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By Lori RadunGood Gift or Good Grief?Worried about the right gift for your child? Want true value for your dollar? Are you besieged by gift ideas? The holidays can be a time of angst. But with these suggestions it can be a time of confident composure. Basically, the “right” gift for any youngster begins with meeting three standards: safety, multiple use, and age-suitability. Safety is always a first consideration. Look for well-made, durable toys, games or books. Follow the package safety guidelines and read consumer alerts as your guideline. Unfortunately, accidents can happen even with “safe” toys but do your best to eliminate some possibilities. Think big especially when purchasing for a tot under three. Toys and their parts should be larger than the child’s mouth which may eliminate the possibility of being swallowed. Second, make sure your gift involves many of your child’s senses. Does your gift invite his physical involvement; stimulating his eyes, ears, or body; and does it trigger imagination? If you answer “yes” then your gift has multiple play value giving you a good return on your investment. Be original in your selection. Avoid buying the popular electronic gadgets that require no imagination. Third, give gifts that are just right for your child’s age – nothing overly simple or too complicated. A gift that is effortless today becomes boring and ignored tomorrow. On the other hand, one that’s too hard will most likely be put away and forgotten. Then you’ve wasted your money. It’s helpful to follow manufacturer’s age recommendation because these usually strike that right balance of stimulation. Also, observe the type of activities or toys that attract your youngster so you have a strong indication of what he’ll play with. Gift ideas that meet the 3 standards and will bring joy to the tots in your life:Newborn: The best “gift” for a newborn, whose only concern is being out of discomfort, is Attention. Bouncy seat or Infant car seat
Savings Bonds or mutual funds will be appreciated by him and his
parents when he’s ready for college. 2 – 6 months: Hand-held toys Mobile or chimes Unbreakable mirror squeaky rubber toys Soft books with high-contrast patterns Balls Blocks
Blankets with textures and brightly colored surfaces 7 – 12 months: Balls of assorted sizes Soft blocks Bath toys Cardboard books with large pictures Teething toys
Soft stuffed animals or dolls 1 – 2 years: Cardboard books with simple pictures Feeding supplies; plates, cups, bowls, spoons, forks Push/pull toys Shape sorter Child-sized furniture Pounding and banging toys Stacking/nesting cups Grocery cart with plastic foods Large 3-piece puzzles
Climbing gym 2 years: Paper-paged books Simple musical instruments Fat crayons/markers Construction toys Dolls Kid-size kitchen pots, pans and dishes Toy telephone Farm animal set Climbing toys Tricycle and helmet Colorful 5-piece puzzles
Sidewalk chalk 3 years: Costumes, dress-up clothing Flashlight Dolls, teddy bears Toy telephone, lawn mower, vacuum Riding toys Slides, swings, balancing beams Stickers Wagon Playdough Trampoline Puzzles Shape/color educational materials Board/card games
Scissors and non-toxic art supplies 4 years: Pet Pretend toys, play money, telephone Jungle gym Stringing beads Lacing cards Paper-paged books Tape recorder, audiotapes, sing-a-long tapes and videos Musical instruments Dolls Clay Bicycle and helmet Roller skates
Board/card games 5 years: Sports equipment, jump ropes Craft kids Construction toys Books Modeling clay Bicycle Board/card/video games Camera Encyclopedia set Stamp kit Child-sized sleeping bag Coloring books, crayons, markers Walkie-talkie
Stationary 6 – 9 Year Olds: Card/board games Fashion and career dolls for girls Action figures for boys Craft kits/model toys A larger bicycle Roller skates/roller blades
Sports equipment and protective gear, 9 – 12 Year-Olds: Chemistry sets Model kits Advanced construction sets Video/electronic games, especially those requiring strategy decisions Books/tapes Crafts
Musical instruments/keyboard 13 – 16 Year-Olds: Electronic games/computer-based systems Jewelry Adult board/card games Arts/crafts Collection items: dolls, model toys, stuffed animals are common.
Books/music CDs/audiotapes One unique gift sure to please most kids is – experience. Enroll your child in a class at the local recreation center so he learns a new skill. Give coupons to take your child on a special weekend getaway or pay his way to church camp. Experiences give rich and lasting memories – and there’s no price tag on those. About The Author ...Lori Radun, CEC -- certified life coach for moms. To receive her FREE newsletter and the special report -- 155 Things Moms Can Do to Raise Great Children, go to http://www.true2youlifecoaching.com
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