- Gift Ideas for Baby Showers
- Gift Ideas for Babies Under One
- Gift Ideas for Children Age 1
- Gift Ideas for Children Ages 2 & 3
- Gift Ideas for Children Ages 4 & 5
Here are some toy suggestions to help foster children's development, as suggested by Susie Newman, Director-Teacher of the Ukiah Co-op Nursery School, Parents Magazine, and the Toy Manufacturers of America.
Newman encourages parents to skip the "flashy, gimmicky toys that last for a few minutes," either because they break down or because children tend to lose interest in them. Her favorite places to find gifts for young children include the catalog companies Hearth Song www.hearthsong.com and Back to Basics www.backtobasicstoys. Newman adds that the best gifts can be used in a multitude of ways and don't have to be expensive. "Parents can put together a box of great gifts for less than $10," she said.
Gift Ideas for Baby Showers:
- Baby Sling Carrier
- Car Seats
- Snuggle Nests
www.snugglenest.com - Baby Your Breast Hot/Cold Packs
www.yourbreastfriends.com - Teething Ring
- Burp cloths/Cloth diapers
- Diaper bag
- Grocery-cart cover
- Play center
- Pumping Kit
- Stroller/Jogging Stroller
- Create a “New Mother Comfort Kit” with bath oils, salts, aromatherapy candles, soothing soaps and lotions
- Coupons to bring dinner over during the first two months after birth.
Gift ideas for children up to the age of 1:
For the first three months, your baby isn't able to do much more than observe their surroundings. Because their vision is still blurry, they see bright boldly patterned items best. As your baby grows, they will enjoy toys that engage their other senses as well. That's why so many toys are designed to promote interaction in a variety of ways: They may make a squeaking or crinkling noise, have a wooden or nubby texture, or are soft and cuddly.
- Brightly colored, multi-patterned crib mobiles (Note: remove from crib once your baby can sit up.)
- Rattles
- Unbreakable mirrors
- Soft, washable, colorful stuffed animals or dolls with a smiling face
- Small stuffed fabric balls with different patters and colors
Gift ideas for 1 year olds:
At this age, your baby will be fascinated by cause and effect and will enjoy any toy that responds to his actions and makes use of newly acquired motor skills. For instance, he'll love toys that allow him to hit a ball with a hammer as well as toys with buttons that cause music to play or characters to pop up. He's too young to actually learn his ABCs, but he'll still enjoy interacting with these toys and being exposed to language.
- Stacking rings
- Nesting cups or boxes
- Push- or pull-toys that make noise or have pieces that pop up or move
- Hammering sets that let kids hammer pegs or balls through holes
- Simple, sturdy musical instruments like tambourines, drums, or maracas
- Shape sorters
- Large play vehicles, such as a school bus or a fire engine
- Puzzles with four or five large pieces
- Rubber ducks or toy boats for bath time
- Classical or folk music
Gift Ideas for 2 and 3 year olds:
Your child's play is now more purposeful, and he/she has the fine motor skills needed to complete a puzzle or build with blocks. Your child will start to enjoy pretend play that imitates the actions of people around them. Both boys and girls are very active at this age and will still enjoy their push-and pull-toys.
- Picture books with large pictures and simple text
- Art supplies: watercolor markers w/ large sheets of paper, perhaps on an easel; blunt-nose scissors; white glue; tempora paints (washable); dough; big beads and string
- Dolls with simple clothing and blankets, stuffed animals, and hand puppets
- Props for make-believe play, such as a toy telephone, shopping cart, a tea-party set, a toy kitchen, or a doll stroller
- Water and sand toys
- Ride-on toys and tricycles
- Wagon or a wheelbarrow
- Simple musical instruments (bells, drums)
- Puzzles with 4-20 large pieces
- Construction sets with large pieces such as Legos, Lincoln Logs, or wooden blocks
Gift Ideas for 4 and 5 year olds:
Pre-schoolers are masters of make-believe. They love to create imaginary situations. Costumes and equipment that help them in their pretend worlds are important at this stage. Gross motor skills can be developed with gym equipment, wheeled vehicles, and a two-wheeled bicycle with training wheels and a helmet. Visualization and memory skills can be sharpened by play that requires use of imagination or mental computation. Simple board games and word/matching games are useful in developing these skills.
- Simple science books, especially about nature and animals
- Art supplies and craft kits: thick crayons, tape dispenser, chalk, and collage materials (broken jewelry, buttons, pasta-anything that can be glued)
- Magnifying glass for nature walks and elsewhere
- Child-sized record or tape player
- Blocks of different shapes, especially wooden pattern blocks
- Balancing beam
- Kids sized wheelbarrow for transporting objects
- Dancing Music
- Construction sets with large pieces, such as Legos or Lincoln Logs
- Puzzles of greater complexity
- Dress-up Clothes
- Simple card games and board games that don't require reading, such as Hungry Hungry Hippos, Yahtzee Jr., or Chutes and Ladders
- Small soccer balls and basketballs
- Plastic skates
- Bowling pins/ring toss
- A tree house
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