Gift card for 7 year old?

[Laurabearz]

My middle child (7dd) said she would prefer gift cards for Christmas. To quote her, I think picking out things would be fun, and the thought of all the after Christmas sales I could take advantage of, I would get 3 times the stuff for the same money. What do you think mom?

I stammered around a bit and told her I would consider it. She added she wanted ToysRUs and Justice gift cards

What would you do?

 

[trustknoone]

Sounds like she has thought about it. I would however get a Visa gift card so she's not limited to just those 2 stores. You could make it a special shopping day with her. You could even make sure there's a little extra and let her take you to lunch. You could also use it as an educational experience about the value of a dollar and money management or just plan old math. The possibilities are endless. I know my DD10 is always much choosier when it's her money.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'd go for it! I agree that it sounds like she's thought a lot about it, and is being really sensible for her age.

Depending on how many presents you usually get, I'd buy one larger or a few smaller gift cards from each of the stores she asked for, and wrap them in odd-size boxes, so she has something to open, just like the other kids. (I'd also get a small present or two - not expensive, but that you know she'll play with on Christmas Day, so she doesn't get bored and change her mind when it's too late.)

The special time together of the shopping trip sounds like a great idea, too. I bet if you do it, you'll get 3 requests like that next year!

 

[The Disney Bunch]

Christmas is a time of magic & fun - the shopping trip is something that you could do anytime. She is still a young child - would she really be happy just getting a gift card from under the tree instead of opening up a present? If she knows what she wants, why can't you get that for her rather than her getting a gift card just to go and get the same gift.

I am sorry but I would have an issue with a child that young requesting gift cards- teens fine but not a child. I am sure there are tons of things she wants & to be honest, she should not be worrying about how much they cost.

 

[Mickey'sfriend]

You asked, so here's my opinion: I think that is very materialistic for such a young child. For a teen-ager, some gift cards are okay, for a 7 yr.old I would say no. I would also explain that there is joy in someone choosing/shopping for gifts for her and gift cards don't take into account the "joy of giving".

 

[WantToGoNow]

Maybe give her a gift card as one of her gifts. That way she could pick out 1-2 things she didn't get for Christmas that she would like but yet you would still provide some gifts as well. I could see her really thinking it's a good idea but being upset on Christmas morning when there were no presents to open.

 

[Laurabearz]

You asked, so here's my opinion: I think that is very materialistic for such a young child. For a teen-ager, some gift cards are okay, for a 7 yr.old I would say no. I would also explain that there is joy in someone choosing/shopping for gifts for her and gift cards don't take into account the "joy of giving".

Maybe I should have said When I asked her what she wanted for Christmas...She told me lol

Also, for this child of mine, there is NO JOY in shopping for her.

We have already bought the kids a Wii and all it's assorted stuff, as well as other smaller items.

I like the different size box idea.

Maybe I will just do gift cards for all the kids this year and be done with it

 

[Benducci]

If there is not joy in shopping for her, why would she ask for a gift card? I must be missing something. It would seem to me that by giving a gift card, the joy of finding the right gift and giving it and watching them open up the gift is gone. Then it is not really a gift but an obligation, an expectation. and in that case, why bother? why wait for Christmas? give them the gift card at any time because it doesn't mean anything for Christmas. this is just my opinion.

 

[Laurabearz]

If there is not joy in shopping for her, why would she ask for a gift card? I must be missing something. It would seem to me that by giving a gift card, the joy of finding the right gift and giving it and watching them open up the gift is gone. Then it is not really a gift but an obligation, an expectation. and in that case, why bother? why wait for Christmas? give them the gift card at any time because it doesn't mean anything for Christmas. this is just my opinion.

Sorry I said it poorly. I get no joy in shopping for things for her. I can't buy her clothes because it is to itchy or too loose or too tight or too short or too long, too blue too green not blue enough not green enough, and "so yesterday" and it ends up on the floor of her closest and she never wears it. It's NOT FUN.

Also Christmas is NOT about the gift giving, it's about family and love. At least in my home that's what its about, dont know about yours. I mean If you dont get just the right most perfect gift, and if the person you give it too doesnt just love it like you imagined they would, have you failed Your Christmas duties??

Her spending some alone time, shopping with Mom IMO is more to the Christmas Spirit then buying her things she wont wear. It's not an obligation, it's spending quality time with my daughter.





I think I am going to get her a gift card to Justice at the very least. I know she will be tickled pink!

 

[DisneyTigers]

Her spending some alone time, shopping with Mom IMO is more to the Christmas Spirit then buying her things she wont wear. It's not an obligation, it's spending quality time with my daughter.


I completely agree, and think it's a great idea! I know both my DS6 and DD9 LOVE gift cards... we turn spending them in to a fun day together, and like your daughter, mine is very picky about the clothes she wears and the toys she enjoys.

It's funny, so many people on this board suggest gift cards for kids who are getting Disney trips for Christmas... how is this not the same thing?

My stepdad bought the kids a $300 Lionel train set; nice, but we did not want it, and our kids do not appreciate it. He is upset because we're not all jumping up and down. If he'd wanted to spend $300 on the kids, he could have asked us what they would have appreciated, not what is valuable to HIM. Gifts are about the receiver, not the giver!!

I say Christmas is about time spent with family and friends, not the giant present waiting under the tree. Get her what she wants, and you'll both appreciate the time spent together later rather than the disappointment over that big box gift not being wanted or fully appreciated!

 

[tmarquez]

My DD is 6 and got a gift card for Claire's from her older brother for her birthday. It's her favorite present. We'll be going to the mall this weekend to use it. It should be interesting...as someone mentioned, she is MUCH pickier when spending her own money.

 

[Benducci]

Sorry I said it poorly. I get no joy in shopping for things for her. I can't buy her clothes because it is to itchy or too loose or too tight or too short or too long, too blue too green not blue enough not green enough, and "so yesterday" and it ends up on the floor of her closest and she never wears it. It's NOT FUN.

Also Christmas is NOT about the gift giving, it's about family and love. At least in my home that's what its about, dont know about yours. I mean If you dont get just the right most perfect gift, and if the person you give it too doesnt just love it like you imagined they would, have you failed Your Christmas duties??

Her spending some alone time, shopping with Mom IMO is more to the Christmas Spirit then buying her things she wont wear. It's not an obligation, it's spending quality time with my daughter.





I think I am going to get her a gift card to Justice at the very least. I know she will be tickled pink!

I am sorry- maybe I said poorly also - I realize Christmas is about family & love but it is also about giftgiving. If you want to spend quality time with your daughter, you don't have to wait until Christmas to do so. I just feel that at 7, she is too young to just want cash (gc)in hand to go shopping rather than opening a gift that Mom took the time to think about & unwrap on Christmas morning. I am assuming that you take your dd shopping throughout the year. Why wouldn't you want her to unwrap something that you have thougt she would want? again this is just my opinion. My dds are 7, turning 8. They love going with me to the store but I know they love unwrapping presents also and on Christmas morning I would rather have them unwrap something other than a gift card.

But you know your dd. If you think she would like the gc, then go for it.

 

[TinaLala]

This is what I do - buy presents, but give small $ gift cards in stocking. I'm giving Justice, TRUs, Target and Claire - each one about $5 or $10 -- they're not getting all, this was just a list.

How can Santa just give gcs? he needs to bring something. I think it's the age - they like to go shopping with 'free' money and pick what they want. Do what you feel is right as a mother.

 

[Laurabearz]

Once they see the Wii, they wont care about unwrapping anything.

The more I think about it the more i know she would love the gift card.

I see a new family tradtion starting... The girls taking advantage of after Christmas sales

 

[iheartdisney]

I asked the same question a few weeks back, when DD (almost 6) heard DH and I talking about the after Christmas sales. So what we decided on is to get her the one thing she REALLY wants (in this case, the swimming rescue dog thing) so that she knows Santa really was listening. And she'll have her stocking and presents from grandparents and cousins and stuff, so there won't be a lack of "Christmas Morning Magic" by any means. And from me and daddy, she'll get a Target Gift card and a "date" certificate.
And to answer a PP, we don't wait until Christmas to have quality time. My DD and I go on a date about every two weeks.

 

[poohluv2u]

I think I am going to get her a gift card to Justice at the very least. I know she will be tickled pink!

Hmmm, I've never heard of Justice (no pun intended) .... off to Google I go ...

 

[Ppufi]

Maybe you could get her a 10-15 dollar gift card to one store as a stocking stuffer.

 

[jeepgirl30]

My DD8 loves getting gift cards but I'm not getting her one. Last year my MIL got her one as her gift and she nagged me all Christmas day and the day after to go to Toys R Us for a toy. She had plenty of things from Santa to play with but MIL told her "you can use the card to get ANYTHING you want" however the card was only for $20.

In your case though, go for it. If you DD wants that, you want that why not? Isn't part of the point is to get them what they want?

 

[NotUrsula]

When my niece C was little, I always got her gift cards in addition to a gift because my sister was in a rough place financially, and I knew that while she scraped and got her daughter gifts, they tended toward the practical. One thing that they NEVER got to indulge in was frivolous shopping trips, so getting cards was a way to let them have that kind of experience and outing that they otherwise could not afford. I also gave my sister GC's for restaurants at that time, because eating out was a luxury she normally never allowed herself, and I knew that if I gave her cash she would spend it on groceries or something equally mundane, because she was careful with her money. It may have seemed like an impersonal gift, but in that case it wasn't -- it was the experience that I was giving -- the little splurge.

For a child that likes shopping, the experience makes it twice the fun, and therefore twice the gift.