrapping

Children absolutely love surprises which is why you should always put equal effort into gift wrapping as you do the gift itself. Gifting an unwrapped present is akin to serving a cake without icing, so be sure to pick age-appropriate wrapping paper, ribbons and a big bow when packaging a gift for your daughter. Seriously, it only takes an additional 5 minutes of your time and you’ll be rewarded with the biggest smile ever. Extra points if you manage to find personalised wrapping paper or one that features a cartoon character she loves! 

• Don’t: Convince Yourself It’s The Thought That Counts

We’re often told it’s the “thought that counts” as adults, and although that is certainly true for us grown folk, it doesn’t translate quite the same to children, pre-teens or adolescents. Most kids view the world in a very matter of fact way, so be sure to go all out when purchasing a present for your daughter. 

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And there you have it – the 8 do’s and don’ts of purchasing the perfect gift for your daughter. By following these rules, you are guaranteed to find your child a gift that will have them beaming from ear to ear for months to come.