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(English capitalization rules for titles always mess me up, forgive me.)
Rule 1: Ask the parents what the kid would like. Seriously, any child over the age of 18 months has toy preferences, and probably has enough toys and books that you're at risk of bringing a double, and the parents might have rules about what they let their kid know exists. Just ask.
In fact, I'm going to put this one in bold.
ASK THE PARENTS.
Rule 2: If, for some reason, you don't want to ask the parents... CRAFT SUPPLIES.
Every kid can use some more craft supplies, and it doesn't matter if there are extras - it gets used up.
Now, here's my advice for craft supplies:
If you like the parents a lot, and they're artsy types, get unusual-er supplies. Yarn, ribbons, magazines and scissors to cut up, buttons - stuff the kids might actually not have 17 tons of at home already. And a pack of stickers. And maybe a book on craft activities you can do with kids.
If you like the parents well enough, get crayons and paper, smocks (you can never have enough smocks!), mats to lay down over tables to keep the tables clean, watercolor paints, and maybe some glue sticks. And a pack of stickers.
If you don't like the parents and resent buying stuff for their brats, get poster paints, no smocks, markers, glitter, glue, and LOTS AND LOTS of stickers.
Rule 3: Skip the wrapping paper. It's a pain to undo, and it just makes a mess, so, unless you hate the parents, go with a gift bag. Kids love bags anyway, especially when they're little.
Rule 4: Also, get a card. Very little kids like the novelty of cards.
Rule 1: Ask the parents what the kid would like. Seriously, any child over the age of 18 months has toy preferences, and probably has enough toys and books that you're at risk of bringing a double, and the parents might have rules about what they let their kid know exists. Just ask.
In fact, I'm going to put this one in bold.
ASK THE PARENTS.
Rule 2: If, for some reason, you don't want to ask the parents... CRAFT SUPPLIES.
Every kid can use some more craft supplies, and it doesn't matter if there are extras - it gets used up.
Now, here's my advice for craft supplies:
If you like the parents a lot, and they're artsy types, get unusual-er supplies. Yarn, ribbons, magazines and scissors to cut up, buttons - stuff the kids might actually not have 17 tons of at home already. And a pack of stickers. And maybe a book on craft activities you can do with kids.
If you like the parents well enough, get crayons and paper, smocks (you can never have enough smocks!), mats to lay down over tables to keep the tables clean, watercolor paints, and maybe some glue sticks. And a pack of stickers.
If you don't like the parents and resent buying stuff for their brats, get poster paints, no smocks, markers, glitter, glue, and LOTS AND LOTS of stickers.
Rule 3: Skip the wrapping paper. It's a pain to undo, and it just makes a mess, so, unless you hate the parents, go with a gift bag. Kids love bags anyway, especially when they're little.
Rule 4: Also, get a card. Very little kids like the novelty of cards.
