This is the type of reaction you love to see from your present.

Finding perfect Christmas presents can bring on some of the greatest stress of the holiday season.

It can get overwhelming. Every time you see an ornament or hear a Christmas song, you are thinking about the gifts you want to buy the people who are most special to you. When you see stockings or candy canes, you are wondering what someone you love would love to have for Christmas.

Let me start by saying that finding great Christmas gifts is more an art than a science. In other words, it’s not easy to know that you’ve found the perfect present until the recipient unwraps it and you see the look on their face.

I have found, however, that there are ways to increase the likelihood that you find presents that will bring joy and happiness to those who receive them. They are not foolproof, but one of these methods will probably get you the information you need to get great Chirstmas presents.

First, ask the person what he or she thinks another person would like as a gift. It is even better if the other person is similar to the person who will be getting your present.

You might say something like, “I’ve got to find a present for John, but I’m kind of stumped. What do you think he would like?”

Or you could say something like, “I have not bought a Christmas gift for Jane yet. What are you going to get her?”

Of course, you might want to be a little more subtle if you think it is necessary, but you get the idea.

This strategy often works because the person subconsciously thinks of something that she or he would like to have even though their mind is on someone else.

Second, take the person shopping with you and pay attention to what he or she is paying attention to.

Tell the person that you need to go buy Christmas presents for some of your friends or relatives. This is true, of course, so you’ll get some of your other shopping done at the same time.

While the two of you are in various stores you will likely notice the other person looking at various items. When that happens, you can strike up a conversation that will probably let you know if the person likes a particular item and why. Even if it does not turn out to be something that you would buy the person, it will certainly get you valuable information to help you find the perfect Christmas present for him or her.

Third, you can ask the other person’s friends or relatives what they think she or he would like to have for Christmas.

This is especially worthwhile if you talk to several people. You can take that information and what you know about the person to pick out a great gift for him or her.

If the other people are having difficulty thinking of what they think the person would enjoy, you might want to ask them about the types of presents the person has received in the past that have excited her or him the most. This will likely get their thinking on the right track.

Of course, if it becomes necessary, you can always just come right out and ask the person what he or she like to have for Christmas. This may not seem like a lot of fun, but if you really want the person to love your present, it might be the best plan.

And if you still want the person to be surprised by your gift, you could ask him or her to give you several options. It might even work out that you get an even better idea for a present from the list of choices she or he gave you.

Finding perfect Christmas presents is not always an easy task, but the effort is always well worth it.