(ThyBlackMan.com) It’s October, and you know what that means: Christmas is coming. Perhaps the issue of Christmas presents hasn’t been raised in your household yet. But you know that it’s only a matter of time before the subject rears its head. In fact, you’ve already anticipated that it will. And you’ve got a shopping list that you’re sure your kids will love. Right? Well, maybe.
Perhaps you should go back to that list and have a careful think about it. Are you really sure that when they run down the stairs, you kids is going to be happy with what you’ve got them? Or will they be filled with disappointment?
The good news is that it’s still super early in the year. You’ve got plenty of time to revise your plans and change what you’ve got your kid.
What’s hot and what’s not in the world of kids toys literally changes with the seasons. We think that kids live in a relatively static world and that the same gifts we would like will do just fine. But this is the world of 2016. And thanks to smartphones and the internet, kids have the ability to find out about all the new stuff. Parents like to think that they’re on top of it all. But the truth is that they’re not.
Fortunately, parents don’t have to stumble around in the dark when it comes to what kids want. Kids themselves have spoken up. Here’s what they do and don’t want from you this Christmas.
Don’t: Gift Cards
Adults think that gift cards are the doorway to infinite purchasing opportunities. Kids see a boring piece of plastic that they can do nothing with on Christmas day. If you’ve bought a gift card, take it to the store and buy your child an actual gift. Gift cards mean that kids have to wait around for ages to get what they want. And, as any parent will tell you, kids hate waiting around.
Do: Trick Scooter
This year looks set to be another popular year for the trick scooter – according to kids, at least. And it’s not hard to see why. First off, scooting down at the park is a social activity. Kids get to spend lots of time with other kids whose parents have gotten them scooters as well. Second, mastering the art of trick scooting is devilishly difficult. For some kids, learning to master a complicated set of tricks is a fulfilling experience. Third, all their friends are doing it too, so they need a scooter to fit in.
Don’t: Socks
Socks might be a stocking staple of middle-age men all over the world. But for kids, getting socks is the ultimate insult. Sock are boring, really boring, especially when kids just want shiny fun stuff. If your child needs socks, get them new socks. But don’t wrap them up in paper and serve them up on Christmas day.
Do: Legos
The cool thing about Legos is that their new play sets follow all the latest trends. Does your kid want a Disney Marvel Lego toy? No problem. Does he or she want a Star Wars Lego set? Sure, you can get that too.
Staff Writer; Jamal Brown