Everyone has their own personal philosophy about holiday gift giving. I want something for my child that is going to last for a long time and promote a variety of skills that he or she will use for a long time beyond that.
1) With a young precocious reader unfortunately books do not last very long unless they get read over and over again. Building a library of the classics is a good way to do that, for those sick days when you can't get to the public or school library. If your child doesn't have a dictionary, that also might be helpful. We go through spurts of using it and not using it. Starting a series may also work well. As a child, I remember having to wait for the next book or books every birthday and Christmas, which was lots of fun.
2) Electronics can be fun and certainly get played with over and over again. However, I've found that most games and devices get outgrown awfully quickly for the price we pay. Unless you're talking about the adult versions of things like an iPad, laptop, or tablet computer. (Unfortunately, in our house, the youngest child is still putting stuff in his mouth and bashing on things like he's going to be a professional percussionist, so no way are we going to give DD anything electronic.)
3) Memberships to museums, zoos, aquariums, and the like are wonderful, though expensive. Sometimes you can even get admission to other member institutions through the ASTC passport program, or reciprocal memberships (for zoos and aquariums). Usually these pay for themselves with young kids who can't really spend a whole day seeing an entire museum, since you usually have to return more than once before you see the whole place once.
4) Specialty learning toys are usually outgrown way too quickly, especially if they have an upper age limit (usually means the toy promotes a specific skill that once learned, renders the toy not very fun). I'll make an exception for the Tag Reader since there are other things it can be used for besides reading.
5) Building toys are well worth the expense. Legos, Lincoln Logs, erector sets, and the like grow with the child in some cases. Organizing systems can be pricey. We have a small sheet and some tupperware for our set.
6) Creative supplies rock. We never grown tired of stickers, paint, crayons, origami paper, and markers around here. Buttons, pompoms, shaped pasta, and playdoh are also nice so long as you don't have little ones who put stuff in their mouths.
7) Imagination type toys either get played with a lot or not at all, so choose wisely and consult your child first. Dollhouse, toy castle, toy kitchen (well, we just have a pot, spoon, and old margarine tubs but it works just the same), cardboard boxes (ok, not for gift, but there are lot of plans for toy cars and kitchen sets if you are tight on money this year!), tool belt, doctor kit, flashlight, and garden tools are just some possibilities.
8) Other part of the brain toys. Swimming pool, water table, wheels (trike or bike), large and small balls for catching and throwing.
9) Lessons. Swim and gymnastics are great for any age. Organized sports and music maybe best for older kids, 5 and above.
10) Board and card games are sometimes fun and sometimes not fun. We stick with the classics. Even if your kid outgrows Chutes and Ladders within 6 months (like mine did!), it would be weird growing up never having played it. Its good for social skills anyway, right?
Be sure to add quality time with you to any of the gifts you give!
So, what are we getting DD? Money's tight this year, so she's getting a cheap Walmart bicycle and some paper dolls. DS, who can't read, is getting a Pooh pillow (free from a points program) and playdoh (he loves the stuff).
No comments:
Post a Comment