How to Select a Gift for Your Sister

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.

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.
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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!

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).

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.

Community Q&A

  • Question
    I'm 9 and not allowed to go to a big shop myself. What do I get my sister for Christmas?
    Nastia
    Nastia
    Community Answer
    If 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.
  • Question
    I 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 Answer
    Community Answer
    If 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.
  • Question
    What should I get for my ten year old sister?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You 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.
  • Question
    My sister is away from me for her studies. She comes twice a year, what gift can I buy for her?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You don't have to buy her a gift. You can make or spend time together as a gift at her favorite places.
  • Question
    My sister is always mad at me. Should I buy her a money card?
    Sylghouls
    Sylghouls
    Top Answerer
    If you're looking to solve an issue in your relationship, buying her a gift is not the way to go. You should try talking to her, confiding in her that you feel like she's been unusually angry at you lately. Ask her if there's something wrong that's causing her to be irritated with you. Gifts are always a nice thought, but they don't absolve you of having to put in the communication and work necessary for a healthy sibling relationship.
  • Question
    What gift ideas do you have for my 13 year old sister?
    Phantom
    Phantom
    Community Answer
    It depends on her personality. Think of what she likes, or what she wants. And if you really have no idea, gifts for everyone that impress, no matter their personality, include: Books, puzzles, t-shirts (but you have to know that she will like it!), nice smelling shower gel, a voucher, favorite candy, etc.
  • Question
    What should I buy my sister for her 50th birthday?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Maybe a picture of you and her when you were young in a frame, a silly jumper/hoodie, a coffee mug with a best sister message, a photo album of the best experiences you had together and maybe a voucher to a pampering experience. If you have more money, taking a trip together for a weekend somewhere you both love can be a nice gift; it can be after the birthday, just write a voucher for it as a gift.
  • Question
    My younger sister doesn't want a birthday party for her 9th birthday, so I'm planning a surprise birthday party. But I have no clue what to get for her present?
    Mystery899
    Mystery899
    Community Answer
    It depends on what your sister likes - ask her what her interests are. Like, for example, pretend your sister says she loves sports, you can get her a baseball and bat or a soccer ball.
  • Question
    What should I get my 5 year old sister?
    Mystery899
    Mystery899
    Community Answer
    It depends what her interests interests are or what she likes to play with. For example, your sister says she likes to build with things. You could buy her blocks or a 5 year old engineering kit.

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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 9,169 times.
58 votes - 58%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: June 23, 2021
Views: 9,169
Categories: Gift Giving