It can be hard to shop for anyone, especially people who are precious to you. This article will help you choose the perfect gift for your sister, whatever her age and circumstances and whatever your budget.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Child
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Think about her interests. Many young girls are interested in things like My Little Pony, Barbie, Littlest Pet Shop, Bratz, Sesame Street, and so on. If you aren't sure what your sister likes, try asking some questions, such as:
- "I'm taking pictures today. Could I take a picture of you with your favorite toys?"
- "What TV show would you like to watch most?"
- "Genies are so cool. If you met a genie, what would you wish for?"
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Check out what your sister already has. This will help in two ways: first, you'll avoid buying duplicates, and second, you can get some ideas. For instance, if she has lots of Littlest Pet Shop toys, you could buy some accessories or a new house for them, maybe. If she loves her American Girl doll, you could get some new clothes for it. Many toys work this way.Advertisement
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Buy fairly inexpensive things if your sister has interests that tend to change quite often. If she likes Frozen, buy her an Elsa doll for twenty dollars instead of an ice castle for a hundred dollars.
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Avoid getting clothes unless you know her taste and size. While clothes are certainly a practical, simple gift, there are a lot of variables. You might get the wrong size or a color they hate. Not only that but many sisters are happiest when they unwrap a toy, apparently.
- Clothes might be a very good idea for an infant sister, though. Just be sure you buy larger than you think you'll need; babies grow fast!
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Preteen or Teen
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Think about her interests. A sister can be sporty, girly, geeky, scholarly, artsy, or a mix of many things. If you aren't sure about her interests, make a list of how she spends her time. If she goes shopping once a week, she might be a fashionista. If she plays three different sports, that's probably her thing. Some list ideas for different interests are listed below:
- Art: a poster of her favorite artist's work, an easel, high-quality paint brushes.
- Eco-friendly: a plant, a tree planted in her name, a new bike.
- Geek: a poster or action figure, a t-shirt, other fan memorabilia.
- Girly: nice perfume, a cute dress, jewelry.
- Smart/School: a book, a telescope, a high-quality monogrammed pen.
- Sports: water bottle with her name on it, autographed ball, jersey.
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Check out what she already has. This will help you in two ways: one, you can eliminate what she already has and two, you might get some solid ideas of what she likes. If she has Dr. Who posters plastered all over her wall, there's a good chance she'll love the TARDIS plush you buy her.
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Take her shopping with you and let her steer the way. Ask her what stores she'd like to go to, then watch what she looks at and loves.
- If there's a dress she loves but can't afford, get a couple things and ask her to run ahead to the food court to buy you some food. While she's out, you can buy the dress and hide it underneath the other stuff.
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Get her a gift card. If you are utterly stumped or too nervous, buy her a gift card to her favorite store (or one that works at multiple stores).Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Adult
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Go the traditional route. Jewelry is a classic gift, as are perfumes, skincare items and clothes. Try to find out what kind of jewelry and clothing are her style, first.
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Think about her interests. Try to hang out with her and chat, or at least ask her what her plans are. Some ideas are listed below.
- Cooking: a cookbook, a gourmet hamper or a cooking gadget
- Sports: a jersey of her favorite team
- Gardening: a beautiful new plant
- An actor: one of their movies
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Try something handmade. A mature sister (of any age) will appreciate a heartfelt gift because of the time, thought, and love that went into making it. Perhaps you could make her a scrapbook, paint her a picture, or sew her a decorative pillow. Look on Pinterest for more ideas.
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Get her a gift card. If you're too anxious about whether your gift will be perfect or not, give her a gift card. If it is accompanied it by a nice card and a heartfelt note, even better.Advertisement
Community Q&A
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QuestionI'm 9 and not allowed to go to a big shop myself. What do I get my sister for Christmas?NastiaCommunity AnswerIf you're only 9, your sister will not expect much from you. There is no need to stress and worry about buying gifts. Try making a DIY gift. There are many ideas online, and you can ask your parents to help you.
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QuestionI have a sister who's urban in a way. She would like headphones, maybe a Nike hoodie, but I can't afford it. What should I do?Community AnswerIf your sister listens to music on an iPhone, iPad, or computer, an iTunes gift card would work, or maybe a gift card to an electronics store like Best Buy so you can help her pay for her headphones.
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QuestionWhat should I get for my ten year old sister?Community AnswerYou can ask her if there is anything that she would like, and then base her present off of things that she enjoys or wants. You can also always get her a gift card so that she can pick out her own gift.
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