Buying toys seems like a pretty simple process. And it is true for parents and grandparents, because they already know what kind of toys their child likes and dislikes. But for those of you out there who don’t have kids of your own, and are planning to get toys as gifts, the process may not be so simple. You may be a first-time aunt or uncle, or perhaps one of your good friends just had a baby. Whatever the case may be, the easiest solution for buying gifts for children is and always will be buying them a toy.
A huge tip is to make sure you pick out an age-appropriate toy. As children continue to grow, their minds become more developed and they are able to comprehend more complex toys as they get older. Here is a simple guide by MR.TOY to help you make sure that you are buying a gift that both the child and his or her parents will enjoy.
Young babies (0-6 months): Young babies this age enjoy toys that provide a sense of security, such as stuffed animals, soft dolls, or baby blankets. On top of that, toys such as play mats with hanging objects and bright colours help them to improve eye coordination and strength.
Older babies (6-12 months): Older babies will enjoy teething rings as it helps new teeth erupt from the gums. They also enjoy rattles that reward them with noise for their movements. Babies nearing 10 months can begin to play with blocks to improve control and coordination of their hands and arms.
New walkers (12-18 months): You can buy touch books or books with pictures to help them with language development. It can also be used as a quiet activity before bedtime! New walkers love toys that help them be active and mobile, such as push cars or pull toys. Both types of toys help develop gross motor skills.
Early Toddlers (18-24 months): At this age, toddlers are very and an activity table would ideal for them. Activity tables with lots of buttons, levers, and pulls helps to integrate sensory information and coordination. Musical CDs with simple melodies and lyrics which encourage careful listening and movement are perfect if you want to convert them into music lovers.
Late Toddlers (24-36 months): For late toddlers, they will start to learn through imitation. You can choose toys that help them to pretend to be like the adults (e.g. moms, dads, grandparents) to support this process. Examples can include play kitchens, play workbenches, play medical bags, or play school supplies.
Preschool (3-5 years): Pre-schoolers love to play dress up and pretend being professionals (such as doctors, police, or ballet dancers) or play make-believe characters such as the star of their favourite movie. Additionally, books without pictures can be introduced at this age to help improve imagination and language.
School age (5-8 years): We encourage school age children to play board games to help them learn to follow rules, play fair, be a good sport, and enjoy competition so that they can learn how to share and work together with others. Along this same line, gifting school age children with sports equipment is also a great idea. Books without pictures and art supplies are also great gifts for these active learners.
Hopefully these tips will make the toy-buying process a lot easier for you in the future. Seeing the excited look on a child’s face when you’ve bought him or her the perfect toy is a gift in itself. And the more educational the gift is, the happier the parents will be too.