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In order to truly make a present ergonomic for the recipient we have to understand the needs of that recipient. In technical speak the recipient might be referred to as the audience, the target demographic or the end user.
Whatever name you give them, for the gift wrapping task the end user is the un-wrapper of the gift.
There are some general groups, or demographics, that you should be aware of and some ergonomic approaches to wrapping presents for them.
Young Children
When I say young, I mean young, one to four years old. Children of this age don't always understand exactly what they are doing or why they are doing it. They also have a low degree of coordination. They are weak and lack dexterity.
Tips for wrapping presents for Young Children:
- Use less tape. Use a minimal amount of tape so that the child can remove the paper without needing assistance.
- Use an easy open box. Don't wrap things in typical two piece garment box (the one where the top and bottom are identical). Use one with a folding top so they can easily get to the good stuff.
- Use a gift bag. A couple of quick pulls on tissue paper and the goodies are revealed.
Kids love to get presents and they really do not like to wait to open them. So make it easier on there impatience.
Most kids have sufficient strength and coordination to handle anything you throw at them. You just might frustrate them during the un-wrapping process so let us make it as quick and painless as possible.
Tips for wrapping presents for Children:
- Make seams easier to grab. Keep the paper a little loose at the folds so fingers can slide underneath and give it a good rip. A tight crease is still important as it gives a good edge, but a little slack in the paper will form a nice hand hold.
- Use less ribbon. Let's face it, kids don't often care about ribbons and bows. It is just more stuff for them to get through. Put a peel and stick premade bow on top and be done with it.
- Do not use cloth ribbon. If you do use ribbon, do not use cloth ribbon. It is almost impossible to tear and that is all a kid is going to do. Use the cheap plastic stuff.
- Do not tie ribbons. Again kids will rip, rend, tear and destroy wrapping. But they will not untie it. Tape your ribbon on the bottom of the package so it looks good, but can be quickly disposed of with a tug.
Your aging loved one may need some special considerations. Understanding the ergonomic needs of the aging is a good start. As you age you loose strength and touch so we need to address that.
Tips for wrapping presents for the Elderly:
- Use less tape. Use a minimal amount of tape so that your aging loved one can remove the paper without needing assistance.
- Do not tie ribbons. As you loose you sense of touch untying things becomes more difficult. Tape your ribbon on the bottom of the package so it looks good, but can be quickly disposed of with a tug.
- Use textured paper. Use paper that has a grip to it so that it is easier to handle. Avoid slick paper and foil or plastic wrapping medium.
The physically disabled have enough to deal with without dealing with frustration from unwrapping a present. Think about their disability and wrap for their strengths.
Tips for wrapping presents for the disabled:
- For the Blind - use lots of textures. Give them a feast for the hands. Add bells and use crinkly paper to give their ears a treat. You can tie ribbons, just make sure they are easy to undo and won't knot.
- Amputees - if the recipient wears a prosthetic make sure you wrap for the capabilities of that prosthetic. If the recipient does not wear a prosthetic wrap your present for one handed un-wrapping. Use the previous tips for enhancing grip on the package and making the seams easy to get to. Also consider gift bags and boxes.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - if you are wrapping for someone with OCD then work within their confines. If they need a geometric pattern then use a paper with a grid and make sure it is centered on the box. Keep things in simple, symmetrical boxes. If they are concerned about tape size try the Scotch Pop-up GiftWrap Tape Dispenser for its pre-cut tape pieces.
- Other disabilities will have there own work-around. If you are new to wrapping for the disabled ask friends and family of the disabled person how they handle the task.
If you know some peculiar quirks about someone then design your wrapping job around that. I have a friend who can not tear wrapping paper. She carefully removes it and folds it for later use. She never uses it, but it makes her feel better not to destroy the pretty paper. She also detests tape on boxes. She doesn’t like pulling it off (it might rip the box) so she has to slice it apart.
Ergonomically speaking I should use as little tape as possible a keep the paper as crisp and clean as I can. I usually go the opposite way and make sure she has to rip the paper. It may not be ergonomic but it does increase my enjoyment of it.
Ergonomics is a Present Unto Itself
If you do your job right no one will know. They will only realize something is difficult, not that something is easy. But you will have disarmed a possible stressful situation, made everyone feel accomplished and warm, and enhanced the celebration right under their noses. And that has to be good for something.
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