Christmas Gift Ideas: Children and Teenagers

The following information is provided to help you select Christmas gifts for children and teenagers.

Babies

Babies are attracted to brightly colored toys, toys with sound, and toys with moving parts. The toys should not have sharp edges. They should not have pieces that are small enough to be swallowed and should be nontoxic. Toys for babies should be lightweight and should have different textures such as stuffed dolls or animals. Be sure the seams will not rip easily. Babies tend to put items in their mouth.

If your baby has started to sit up, you may want to give them blocks in different colors. Babies love the bright colors and the blocks are too large to swallow. Make sure the paint on the blocks is nontoxic.

Toddlers

Toddlers are starting to walk and they have a lot of energy and at this age, one to three years, they enjoy toys that allow them to be active such as a tricycle, suitable for their age and size, or a wagon. Toddlers also start to imitate what they see. They will probably start to imitate the things you do around the house. Toys such as dolls, play kitchens, playhouses, and simple music instruments are good gifts.

Pre-schoolers

Imagination, discovery, and creativity start around the ages of three to five. Children like to play make-believe and make up their own stories. Gifts for children of this age include costumes, puppet theaters, dolls, doll houses, farms, forts, gas stations, trains, and other toys that will stimulate their imagination and visualization. Board games that allow them to develop their memory skills are good gifts. Also, gifts for drawing such as sketch books, paints, coloring books, and crayons help to stimulate the imagination and allow them to create what they see in their mind's eye.

School Age

When your child starts school, educational toys which include board games and electronic games will help them develop specific skills such as math and reading. Children at this age are still interested in items that will enhance their imagination. So gifts of paints, crayons, sketchbooks, and coloring books are still good gifts. At this age, they also like physical activities. Gifts such as a bicycle, skates, scooter, and other sports equipment will make good gifts. Video games that challenge them will also be of interest.

Pre-teen

From the ages of nine to twelve, children start to develop specific hobbies. Craft kits, construction sets, chemistry, and science kits are good gifts. They also start to take interest in team sports. Artistic activities continue so gifts that will enhance their creativity are good gifts for this age.

Teenagers

Teenagers are interested in video and computer-based games that are more entertainment than educational. They are interested in games that have several levels and more sophistcated challenges than those they received prior to the teen years. They are also interested in board games that have more of an adult appeal. Teens often start to develop hobbies that continue through their adult lives such as collecting a specific type of doll, model cars, or minature trains. Teen girls are also interested in clothes and make-up.

Whatever gift you give will be from your heart and will be greatly appreciated by the child for whom it is intended.