Should Sister Buy Brother a Gift?
I’ve been toying with this BIG question for awhile now: Should our kids buy each other gifts?
I thought about it at Christmas and in the end we didn’t take each out to buy a gift for the other. Mommy & Daddy don’t buy gifts for the kids either- we leave Christmas up to Santa and the grandparents.
But Mommy & Daddy do give birthday presents. Is it time that our kids start thinking about each other and purchase a gift for the others birthday?
I ran this by the Girl and she said she shouldn’t have to because the Boy did not buy her a birthday present in November. But we have to start somewhere, right? And the Girl is 5.5 years old in comparison to the Boy getting ready to turn 4. She should have to start the gift giving right? And since she is older, she should be more thoughtful and be able to think of her brother before herself when picking something out?
My other plan of action is that his birthday falls first during the year- July versus November. So if we started this year, it only makes sense that the Girl would have to buy the Boy a present FIRST.
Yes, I am full of excuses. We are definitely on a tight schedule to make this decision and get her to the store without the brother to pick something out.
I did try this weekend. What happened? She ended up throwing a fit because she wanted something for herself and not for her brother. When I told her she had to think of her little brother, tantrum began. It didn’t stop until we were home. I’m really not sure if I want to try that again- I really can’t tolerate tantrums and end up leaving a full shopping cart to walk out with child in tow and drive home.
When is the right age to ask for your children to think about their siblings first and buy a small thoughtful gift?
Books or puzzles are waylas a good choice! If I am giving a book as a gift, I like to include a little toy to go along with it if it’s a book about cars, I would include a little toy car; if it’s a book about animals, I would include a stuffed animal Something for the two of you to do together (since you mentioned that you watch her) would be nice, too my daughter likes sticker books similar to the one in the link it helps teach letters, as well as gives a fun activity for you to do with her. Or, an activity book with art projects and fun stuff you could do together, along with some paints and paper, or other supplies. You could put them all together in a special box that she can use for storage, too! It doesn’t have to be expensive to be fun, educational, and special!