Kids gift ideas and how to decide

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Kids gift ideas and
How to Decide

Gift

"I never really thought about how a kids gift helps a child to develop
- that is until I read your guide.
Thanks."

Kids gifts and child development - we don't always put the two together as we get sucked into the world of peer pressure and advertising.

Most kids know exactly what they want.

They've seen the adverts on the TV, their friends have one, it's the latest craze and it's 'really, really' what they want and who says that money doesn't grow on trees?!

Basics to think about:

Cost :
Can you afford it and is it good value for money? Why not buy secondhand. Look on the right for the latest eBay acutions.

How will your child benefit from it? :
I've lost count of the number of toys and gimmicks that I've been persuaded to buy my kids over the years. Many haven't seen the light of day after the first week or even days.

.....I even studied child development!

Sometimes children need a little guidance from adults but don't forget, just because you liked something, as a child doesn't mean your child will too. We all have different characters and tastes, even as a new-born, so what kids gift suits one child, may not suit another.

Below I have outlined basic child development for different age groups with some suggestions of kids gift ideas. But bear in mind every child is different and YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD BEST.

If you are buying for your own child or someone else's this guide will be extremely useful to you.

0-6 months
7-12 months
toddlers
preschoolers
School Age (6,7, 8 year olds)
Older School age (9,10,11,12 year olds)

0-6 months Toys for this age are primarily for looking, listening, sucking or fingering. They like bright primary colours, or high contrast colours such as black and white. Simple designs and human face features are particularly fascinating to them.
Kids Gift Ideas: Mobiles, suspended wind up action toys, texture balls, soft blocks, simple rattles, keys on rings and cloth toys.

7-12 months Infants this age like to grasp and explore toys and put them in their mouths. They enjoy opening and closing toys and ones that make a noise in response to an action.
Kids Gift Ideas: Soft blocks, soft-bodied dolls/animals, rattles, simple nesting cups, activity blocks and unbreakable mirror toys.

toddlers (1 – 2 Years) Toddlers are more into exploring and imitating an adult's actions such as washing up and sweeping the floor. They love placing small objects in and out of containers and pulling/pushing small-wheeled toys around. Picture books are always a favourite and they are beginning to enjoy scribbling. They are starting to engage in pretend play but are not yet ready to share toys with others.

Kids Gift Ideas: Soft-bodied dolls toy telephone and household items, tactile books, large crayons, floating toys, hammering toys, stacking toys.

Preschoolers This is a wonderful age group, full of inquisitiveness about the world about them and how things work. It's also a great age for pretend play, dressing up, building and climbing. This is also an age when children don't quite appreciate danger so they do need careful supervision in certain activities.

Kids Gift Ideas: Puppets, realistic dolls and stuffed toys with accessories, number/colour sorting activities, simple jigsaws (10-25 pieces), books with colourful but more complex illustrations, play dough and painting, scene building sets with small characters, dressing up costumes, simple card games, dominoes, ride on tricycle, slides and swings, lightweight bat and ball. You can see that the list could be endless….

High quality personalized children's books

School Age (6,7, 8 year olds) A child's preferences and character are beginning to really show and they are becoming more specific in their activities and more patient in order to see an end result. They have a great interest in nature, science and experiments and hobbies/collections are developing. Anything creative which produces a finished product (art, models, sewing, carpentry) are popular and there is a continued interest in group activities and dramatic play (cops and robbers, space, wicked step mother etc).

Kids Gift Ideas: Kits (science, crafts, models, magic tricks), jigsaws (50-100 pieces), action figures with projectile weapons, simple strategy and rule games, realistic accessories that work for role play, dolls house with accessories, football, skates, 2 wheeled bike, complex outdoor climbing frames, books about people, animals, nature or children's classics, collectable and unusual stuffed toys and puppets, construction sets.

NEW! Put your message on a T-shirt (UK site)
For the scientist in the family (US site)

Kid Carpet (US site) is a favourite site of mine and I wish I could find a similar one in the UK. They have animals, educational themes, game boards and more. Plus they are stain resisant and antibacterial - perfect for busy parents.

Older School age (9,10,11,12 year olds) I find that as my kids get older, it becomes slightly harder to think of a kids gift that really suits them unless they have a real hobby as Sam my 13 year-old does – computer games and football! Generally they enjoy group, sporting and activity games, gadgets and inventions and have a growing interest in the larger world. Talents in drama, music and crafting might emerge plus serious hobbies and collecting.
Kids Gift Ideas: Bicycles and machines with speed, complex climbing structures, trampolines, roller and ice skates, construction sets with complex parts, board games that involve strategy and concentration, jigsaws (100-500 pieces), design and science kits. Personal or decorative accessories, binoculars and electronic gadgets such as calculators, stop watches, cloths with 'trendy' logos, books (children are very specific at this age on the type of book that they prefer).