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Kids want fewer gift cards with more money on them
Just a heads-up for all the parents out there. Sales of gift cards are expected to grow 6% in 2007, compared to the 35% growth in 2006. What's going on? "Kids are getting bored with gift cards," say an analyst. I'm not; that's pretty much all that's on my list this year. (USA Today)
November 14, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
My family does not exchange gifts of any sort for Christmas or birthdays, although I did present my parents and both sisters with hand-crafted wooden coffins two years ago. (I have them stored for when they are needed.) Giving gifts to children only promotes the idea of receiving something of value without having to work for it. Children today are already too spoiled, and it's the parent's fault for indulging their child's every whim. People who shower their children with gifts are bad parents.
Posted by: Dick Tater | Nov 14, 2007 10:44:26 AM
But lucky for us we have been presented with the gift of Dick Tater on this website. Can I get a refund?
Posted by: G-Man | Nov 14, 2007 10:53:18 AM
LOL!
Posted by: sometimesilie | Nov 14, 2007 10:53:29 AM
sorry G-Man, I was laughing at DT, not you. It still cracks me up to think of his position on a "worldwide canine virus".
Posted by: sometimesilie | Nov 14, 2007 10:54:36 AM
Coffins? That's mighty thoughtful of you, Dick. I'm sure they'll get an eternity of use out of them.
As for gift cards, my observation is that they're most popular for birthdays, especially with older kids. At Christmas, though, kids tend to want actual physical presents that can lie in a satisfying pile beneath the tree.
Posted by: Phranqlin | Nov 14, 2007 11:16:40 AM
Wow. All I want for Christmas is my two front tires. Well, I could use an allignment on my car too, but geez. As to getting my kids presents for christmas, that's the only time besides birthdays that they get anything besides clothes and food. I just don't have the money to buy them a new toy every time they want one. I don't believe that giving them a gift spoils them, they know they are only getting one present from me, so they better think long and hard on which 'new best toy' they want. But I would never give my kids gift cards, not even once they're teenagers. If they want something, they should have to communicate their desires to get it.
Posted by: Cici | Nov 14, 2007 11:20:14 AM
Ok...while I find Dick's "not a gift" of coffins rather morbid and weird...I have to say that I...on a certain level...agree with him. We are bombarded with thousands of images a day to CONSUME CONSUME CONSUME.
I keep Christmas gifts to a minimum at my house but decorating, baking and family time is very important!
A couple years ago I asked my kids to make a Christmas list of what they NEEDED, not what they wanted. Each of them came back to me and said "nothing". Hopefully they appreciated what they got, just a bit more.
Posted by: Cherie | Nov 14, 2007 11:29:53 AM
Giving gifts to children only promotes the idea of receiving something of value without having to work for it.
-----
how totally wrong can you be? Have you ever once read the bible? I rarely see such a boldfaced anti-Christian view spouted as conservatism. I'm not particularly religious, but all the religions know what alms and charity are.
Posted by: DCer | Nov 14, 2007 11:45:33 AM
Kids today are azzholes for the most part. In a few years they'll be set up to process credit card payments, the tax you pay just for knowing these little "miracles".
Posted by: SwarthyTroll | Nov 14, 2007 11:59:12 AM
It's not *that* you give a gift, it's how you teach them to receive it. I'm doing my best to not raise a bratty entitled child - I certainly wasn't one, and neither was my husband. We were far from perfect, but grabby and demanding I know we weren't.
Posted by: LooseyGoosey | Nov 14, 2007 12:02:39 PM
I think gift cards are great and will continue to use them. They place the responsibilty of getting "the perfect gift" on the recipient. That and it saves on shipping as almost all my gifts get mailed. Teaches kids about how to spend $ and what things are worth
Posted by: jupiterjim | Nov 14, 2007 12:04:01 PM
Right DCer...
Just one simple "for instance"...When Jesus was born...the Three Wisemen brought with them....GIFTS.
Posted by: Cherie | Nov 14, 2007 12:09:58 PM
Dick Taster--I hope you also made a coffin for yourself, too. You are such a freak.
Posted by: troschne | Nov 14, 2007 12:13:05 PM
Dick Tater's presence has allowed me a lot more free time.
It gives me peace of mind to know you guys are in good hands if I am not here. I thank God that there are other Men of Virtue in this depraved world.
Posted by: SwarthyTroll | Nov 14, 2007 12:33:49 PM
Cherie - that was a great idea. I'll remember that one:)
Posted by: Cracker Crumbs | Nov 14, 2007 12:36:03 PM
This means that another Christmas is practically at our throats, doesn't it.
Posted by: NellAgain | Nov 14, 2007 12:50:24 PM
And on top of the usual bombardment,,,my girlfriend loves Christmas music of any type, including the Chipmunks. I'm tempted to ask Dick Tater for a quiet corner of his garage until new years.
Posted by: thomas | Nov 14, 2007 1:02:56 PM
Yeah, I'm hard to shop for, I tell everyone to give me cash.
Posted by: Sean, Torrington CT | Nov 14, 2007 1:12:09 PM
My kids get 2 lumps of cole and an old wool sock in a shoebox and they'll be damn glad they got it.
Ahh! My bong!
Posted by: yucca | Nov 14, 2007 2:25:05 PM
I like to give a combination. A small gift, something to open and "do something with" on Christmas morning, then a gift card to someplace they like as a litte something to dream about. We don't give extravagent gifts, but then again I've always found that a well thought out present is much more fun than just something expensive.
When I was a kid, I got excited because my Mother used always included a paperback and a can of olives in my stocking.
Posted by: Kghoti | Nov 14, 2007 2:54:00 PM
my family stopped giving presents when we 'kids' reached our mid-twenties, we didn't need anything and our greed for goodies had calmed
now we all give to food barrels, gift trees at work, new coats and socks to homeless shelters, etc
when we were kids though we had wonderful toys under the tree every x-mas morning
Posted by: Lambiepie | Nov 14, 2007 3:32:12 PM
nice one Troschne.
Posted by: BFT | Nov 14, 2007 3:50:14 PM
yucca,
You give your kids cabbage?
Posted by: B | Nov 14, 2007 7:15:33 PM
