• Go with a personalized gift for the child for whom you are shopping.a gift image by Sandi Chetwynd from Fotolia.com
  
  Kids like seeing their names on items, so choose a personalized gift for the birthday boy or girl you are shopping for. Almost anything can be monogrammed or personalized these days, so consider having the child's name or initials painted or embroidered on the item. Choose anything from toys to clothing.
  
  

Book Bag

• Choose a book bag for a child, especially if the child is just about to start nursery school or kindergarten. This gift is also perfect for an older child as well. Choose a book bag in the child's favorite color. Then, have the gift monogrammed with either her first name or her initials. Many companies that sell book bags also offer monogramming services. You can also consider having another element embroidered onto the bag. For example, for a boy who loves sports, have a basketball monogrammed on it. If a little girl loves ballet, choose a pair of ballet shoes.
  
  

Clothing

• Choose an article of clothing and have it personalized for the child. For example, if you are shopping for a young girl, select a dress or a romper and have her name or initials monogrammed on it. Alternatively, have something that she loves embroidered on the dress, such as teddy bears or princesses. You can also go with a simple T-shirt with the child's name or first initial monogrammed on it.
  
  

Furniture

• Choose a piece of furniture for the child's room. This is something that you can personalize yourself, or you can ask for it to be personalized when you order it. For example, purchase a child-size rocking chair and have it painted in a fun color that coordinates with the child's room. Then, have his name painted on the top rung of the chair. Another smart idea for a child's room is a trunk or chest. This is a project you can easily do yourself. Purchase a trunk from an unfinished furniture store. Paint the chest in a color that goes with her room. Then, paint her name onto the chest.
  
  

Sign

• Choose a sign for the child's room. Many stores or websites that specialize in children's decor offer signs such as this for children. Alternatively, buy a blank sign from your local craft store. Then paint it and paint the child's name onto it. If you aren't comfortable painting the name by hand yourself, purchase a stencil to help you out.