Gifts for Other People's Children—Kids 10 and Under

By Raina Kelley with Johannah Cornblatt
For some reason, it's really hard to shop for other people's offspring. You can't ask the parents, because they'll just tell you what they want their kids to have: clothes, books, gift cards. And that's fine for Mom and Dad; they mustn't seem greedy. But when I give kids presents, I want to see their eyes light up. I hate when their excitement dies because they suddenly realize what they're getting is a sweater or a couple of Nancy Drew books. It's not my job to teach those kids that it's the thought that counts, or even manners. I don't want them to struggle to say "thank you." I want them to lose all control and scream their heads off when they see my gift. I need hugs and kisses and assurances that I'm the best aunt/friend/godmother/whatever ever. I demand to see rage in their parents' eyes for buying their son the drum set he wanted or that netbook their daughter had to have. And don't get me wrong, you don't have to spend lots of money (though you certainly can), I'm just saying that if you're going to buy holiday presents for other people's kids, the best gift you can get back isn't "thank you"; it's those magic words "You are so cool! I love it!" Here are more than two dozen things, from the affordable to the luxurious, that will cause the munchkins in your life (ages 0-22) to tell everybody that you are the coolest.

Editor’s note: The prices listed were accurate at the time of publication. Please consult shopping Web sites for the latest pricing information.