Little Guides PRESENTS The Gifting Guide How to give a thoughtful gift to a child that their parents will love you for, too! Non-Toys Most kids have too many toys! It sort of just happens. In my case, my mother is to blame by showing up with toys every visit. Instead of adding on the endless toy supply, try a non-toy. What is a gift that is not a toy? Maybe it's a bookcase, or toy storage, or a puppet theater, or anything from the container store. Or something a bit more fun like the dollhouse bookshelf- below. Silent Toys A house full of kids is loud enough! A drum kit might seem like a funny gift, but only until you leave. The parents now have to deal with either the noise of the toy or the cries when they take it away (or they secretly strategize on how to break it.) Loud toys are unnecessary stress. No matter how funny or fun the toy may seem it doesn't outweigh a parent's sanity. While it may seem contradictory, silent toys are more engaging. The silence allows a child to focus and concentrate. Compact Toys I've never met a parent who complained about having too much space and needing more stuff! (maybe newer stuff but never more stuff...) If you're going to give a toy, make sure it doesn't take up an obnoxious amount of square footage (like those HUGE stuffed animals.) Pretend Play A personal favorite that is engaging, promotes creativity, and using imagination! These items also encourage independent and/or play with siblings, which the parents will love! Gifts like a fort frame, costumes, or props. Inclusive and Factual Books You can never go wrong with giving a child a book. Today, there are so many inclusive books that celebrate cultures, race, and gender fluidity. Try to opt for books with real facts, and keep their brain developing! TIP: Sturdy hard back books for little ones. Examples: A step by step drawing book on how to draw animals. Beginner readers for a kindergartener. NEVER a Craft! Crafts become a chore for the parents and everyone gets frustrated! They often have a lot of steps, take a long time, and most are adult driven. They almost always make a BIG mess! Glitter = Torture What you think it's like What it's actually like Secret Chores Maybe it's a toy, maybe it helps mom and dad around the house? Children love to work and help others! Things like; child sized brooms, dustpans, vacuums, dusters, etc. are teaching responsibility, cleanliness, and helping the whole family! Gage Appropriate Value Something that bothers me a lot as a mom, is when someone outshines a gift that I have given my son. Overshadowing a parent's gift, or giving something more extravagant/expensive than the parents would or could do is frustrating. Try to choose a gift that will be inline with something they would normally receive unless it is a special request. Let the parents share the glory- they earned it. From Grandma From Mom and Dad No more than 2 components Toys with a lot of small parts are stressful for everyone involved. The parts get lost, broken, or even worse - swallowed! Children get upset or overwhelmed when there are a million different pieces all over the house and the toy is no longer complete. Pros: Able to use a child's own toys Quality means that it can be passed along or stand up to lots of playtime. Visually pleasing for kids and adults as decor or storage. Remember... This is just a guide of suggestions. With all parenting advice, take it with a grain of salt. If you are unsure, ask! Little Guides Making parenting a little less confusing
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