A Birthday Gift for the Young and Old

Oh boy, it’s your birthday! The one day a year that is all about you! In many different cultures in the world, it is customary to celebrate one’s birthday with a party full of friends and birthday gifts. Giving someone the perfect birthday gift depends on your relationship with person and how well you know his or her personality. For example, a beautiful gold ring may be a wonderful birthday gift for your friend, Anne Marie, because she loves anything made from gold. However, if you gave your friend Carey a gold ring for her birthday, she would be disappointed. You see, Carey is allergic to gold and adores silver. See what we mean?

Age and gender also come into play. You are not going to buy a pink tricycle for a 30-year old man, just like you would never purchase a huge novel about World War I for a two-year old girl.

Young Children’s Birthday Gift Ideas
There is an adorable children’s boutique near my home in Arlington, Virginia called CosmoTots. At CosmoTots you can purchase all sorts of birthday gifts for young children. From boys’ blue pajamas to girls’ sweaters and dresses, they carry the most exclusive lines of children’s ware. They also carry unisex toys, like decoupage piggy banks and handcrafted stuffed animals, created by local artists.

There are also many children stores on the Internet that can give you an idea of exactly what to buy a child for a birthday gift, according to their age range. And, if you purchase a birthday gift from Leap Frog, not only will the child be thrilled, so will his or her parents. All of Leap Frogs toys products are educational and fun. Leap Frog, found at www.leapfrog.com, divides their products into four separate categories:

• Infant and Toddler—Baby Counting Pal™ Plush is the perfect birthday gift for a young baby or toddler. Its colors and activities make this toy a wonder for babies to touch, hear, and see.
• Preschool and Kindergarten—Try the Super Saver™ Teaching Bank, and no one, including Mom and Dad will be disappointed. This is because the child will learn about saving money while he or she plays.
• Grade School— Mind Mania™ is the perfect gift for grade-school boys and girls. They can take this learning toy with them to discover new words and definitions.
• Middle and High School—The Explore Globe has an interactive pen and talking atlas. Older kids will think its cool.

Adult Men
There are just some things all men seem to like. But it always helps to know something about the guy you are buying for.

• The Golf-Lover—Stop by any of your local sporting-goods stores, like Dick’s Sporting Goods or The Sports’ Authority, and you are sure to find a golf-related birthday gift. Any golfer would love a brand-new, lightweight golf shirt, for example.
• The Dog-Lover—So, your birthday buddy loves dogs, huh? Great! Check out Animal Krackers at www.k9gifts.com to find your buddy a birthday gift related to his favorite breed. They have Border collie cardholders, German shepherd mantel clocks, and Newfoundland wine toppers. Name your friend’s favorite breed, and chances are they have something related to it! But stay away from the stuffed dogs. It may be a little to “girly” for your big, strong manly pal!

Adult Women
Food, flowers, clothing, and jewelry—some women are simple to shop for, while others make it more difficult to find that perfect birthday gift. Nonetheless, here are some ideas:
• Flowers—Most women enjoy the kind thoughts that go into flowers sent to their home or office. Go online at www.proflowers.com. They can deliver a gorgeous bouquet to your friend’s home. Or, you can call 1-800 FLOWERS, and choose from flower bouquets especially created for birthday gifts.
• Jewelry—Not all nice jewelry has to be expensive, or come from a boyfriend. Some jewelry can be a gift from a friend, too. Try Mia’s Attic at www.miasattic.com for hip a birthday gift! There, you can buy trendy, yet inexpensive silver rings, bracelets, and necklaces for your friend’s birthday.

Do you see how easy it is to find awesome birthday gifts? And this is just a taste of the millions of stores that offer exciting birthday gifts for friends and relatives, old and young.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2006