Gift Ideas For Kids Of All Ages
Many parents know the last-minute rush of shopping for a child's birthday party. The editors at Real Simple magazine suggest setting up a gift closet, stocked with age-appropriate gifts for all ages.
It's the second installment in our week-long series of Simple Solutions, from the magazine's special family issue. Kris Connell joined The Early Show with tips on how to stock up on great gifts for every kid on your list.
Newborn to 1 year:
During the first three months of life, a baby will enjoy colorful toys and pictures, as well as listening to soothing music. Connell says to look for activity quilts, stuffed animals without button noses or eyes, bath toys, soft dolls without small parts, baby swings, and cloth books.
Some specific suggestions:
Bath soaks: erbaviva, $30. For those early baths, these baby washbags are filled with organic oatmeal, milk powers, and mandarin. They're perfect for sensitive newborn skin. www.erbaviva.com
Sound cube from Latitude Enfant, $20. This pillowy cube holds six popout shapes filled with things that make noises like squeaking and crinkling. www.momastore.org
Flash cards from Wee Gallery, $14. Educational toys like these graphic cards often captivate babies. www.sparkability.com
"Olivia" by Ian Falconer, $8. For chubby little hands, try the board book version of the popular children's story. www.amazon.com
Ages 1 to 3:
By age 1, a toddler will engage in more active play that includes running, jumping, climbing and exploring. Toys that can be used in these activities will be preferred, as well as toys for building basic structures.
Some specific suggestions:
Pull toy from Vilac, $25. This toy is beautiful in its simplicity: no big sounds or lights, it is a wooden toy that kids will love to roll around. ABC Carpet and Home, 212-473-3000.
PJ's from Kiwi Industries, $54. These cotton pajamas are cute and a welcome relief from the market-driven Dora and SpongeBob PJ's. www.entertainingelephants.com
"How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?" by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $16. This is a beautiful book with great illustrations, a tale of dinosaurs that mope and sulk their way through their bedtime rituals.
Ages 3 to 5:
From three to five years of age, a child will begin to enjoy more imaginative and creative play. Building recognizable structures and using smaller and more complex pieces will be preferred. Group play will become more important, too. As interactive and communication skills develop, children begin to show more interest in toys that can be shared with friends.
Some specific suggestions:
Mats from Emily Green, $25 for two. These mats are great for meals or art projects — flip them over and they also become dry-erase boards. www.emily-green.com
Cape from Arington, $26. This dress-up staple in silvery cotton will delight all future superheroes. www.sparkability.com
Maze game, educo $20. The Might Motors Magnetic Maze will keep players tilting and rolling for hours. And for adults: You can't lose the parts! www.dotstoys.com
"Leonardo the Terrible Monster" by Mo Willems, $17. This is a great book about a monster who keeps trying but is incapable of being scary. www.booksofwonder.com
Ages 5 to 7:
During the early elementary school days, children are developing stronger muscles with improved coordination and dexterity. Social interaction becomes more complex and children develop some degree of competitiveness. Look for activities involving sports, music, art and outside play. Home activities such as reading, writing, and collecting are also of interest and school-aged children can safely enjoy arts and crafts at home. Watercolors are safe to use, as are blunt scissors and non-toxic white glue or paste.
Some specific suggestions:
View Master from Fisher-Price, $6. A few clicks on this retro slide show — with a great retro price tag — will keep children entertained. The disks are sold separately, $5.50 for three. www.zippergifts.com
Nesting dolls by giggle, $36. This is a fun version of the classic Russian dolls. Using 15 nontoxic crayons, young artists can have fun recreating their families on the blank birch forms. www.egiggle.com
Strobe light from Discovery Channel store, $25. By age six, your kids might not be enthralled by dad's ability to turn his hand into a wolf shadow. This shadow magic strobe light lets them project their profiles onto a phosphorescent screen and draw grisly details with a light pen. www.discoverystore.com
"Toot and Puddle: A Present for Toot" by Hollie Hobbie, $16. Beautiful watercolor drawings with a wonderful story. www.booksofwonder.com
Ages 8 to 10:
Children in this age group want more complex things to play with ... as their own social interactions become more complex. Good items for this age group include more complex puzzles and more difficult games, including table and card games. Consider chapter books, favorite stories, children's recipe books, and diaries for older children.
Some specific suggestions:
Magic kit from Discovery Channel store, $25. This kit includes an instructional DVD and great fun tricks to wow their friends. www.discoverystore.com
"The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy-Tale Detectives" by Michael Buckley, $15. This mystery-meets-fairytale is great for children in this age group. www.booksofwonder.com
Cards from Eames Office, $20. These cards let kids play builder instead of go fish. Each colorful card has interlocking slots around the perimeter. www.modernseed.com
Ages 11 to 14:
Kids in this age group define themselves in terms of appearance, possessions and activities, so it's a good time to encourage individuality.
Some specific suggestions:
Sleeping bag from L.L. Bean, $45. Kids this age may be over camping in the living room, but this sleeping bag is perfect for sleepovers. It's cozy and isn't decorated with cartoon characters. www.llbean.com
Camera from Lomo, $55. Tweens might tear themselves away from their computers with this fun camera. Its eight lenses let kids take a series of shots — a horse running, their best friend laughing — and then turn them into one artsy checkerboard photo.
iPod case from Fred Flare, $50. It has a vintage look and feel, as well as storage space for the things a tween must carry around. www.fredflare.com