Do you give your child a gift with or without a reason?

@youless (112091)
Guangzhou, China
January 6, 2009 7:39pm CST
Sometimes we give the gifts to our children because of the festival or birthday. But do you give them the gifts without a reason, too? I like to buy a little gift to my child when I find something interesting. I am going to buy him a stuffed toy which can record your voice for about 10 seconds. I will record and tell my son he is a good boy. I think he will be so happy when he gets this toy Sometimes he is innocent and asks me why I bought him gifts. And I can't think out a better reason, I just tell him that he is a good boy and I love him
6 people like this
24 responses
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
9 Jan 09
Hi youless! I think your love for him is very good enough reason to give him something. I do not have children of my own but I do give gifts to my nieces and nephews without any special reason except to make them feel how much I love them. And when I see their eyes lit up, that is enough for my heart to leap in joy! Take care and have a nice day! lovelots..faith210
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
9 Jan 09
You are right. Giving can be a pleasure, too
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
10 Jan 09
I agree!
1 person likes this
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
7 Jan 09
All of our children are grown up now, have left home and some have children of their own. However when they were younger my partner and I did not have a lot of money and we could not buy for one without buying for the others. Between us we actually have 6 children and they are all treated equally. Yes they all got a present for their birthday and Christmas but generally we did not have much money to spare. However what we would do was once every so often let them choose what the next day's meal was going to be. One would choose the main meal and the other would get to choose the dessert we would all have. The ones whose turn it was also got to help prepare and cook the meal, whatever it was. I can assure you we had some rather interesting meals on those days but it was all in good fun. Whereas normally the children would tease each other about many things, it didn't happen when it came to those special meals. Any nasty or inappropriate comments would see the person who made them not getting to choose for quite a while. In fact when the family were here for New Year they talked about those meals and how much fun it was for them. Other than that each and everyone of our children had our gift of love, trust and support at all times. That is even in those times when they had us tearing our hair out because of their behaviour or whatever.
@oldboy46 (2129)
• Australia
9 Jan 09
Interestingly enough as adults they wear the fact that they were all treated the same as a "badge of honour". They might not agree on everything and at times the more distance between them, the better. However because of the way they were, and still are, treated they do just the same when it comes to their siblings and both sets of parents. That is they spend the same amount of money on each person and when it comes to my partner and I and their in-laws, we all get the same amount spent on us. By that I mean if they spend $10 on a present for me then the same amount is spent on the father-in-law.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
I can understand having more children at home is not easy. Especially you have to treat them equally.
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
7 Jan 09
That is so sweet youless, that is a good enough reason.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
No wonder my son also loves me
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
7 Jan 09
That's right, that's why "baby youless" loves "mama youless"!
1 person likes this
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
9 Jan 09
Hi youless I do give my son a gift even without any special occassion. Most of the time, I buy a book full of colorful pictures for him. He's still learning to read so the big, colorful pictures help with his reading. Sometimes, when I find an educational toy that is not too expensive, I buy it for him, too.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
10 Jan 09
I always regard books are the best gift for children
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
7 Jan 09
i always do.i spoiled my little girl too much and i just realized its not good at all.i will "try" to change this habbit.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
Your daughter is very lucky
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
7 Jan 09
agree and i am jelous sometimes because when i was a kid i dont have like that what she has now.her dad bought 3 pairs of shoes in one time.yes she is lucky.she can compete emelda marcos shoes!
1 person likes this
@lazeebee (5461)
• Malaysia
9 Jan 09
Yup, I do that - I don't have any kids, but my sister has 3 kids, whom I adore. Sometimes when I see anything - books, toys, coloring sets - that are cute, and I feel that they like, especially with their favorite icons; I would buy. I enjoy seeing the looks of delight on their faces and their expressions of thanks!
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
9 Jan 09
You are very nice
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
7 Jan 09
Hello youless. It is a good way to praise your boy with some small gifts once in a while when you happen to see one that is so cute. Keep it up, youless.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
I will, thanks
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
8 Jan 09
yes, I always bought my kids little gifts "just because" if I had the extra money. We were pretty broke as a rule and so often I had to say "no" to them on things that they wanted so it felt really good when I did have a few extra dollars to just buy them something that I knew they would love.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
8 Jan 09
Thanks for your response.
@marketing07 (6266)
• South Korea
8 Jan 09
gift - for discussion
yes, i do love to buy gifts to my kids without any occasion..its a good felling to make them happy in a small way ..cheers
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
9 Jan 09
I agree with you
@Kofficup (150)
• Philippines
7 Jan 09
Often I buy my daughter the toys she likes a lot. Since we are living in neighborhood that we only know a little idea about how they also raise their kids, I always make sure that my child enjoys being in close door and away from playmates if possible. I give her the toys that interests her. Us, her parents are also proud of her as an achiever in school so we buy her toys as her reward of making her best in the academics. She loves books, not just toys. My child suggests the toys she prefer. It is not her that always decide what toy she wants have but it is mostly us. As a preschooler we expect that she love to play "playlet-little house" but we observe that she doodles more on visual art like drawing which is a good sign that she loves art and reading a lot more than the Barbie dolls.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
8 Jan 09
In fact I hope my child can enjoy playing toys with other playmates. So he can know how to get on well with other friends.
@leomyoma (47)
• India
7 Jan 09
hi,i can only say according to child psychology kids get extra satisfaction and a feeling of being cared.but if we gift them frequently they may start taking it for granted.the very purpose of ours doesn't get fulfilled.so we must apply caution.thank u.
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
Perhaps we try to balance it.
• United States
7 Jan 09
My husband and I try to give our daughter something every month on the 7th because she was born on September 7th. If I'm out and I see something that I know she'll love, or a toy she has played with at a friends house and really enjoyed I'll pick it up just because. I give it to her to open and tell her it's just because Daddy & I love her. She doesn't talk yet so I haven't had her ask me why, but I tell her anyway. Great post!
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
8 Jan 09
That's so nice. That means to say yesterday your daughter got a gift yesterday
@ulalume (713)
• United States
7 Jan 09
Thats great that you do that for your child. I know when I was a kid my parents would do this for me once and a while too. One memory sticks in my mind of being at WalMart with my father, and on the way out he told me I can pick out a lego set (i loved legos back then...) Its one of those memories that leave and impression and kind of make good parents stand out even more. There is a difference between a bad parent "buying" out their kid (I've seen this in other friends), but a genuine gift of love that they can enjoy may just change their childhood for the better.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
Lego is a very educational toy
• India
7 Jan 09
i would love to gift him/her without having reason,i like to enjoy every moment of our life ,and to our family ,giving gift to child is one of my that work which make too happy and peaceful , these small things give me ahappy life
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
8 Jan 09
Your home is full of love
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
7 Jan 09
Hi youless, other than giving gift to my kid during his birthday and festival I do like giving him a gift or any gift he asks for. This is the best way to encourage him if he behaves himself really well in his school work or any other performance. You are right, I do the same thing. Sometimes if I come across any new gadget which is good in enhancing the knowledge and information for kids, some sort likes the one you bought for your son, I usually would pay for it straight away and give it as a gift to my son. Of course I will give him a good reason why I give him the gift. Yeah, every kid loves gift as well as that which is new and not familiar to them. The curiosity of a Kid can drive and motivate him to learn lots of new information from the new gadget he has received. Happy posting and Happy New Year 2009!
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
Lately I am quite satisfied with my son's behaviors and he deserves to have a gift in my opinion
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
7 Jan 09
Yes, I do. I think it helps to give them incentive to receive something unexpected from time to time. My son is 12 going on 13 and he has recently started using body sprays, so today when I was out grocery shopping, I picked him up a new one. It was only a few dollars, but it made his day and gave him something to look forward to using tomorrow when he goes to school. It lets him know that I love him and think about him even when he's not there.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
You are very nice
@sophialin (2677)
• China
7 Jan 09
in fact,under many cases,i give others presents without any reason. just because this present is very beautiful and i think someone would be very happy to receive it. we do not need a reason to give others presents. maybe the biggest reason is that they will be very happy and grateful when receive our presents.
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
It's very kind of you
@achinthya (1216)
• India
7 Jan 09
I love to buy gifts for my son but now I have suddenly control my shopping because of the money problem due to fall in markets.Happy Mylotting!!
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
Hopefully the global economy will get better this year.
@Pleiades (846)
• United States
7 Jan 09
There's nothing wrong when you're at the store or out and about and find a little something that you know one of your little ones would enjoy. After all, I as an adult would love it if someone or anyone would stop by and say "hi" to me on any of my internet pages. It's the small things that matters...plus, it's a great way of making memories. My 12 year old son and I have never really been as close as my 13 year old daughter. We used to spend so much money doing this or that...when in two weeks, I just had to spend $6 on a used video game that both he and I can enjoy. After we're done with one, we buy another one...a gift really for the both of us. *Pleiades
1 person likes this
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
Sometimes I buy toys for my son but actually I also like playing them. It is one more reason for me to buy it
@phalz81 (106)
• Singapore
7 Jan 09
No reason, I just love kid's stuff, and since he is in learning period, I will spend $$ for him and buy toys or any gifts or clothes that suit for him rather than for myself. My money is for him...I only pampered myself by window shopping and that's good enough for me, but young kids are different, they still need to learn, we must make sure that this kid has a enjoyable moment during his life before he grown up as young adult..The way he smiles never fail me to love him more.....we do love our kids.
@youless (112091)
• Guangzhou, China
7 Jan 09
Haha, I also spend more for my child than myself