If you are not a parent yourself, you might think that buying the right present for a child is incredibly tough business. You have to worry about whether or not things will fit, whether or not they will like a certain toy, and so on. However, there are a few guidelines you can follow when it comes to picking something out. While you may love the idea of getting something educational, if the child is too young to use it, he or she won’t be able to use the gift for some time. Read ahead for some useful information that will help you get something age appropriate.
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Toys for Babies
Babies have no shortage of gifts. Everyone loves spoiling infants as soon as they are born. They are showered with toys and clothes, even though they can barely see. However, this is exactly when they need the most stimulation for their senses. Soft, colourful toys are what you should be looking for, or things with musical sounds. These will be the most stimulating for the child’s visual, auditory, and tactile senses, and will play a key role in their development. You can also buy personalised gifts for babies, for a more meaningful touch.
Toys for Toddlers
If you are buying something for toddlers, you should go for something that encourages them to be physically active. This is the time that they will be learning to walk and run around. Since this is when their muscles will be developing and growing, you should pick toys that involve movement. Building blocks, baby dolls, and toy cars that can be ridden are great choices for this age group.
Toys for Preschoolers
This is the age of curiosity. Children at this age are very explorative, and usually love gaming machines and role-playing toys. These children aged 5-8 love playing house and playing pretend. This is also a good time to give them books as they will be practising their reading skills at this age.
Toys for Adolescents
From ages 8 to 12, children start developing their own identities. They are learning about their likes and dislikes and may get into video games, musical instruments, and may even start becoming uninterested in toys. Gaming consoles are a good idea for this group, but if you are concerned that it is too expensive, or that other gifts may not be liked, buy gift cards instead. That way you can be sure the child will be able to get what they really like.
Toys for Teenagers
This is a difficult age group to shop for. The usual toys go out in favour of either video games or other activities altogether. There are a lot of rapid changes, even in terms of likes and dislikes, which makes this group the hardest to go gift shopping for. Their interests will most likely revolve around music, movies, and their peers. Gift cards will work for this group too. It is best not to buy games or even books before asking about their tastes first.
If you still have trouble shopping for the right age group, you can always ask the child’s parents for advice.
