Gift IdeasGift ideas for children
For children, choose things that are used, not just unwrapped: something to build, draw, read, ride or play with others.
A bar of fine chocolate or a small chocolate box
A safe choice when you do not know someone well.
A storybook or a set of picture books
Ask the bookseller for the right reading age. Write the child's name and the date inside.
Crayons, paints and a drawing book
Add a large roll of plain paper. Children run out of paper before colours.
A piggy bank with a first deposit inside
An old-fashioned gift that starts a habit.
A homemade cake or batch of cookies
Bake their favourite flavour and pack it in a tin they can keep.
New notes in an envelope (Eidi)
Crisp notes for the children of the family.
A steel water bottle or lunch box
Sturdy, daily and impossible to dislike.
A board game for the whole family
Choose one that grandparents and children can play together.
A cricket bat, football or badminton set
Outdoor toys get used the most. Check the right size for the child's age.
A building block or construction set
Check the age on the box. Small parts are not for children under three.
A school bag, bottle or lunch box they chose
Take the child along. Choosing is half the joy.
Money in an envelope (shagun)
Welcome on almost every family occasion, and the giver never has to guess a size or a taste. By custom the amount ends in one.
Sports gear for their game
A racket grip, a pair of gloves, a jersey of their team.
Headphones or earphones
Find out whether they prefer wired or wireless, and what they listen on.
A first-job kit
A formal shirt, a good bag and a notebook for someone starting work.
No idea matches these choices. Set one of the boxes back to "Any".
Your shortlist
How to choose for children
- Check the age marked on toys and avoid small parts for children under three.
- Ask the parents first. They know what the child has and what the house has no space for.
- Books, art materials and outdoor toys rarely go wrong and rarely duplicate.
About the spending levels
This site does not quote prices, because prices change with the city, the shop and the year. Each idea is marked with one of four levels instead:
- Token: A small gesture: the cost of a snack or a few cups of tea.
- Modest: An everyday gift for friends and family.
- Generous: A special gift for someone close or a big occasion.
- Grand: A once-in-years gift, often given by a family together.
Questions people ask
What is a good gift for children?
Start from what the person does every day and what they would not buy for themselves. On this page, "A bar of fine chocolate or a small chocolate box" and "A board game for the whole family" are two ideas that suit most people.
What if I have very little to spend?
Choose the Token level in the filter. Handmade and personal gifts, such as a homemade cake or batch of cookies, cost little and are often the ones remembered.
Gifts for other people
Guides
- Shagun: giving moneyThe envelope, the extra rupee and how to decide the amount.
- Gifting etiquetteGiving, receiving, regifting and gifts to avoid.
- Return giftsIdeas for birthdays, weddings, pujas and housewarmings.
- Gift wrappingWrap a box neatly, or wrap without paper at all.
- Gift messagesShort lines to write on a tag or card, to copy.
- Secret Santa name drawerPair everyone for a gift exchange on one phone.