Are you struggling to find the right present for your little munchkin? Don’t despair, finding the right toy or book for kids can be quite demanding, even for the most experienced parents and gift-givers. There is nothing cuter than seeing the excitement on children’s face while they open their gifts, especially when you’ve picked out something that they absolutely love. Although choosing what to get your little one can be somewhat overwhelming, given that there is a seemingly endless amount of options, there are some tried and true options that are sure to put a smile on your little ones’ faces.
How to Buy Kids Gifts?
In order to get your children’s presents right, it’s important to consider the age and stage they are in. For toddlers, don’t get caught up in gender-specific toys – as long as they are colourful and cheerful – they are fine. Ask yourself if your child will enjoy playing with the toy or if it’s a little complicated for them to comprehend it. Keep in mind that toys allow children to become more social and share with other kids. Wooden blocks, dollhouses, play kitchens and dress-up items are staple kids toys as they allow for creative and imaginative play. So if you’re still not sure what to get your little munchkins, here are some age-specific kids gifts.
Birth to 5 Month-Olds
For kids in this stage, everything is new, so introducing them to soft toys, textures and contrasts will help stimulate their senses. Toys that help improve their hand-eye coordination are essential. Offering them shapes and forms in different sizes will help babies learn to differentiate between round and square, small and large objects. Some great toy options include squeeze toys, large rings, toys with mirrors and plush animals.
6 to 11 Month-Olds
Babies at this age can pick up larger items with their fingers and use both hands at the same time. At this stage, they need to be introduced to constructive play (which entails playing with things that feed their imagination). This means toys that allow them to explore, improve their sensory and cognitive skills as well as develop their language skills. The ideal example is stacking toys, musical toys, wooden puzzles, activity tables, pretend kitchenware and play phones.
1 Year-Olds
In this stage of their life, babies want to investigate everything. Toys with wheels, moving parts, levers, and blocks are ideal for one-year-olds. Toys that need to be put together are great for developing motor skills. Songs also play an important part in the development because they help with memorization and repetition. In this stage, it is all about sensory and imagination, so any toy involving music will stimulate their brains. Mini pianos, shape sorters, sensory ball sets, spinning spiral towels, and wooden bead mazes are all good options for kids this age.
2 Year-Olds
Toys that require physical strength and help children with language and social skills are best for two-year-olds. At this stage, kids have more control over their hands, so they can play with heavier toys that build physical strength. Playing pretend play at this age also allows them to get a better sense of dressing themselves and performing everyday activities. For a 2 years-old child, look for educational toys, construction toys, puzzles, pretend items, art supplies, books with illustrations, dollhouses, play scooters and cars.
3 to 6 Year-Olds
At this age, children have more control over their reflexes and movements, so it’s important to get them toys that involve brain activity and hand and muscle movements. Good toys options for 3 to 6 years-old are jump ropes, hula hoops, toy cars and trucks, tricycles and bicycles, spelling toys, jigsaw puzzles and drawing easels.
7 to 8 Years-Old
Seven and eight-year-olds have an understanding of cause and effect. These kids are also eager to learn, so board games and science toys are perfect for this age range. Activities and toys that involve a lot of concentration are also ideal. Some options to consider include puppets, science kits, board games, outdoor play, painting kits and activity books.
9 Years-Old and Older
In this stage of their lives, kids start becoming more independent and begin understanding that bad behaviour has consequences. Their memory is developing at a fast pace, which means they can concentrate on single activities for prolonged periods of time. Reading plays an important role in kids’ life at this age. It stimulates their imagination, communication skills and vocabulary. Problem-solving toys such as 3D puzzles, history board games, card sets and comic books are ideal at this age and can keep them entertained for hours.
As you can see, no matter what age your children are, it’s always a great idea to get them toys that help improve their sensory and motor skills. It will help them to stay alert and eager to learn new things.
How to Wrap a Gift for KidsFor inexpensive and simple kids gifts wrapping ideas, check the video below.