At what age do you stop sending gifts to children?

Question

I am talking about sending birthday and/or holiday gifts to children of friends and family. Do you switch to a card only when they are 18? 21? Sending money or gift only for graduations/weddings/births?

Answer 1

I would send something as long as you are close/in contact. The first time you send something and never hear back or get a thank you, though, it should stop right there!

Answer 2

Well I'm 20, and I love when great-aunts or extended family send even $10! Remember that those 18 or 21 year olds might be in college (like me!) and chances are they might not have a lot of income. For example, finals are going on normally about two weeks before Christmas, meaning those young adults might not be able to work as much.... they might not even be able to buy presents for their family! So coming from a 20 year old, I personally would much rather receive money as a gift during the holidays than for my birthday, if I had to choose. (And I always send thank you cards!) And if sending gifts or money isn't an option for you, and you can really only send a card, I promise you, we young folk understand!

Answer 3

I stop sending gifts & cards to people when I get no response. And a response from the parent of a teenager is not the same as a response directly from the teenager.

If there's a response, it depends... If I'm invited to a party or a get together, or I make it a point to see the person on their birthday, I give a gift until I think they'd rather the money or a gift card.

Once it becomes apparent that the giftee is not into reciprocating, I stop giving gifts and just send a card since the point is to let the person know you are thinking of them on their birthday.

Answer 4

I go with my heart. If I am close to the person I give no matter what the age. I've never expected anyone to give to my children. However, if the gifts are given at a family gathering we always keep things even, either something for everyone or nothing for all.

I do agree with all those who list cash as the gift of choice. We usually give gift cards at toy stores when the kids are around 7 or 8 and then change over to cash around teenagers. Much better than giving something they already have.

Happy Holidays!

Answer 5

I agree... I even have had quite a few friends infants I had bought for while they have been youthful... shrink back steadily... like do basically birthdays... then eventuallt end that... then all that's left is presents while they marry and characteristic little ones or issues for there new domicile, etc... and don't experience undesirable approximately it... thats how I take care of that... there are a number of the grown little ones that began procuring me issues whenthey grew up so they're those that i proceed to purchase for and if the others have the nerve to strengthen the difficulty... i might say relationships is a 2 way highway... wish this facilitates....

Answer 6

If they can't be bothered to send a thank you note, then I stop the gifts. My nephews saved me a ton of money that way! I don't expect babies and pre-schoolers to write, but I do think their parents should. I sent one of my nephews a gift for his first baby's first birthday--I got no thank you from him--even more money saved. :-)

I no longer feel "obliged" to give gifts to family, and I do give gifts to friends on special occasions.

Otherwise, to those who do say thank you, I switch to money when the kids are 10 or even years old, and cut back to cards when they start working.

Answer 7

In my family it was decided between all of us that gifts would be given to nieces and nephews only by their godparents and only through the 8th grade; once they got into high school, gifts would stop. There are 22 nieces and nephews in my family, so that makes a big differece; every familys different. Regarding giving gifts to your friends' kids, we've never done that except when they were very young.

Answer 8

I send gifts to children within the family (nieces, nephews), without limit on age. I concur that money is more welcome than a material item, sometimes, to a teenager. I am less likely, though, to send gifts, or at least to send special gifts, to a child who is old enough to decide on his or her own to write a thank-you note (maybe 11 or so?), or at least call to thank me, but doesn't. Email is fine, but some kind of show of appreciation is just good manners.

Answer 9

I stop sending gifts to older teen and adult Grandchildren when they stop thanking me for gifts. As achild, I learned very early in age to take the time to write a Thank You to Grandparents for gifts for every occassion. I don't get this responce from my Grandchildren and have to use Post Ofice pink signiture verification slips to even find out if they were delivered which often the carriers don't take time to put in computer so then it is a waste of $ to even use the sig slips. The most recent gift I sent that wasn't acknowledged was a welcome baby gift to my great granddaughter I took time to shop for and send and no acknowledgement.

Answer 10

Our family has always said to stop gifts after 18. After that, just at big birthdays when there's a party.