My friend is adopting and I would like to buy the children a gift, any suggestions?

Question

She is adopting a 2/12 year old girl and a 5 year old boy. I will be watching them for her when she goes back to work in a few weeks. I would like to get them each a special gift to open when they come over for their first day with me. Any suggestions would be most appreciated! She says they are into Dora but I'm not sure I should go that route.

Answer 1

teddy bears!

Answer 2

Buy them a toy, or an activity that will stay at your house, so they will always look foward to comming over.

Answer 3

Perhaps a photo album for each of them with pictures of their new family members in it. If they are from another country, something that represents their heritage is always a nice keepsake. Just loving them and accepting them into your extended family is a huge gift to both them and their new mother. It won't be an easy task and I applaud you for supporting her through this transition.

Answer 4

Hey - what do you have against Dora???  Since they are being adopted, I think you should do something that shows they are part of a family unit now... Maybe something that has their new names embroidered on it?  Or, put on your creative hat.  Let them have a painter's day where the assignment is to paint  pictures of their family.  It'll be a joy for you to watch them, and you can save the best pics to put in an album or to frame as a nice gift for your pal.

Answer 5

photo albums for their family pictures

Answer 6

Get them something to do while they are at your house... maybe a new box of watercolor paints with their own name on it or another art supply, or even playdough... that way it gets all of you busy and creative while she is away at work, and you aren't just getting another toy for them.

Answer 7

Either talk to the foster parents or do what several others suggest and bring them out for a day that is devoted to them.  Feeling special is better than any gift you can give them.

Answer 8

teddy bears   different colors

Answer 9

I love the Build A Bear idea above.  It sounds like you might be too busy though with other children that you may be babysitting to go that route.  However, I think some of the local craft stores sell the kits to make them at home.  You might want to look into that.  

I think it's wonderful that you want them to have something to call their own, especially with having new surroundings, etc.  

Good luck to you.

Answer 10

Instead of getting them something ahead of time, when they get here, take them to Build-A-Bear and let them make something they'll love. I adopted 3 children and this is what I did with each of them

Answer 11

I love ~AMBER~'s idea about the Build a Bear Workshop. Also buy them books!

Answer 12

My suggestion is spend the bulk of your gift money in a bonding experience rather than a toy or object.  It sounds like these kids are being pulled out of their life and being introduced to all of these new people.

If you'll be babysitting them, you're going to want to do some bonding so it's easier to respect your boundaries but still have fun.

So why not throw them a small little party?  Decorate your house, play some kids music in the background, and invite over some neighborhood kids.  Invite the new Mommy and perhaps set up a few games like ball, coloring, Simon Says, etc.  

Have some healthy and fun snacks.  For the older child, perhaps let them build their own cracker sandwich or let him help with dessert.

Then get a really small cheap item.  Maybe a movie you can watch during quiet time for buy them each a book and say later on you'll read to them and you'll act out ALL of the voices.

Answer 13

Build-a-Bear is a great idea, but you should ask the parents.  They may be thinking of doing that, and you wouldn't want to steal their thunder.  Ya' know?  Lovely idea, though.

Spend time with them each day telling them a story about their new parents.  Tell them things that their new parents might not think to tell them, like funny incidents that happened when you were with them, things like that.  

The three of you can make up stories, then you can type them up and print them out and make your own special storybooks, perhaps using some things they tell you they do with their new parents, after they've been with them a while.

Then you can maybe take them shopping, to a store like Target, and let them pick out something.  Let them know how much they can spend, and make suggestions, but let them choose.

You can also buy a few games to keep at your house for when they come over.  

I think talking and getting to know them, and helping them get to know you and their new parents would be the best thing you can do for them.  Learn what foods they like so you can have snacks on hand, healthy ones that they will love.

..

Answer 14

I really like giving books as presents and I think this is a great chance to get them each a book. Pick out something special that you really liked as a child or something about Dora (not exactly good literature but, if they're into it, it might be the way to go), or just go to the bookstore and look around and you will easily find great books. There are many good books about adoption and you could certainly get one along those lines if you want to but, you may not necessarily want the present to be quite so connected with their adoption specifically. That way it may not be something they would want to read all the time -- sometimes kids just aren't in the "mood" to always have things be about their adoption. There is one book I'm going to suggest though because it's just right for a 5 yr old boy and it isn't about adoption at all but, it does just happen to casually mention something about such and such kid having been adopted. It's called "David's Father," by Robert Munsch. It's very rare that you find a book that mentions a kid being adopted without the entire focus of the book being on adoption. That author has several titles and they're all funny and weird and unique.

Answer 15

I am a bookworm, so I am of the opinion that its never too early to start giving books as a gift. I recommend Dr. Seuss, Goodnight Moon, or anything by Richard Scary. Eric Carle's books are great for younger kids since they are board books and they have fun characters. Have a good time babysitting!

Answer 16

I like the answer about Build-a-bear.  When I was adopted by my foster parents (in the 80's), my mom gave each of her foster kids a Cabbage Patch doll so that we could have our own adopted baby to love.

Answer 17

candy necklace kit and transformers !

Answer 18

My daughters, ages 2 and 3 love stackable building blocks that I got at Toys R Us. They're large (the biggest is about 6"x6"x6") and they nest as well as stack. They also have the alphabet on them, so when you stack them up it goes in order. And they have animals printed on them. They were less than $10 (its been a while, so I don't remember the exact price). They are made of heavy duty paperboard. Like I said - they both love them, plus with the alphabet and animals they have a chance to learn more stuff than just stacking.

As for the 5 year old boy - a pair of binoculars, a puzzle ( I like Melissa and Doug for puzzles), a fire truck or transformer figure would be great.

Answer 19

baby clothes or something, buy something useful. Because, toys their just end up throwing it away....