NEW YORK — Still looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift this year? A new study finds it might be a good idea to have the kids take a break from all the macaroni art and finger paintings this year. The average mom will receive 45 pieces of homemade “artwork” as gifts from her kids throughout the course of her life as a mom.
With collections of that size, many mothers could fill a museum with their “made-for-mom” masterpieces. A new poll of 2,000 moms who have received homemade gifts from their child finds the average respondent has been gifted six drawings, four finger paintings, and four watercolor paintings crafted by their kids for Mother’s Day and other holidays.
Picture perfect Mother’s Day
Not surprisingly, 88 percent of moms say they love being able to have a record of their child’s artistic ability at various ages. Yet over four in 10 moms (41%) agree that their child is “no Picasso,” and nearly one in four (24%) add they wouldn’t mind receiving some more “professional” artwork on the day that celebrates them.
When it comes to showing off their family at home, over three-quarters (76%) have framed a child’s artwork. However, 67 percent say they wish they had more family photos to adorn their walls.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Canvaspop, the survey also looked at moms’ family photo struggles throughout the years. Respondents revealed their so-called “family photos” are often incomplete, with the average mom estimating she’s featured in less than half (45%) of the photos with her immediate family. That likely has something to do with the fact that 62 percent of moms agree they are “often” the one taking the family photos.
“Moms are amazing about making sure that their family’s biggest moments are captured,” says Brittany Norris, Brand Marketing Manager for Canvaspop in a statement. “That’s why it’s important to take the time to go through your favorite photos and print the ones that say thank you for always being there.”
“Showcasing all of the hard work the mom in your life does with a gift that features a cherished family photo a great way to make her feel special this Mother’s Day — and it ensures that the gift will be both unique and memorable, a special, personalized gift she’ll always remember.”
Best gifts for mom
Nearly seven in 10 respondents said they would enjoy a personalized Mother’s Day gift this year. So it’s not entirely surprising that the average mom has held onto a gift made by her child for an average of 16 years. Moreover, 15 percent of the poll have even held onto one of their kid’s creations for longer than 30 years.
The survey also examined other Mother’s Day gifting gaffes moms have faced and discovered some humorous anecdotes. Forty-two percent of respondents reported having only pretended to like a gift from their child at least once in their lives. Over a third (36%) said they’ve had to stifle laughter upon receiving a homemade gift that didn’t quite look as the young artist intended it to.
“A family picture where everyone was a hotdog,” “a painting of a cow with his snout where his eyebrows should be,” and “a picture of me that looked like an elephant,” all make the cut of gifts that didn’t quite go as planned.
“All Mom really wants is a gift that is thoughtful and heartfelt,” Norris adds. “A picture is worth a thousand words, so gifting mom a high-quality print or canvas of a family photo is a great way to say ‘I love you’ this Mother’s Day.’ It doesn’t take an expensive gift to show her how much you care, a simple photo can say it all. It’s the grown-up equivalent of the totally unique homemade gifts you made for your mom as a child that she held onto all those years – and something she’ll likely cherish for even longer.”