Safe Christmas Shopping for Your Elementary-Aged Child

As children get to be in the upper elementary grades they begin to really want to do their own Christmas shopping. Unfortunately many parents do not feel comfortable letting their children loose in large stores such as Wal-mart or Sears for independent Christmas shopping. So where can these kids do their Christmas shopping independently? There are several safer options for where your child can do his Christmas shopping without you having to worry a bit. Try these ideas for child-friendly Christmas shopping that won't worry mom or dad.

School Book Fairs. Many schools have a fall book fair and often this book fair occurs just weeks before Christmas. Let your child do some of his Christmas shopping at the book fair. Often book fairs feature some adult best sellers, cookbooks, and cute bookmarks, all appropriate for adult Christmas gifts. And your child will love shopping at the book fair for his brothers and sisters. The safe environment of the school book fair is a great place to let your child practice independence and do some of his very own Christmas shopping.

School Santa Shop. In addition to the book fair, some schools host a Santa shop or other "store" where kids can come and do Christmas shopping on their own. This is a super safe environment for your child to do his own Christmas shopping and she will love making all of the decisions alone. The only downside to this Christmas shopping option is that often the items available for purchase are not exactly high quality.

Local Craft Shows. Does your local school or church have a craft sale near Christmas? This is another great place to let your child do some Christmas shopping. Depending on the crowd, and your comfort level with the venue, you may not want your upper elementary aged child to wander too far, but often local craft shows can be a great, safe place for a little kid-friendly Christmas shopping. Not only will your child be safe Christmas shopping at a local craft fair, but you are also likely to get some great Christmas gifts.

Companion Shopping. A final way to make sure your child gets to do his own Christmas shopping in a safe environment is to provide a companion or chaperone. A fun uncle, older cousin, or your child's friend's parent, are all great companions for Christmas shopping. Your child won't want you around for his special Christmas shopping but another trusted adult might provide just the right level of both safety and independence for your child.

Christmas shopping alone is a great way for your child to learn how to budget money and also feel great about the special gifts he chooses for his family. If you have an upper elementary aged child that is ready to do some Christmas shopping on her own, try these ideas for safe ways to enjoy independent Christmas shopping.