Do you know what kids want for Christmas this year? Yes, I said it, “Christmas”! It is on it’s way and will be here before you know it. Why am I talking about it at the end of September? Because it is only 3 months away. Because if you have kids, you know the horrible feeling you get when you come to the realization that you procrastinated too long and now you will never find that hot, popular toy. You find yourself asking your kids about the toy they want second best. I have done it and I doubt I am the only one. I have also found myself out late on Christmas Eve hoping to find the one toy they wanted most. Never again! Here are some of the ways I have found to make sure that my kids will get what they want for Christmas this year.
Give them the Toys R Us flyer that we all receive in our mailboxes or in our newspapers. Have them circle what they want. Allow 3 things and have them number them. Make sure they know that there is no guarantee, but you are just looking for ideas. If you allow them to circle whatever they want, you will see a toy book with almost everything circled. Giving limitations will force your kids to really think about what they want.
On Saturday, when all of the cartoons are interrupted repeatedly for commercials, have your kids pick one to show you. No more than one. Remember, we are just getting ideas so that you can put all of the information together and get your child the gift or gifts that you think they really would enjoy the most.
Now, plan to buy the hottest toy early. If it is on a list of some sort as a hot toy, get it very early. Then, you can rest easy knowing you have the big, most important gift safely in hand.
If you are shopping online, look for free shipping or a great deal on shipping. Many companies are fighting for your business and you will find some awesome shipping deals that may save you the hassle of battling the toy aisle. You are also much more likely to find the color or exact style you want online.
If you like to get out there and actually have the gift in hand, you can save yourself some gas by going online first. Visit the websites of some of the local, larger stores. Most of them offer a service online that allows you enter the toy and the details (color, size, etc.) and it will tell you whether or not it is in stock at that particular store. If not, a lot of the stores’ websites will give you information about which of their nearby stores have the item. I used this a lot last year and it was wonderful!
Plan to have the toys you need in hand before Thanksgiving. That will greatly reduce your stress. If your child changes the toy they want, don’t worry. Most younger children quickly forget which toy they were demanding at the time when they see a toy they want right in front of them.
Be a cool aunt, grandma, mom or dad and start planning now. You want to be sure you get what kids want for Christmas. And when your friends are all out doing their last-minute shopping in a panic, you can sit at home on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa and some Christmas cookies. Doesn’t that sound nice?
Save yourself some time, there is an up-to-date list of the hot toys, Click here! Have you heard of Zhu Zhu Hamsters yet? You will! They are dominating the hot toy lists at Amazon and Toys R Us.
BarbaraN is a mother of 3 with a lot of experience with last-minute Christmas shopping nightmares.
Tags: Christmas Shopping. hot Christmas toys, what kids want for Christmas