So I think finding great gifts for kids in my life is a challenge.
I teach FACS (Home Ec) and we were talking about gifts for children the other day in one of my classes. I thought that I’d mention it here as well.
Gift/Toy
For simplicity I will refer to “toys”, but a gift may not just be a toy in the traditional sense. It may be binoculars or a reference book or an instrument for example. Please keep this in mind as I use the word “toy”.
Play, play, play
Play and free time exploration are the primary ways that a child grows and develops in many areas of their lives (physically, mentally, emotionally, morally). They learn so much while they play and explore at every age, but it doesn’t feel like learning because, well, they are playing!!
Note: I think there is a life lesson for adults in there somewhere.
Finding Great Gifts for Kids
So when choosing gifts for your little learners, what can you be looking for?
Safety
First is safety of course. The toy should be made well so as not to harm the child. This is typically carefully monitored by the manufacturers, but use your discretion as well.
Age level
Age level is the next factor when finding great gifts for kids. Is the gift appropriate for the age of the child? This is directly tied to safety as toys get more complex and with smaller parts if appropriate for older children. But what will interest and challenge an 18 month old child will not work for a 4 year old, and a 12 year old is a whole different ball of wax! You get the picture. Look for the “Appropriate for Age” label or recommendation.
Gender
Many people think of the gender of the child and seek certain toys for boys and certain toys for girls. Many toy companies allow you to search by gender if this is your desire.
Versatile and Stimulating
What I think is a key factor is versatility in how a child may play with the toy. Can they interact with it in ways that will make it interesting and used in multiple ways? A toy that provides a passive, just look at it type of interaction will not keep the child interested and stimulated for long.
Interest and Curiosity
Each child has specific things that grab their attention and interest them. If possible, provide gifts and toys that will encourage their interests. Are they interested in games, sports, science, sewing, music, art, working with their hands, building, or history perhaps? There are many items that could provide hours of curious and involved play. This really gets me excited, thinking of kids developing their interests and abilities.
Other Factors
There are many other factors that you may want to consider. What may encourage active and outdoor play? Does the family have space for this toy (especially if it is a larger toy)? What is your budget? You may think of others factors as well. This is certainly not an exhaustive list.
Make a list of your children and some of your ideas for gifts before you start shopping. Observe your child, watch what intrigues them. Ask the parent for help in this area if you are not the parent.
Now, time to shop.
Shop Local
We have a local toy store that is a wonderful source of interactive and unique toys. I love to shop local if possible so that’s a great place to start. They can be such a great source of ideas and you can actually hold and look at the item to know if it is what you want.
Shop Online
If you like the online options, here is a link that brings you to a hub that lists age and gender to look at options for gifts.
Gift Buying Links...
Click here for the Amazon Gift/Toy Link This is for children and it is organized by age group.
Click here for the Amazon general gift Link if you are looking for gifts for others as well. The same principles apply to adults as well as kids in gift giving!
More of you is always a great gift
It is so much fun to find a great gift for those kids that you love. But remember, there are many other ways to connect with them as well. It is so important to invest in our "grand" children, in our younger ones. They are precious.
Thinking about you this Holiday season.
Enjoy!
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