Oh, the agony! Whether you are a parent or not, you might have gone through the horror of finding an appropriate gift for new siblings. Even if the age difference is small, getting both children the same gift is not always the best choice. It surely seems like the easiest choice, when finding an "equal but different" gift seems almost impossible to find. Nevertheless, it does not have to be this hard, and in fact it is not. Here are a few winning tips that will save you whether you are a mom, the aunt or just a friend of the family. These are the 4 S’s of gift making:

Size

Kids do not recognize the value of money. They do not know or notice if you spent more on their gift than on their sister’s. However, they do realize if their gift is smaller than the one their sibling received. So, in order to give a meaningful present, try to keep the same size for the presents. For example, buy a toy car as big as the Barbie doll, to get yourself out of trouble. Pay special attention to older or younger sisters and brothers. You do not want to make the mistake of giving a small doll and a big doll to match the ages of the children. Either go for the same doll, or just choose to completely different gifts.

Sharing

Many of us think that buying a bigger gift that the siblings can share is a great idea. In theory, it is. It strengthens the brother or sister relationship, it teaches kids about sharing and helps them spend time together. The caveat to this is the fact that most often than not kids end up fighting over the item, especially when age seniority comes into play. Therefore, a bike is a great gift for two brothers to have, but if you want to make sure there will be no fights, try allocating the amount you wanted to spend on the bike on two smaller presents. So, unless you are completely sure that the siblings are ready to share an item, try to play it safe by getting each of them something.

Sugar

Again, a convenient gift you cannot go wrong with. Kids love chocolates, candy and everything sweet so giving siblings a goody basket of their own is sure to bring a huge smile on their face. Sugary treats though, have their own downfall, as they must be parent approved. So, if you want to make sure your gift is welcomed by the mom and dad as much as their children, give the package to the parents, before you let the little ones dig in and be all sugared up. In general though, candy and sweet treats are always a great gift. You can use the same type, or diversify a little and create a special candy gift for each child. It is pretty much left to your imagination.

Same Gifts

If you decided to play safe and get the children the same gift, here are some combinations that are proven to work, and also give the message of thoughtfulness. Apparel is among the most popular gift. Same t-shirts or same sports hats, are the ones we encounter the most and the gifts parents appreciate as well, since kids outgrow their clothes faster than the parents’ wallets. If you want to add an extra kick, get printed t-shirts that say big brother, little sister, or any other combination. You get the picture. Another great present are stuffed animals. Get all the children the same teddy bear, plush dog or maybe an adorable plush cat. If you know they won’t mind some differentiation, get a teddy bear with a red bow and one with a white bow; maybe a black dog or a cream dog. No matter what though, stuffed animals will be a great present, one of those things you can’t go wrong with.

And there you have it! The 4 S’s teaching you what to keep in mind and how to choose gifts for new siblings. No more worries, just lots of happy shopping.