Grown-up kids

The past couple of weeks I've been thinking about gift-giving. It was an "easy" Christmas in terms of shopping this year, in that I bought gifts online for the kids in August, and the three nieces prefer to receive $$$ - the wish that buys other wishes - for their own future spending. I also bought my parents' gifts online during the summer too.

I think I'm now in a mode of being on the lookout all year round, and buying when there are sales, and saving up gifts for occasions. I have gifts in reserve for kids' birthday parties we/they are invited to, baby showers, impromptu out-of-town visits from friends with children, play dates hosted by others...

As I'm looking online today, I am buying for my niece's birthday...in April, but also, since it's the online Lego store, there are some free stand-alone add-ons that would be good for Valentine's Day, or Chinese New Year...

I think I will always be a kid at heart - I much prefer to have "gift with purchase" when it comes to Lego, than, say, Clinique bonus time...

I also like Kinder Surprise eggs almost as much as the kids do. I like that it's not just about eating candy, but a small toy that can be built and be a momentary diversion. For my two kids, it's a double bonus, because they are both flexible about swapping, and sharing.

I buy educational toys that I myself would have some interest in playing with, or engaging with. I am selective in the books, magazines, board games, card games, and other print-based toys they receive also. I join in playing with Play-Doh sometimes, and I like playing with new Play-Doh just as much as the kids' do, rather than fight with the muted purple, grayish, "still good" batch.

My spouse is the same way - he has "classic" toys of his childhood that he is slowly passing down to the kids, though he has robots in the original packaging that may never see the light of day. We also picked up a PS4 and WiiU, and these are for the whole family.

We will transition eventually to a time when the kids will have allowances, and full spending authority over relatives and others giving cash gifts, and they will make their own decisions, good and bad, about spending. I really think the best way to learn about money is to handle it on your own, and to experience some buyers' remorse. But for now, they are in a 'receiving' mode, and we are trying not to spoil them. It's difficult when you are spoiling yourself as well.