Gift Ideas For Children

• Big, thick pavement chalk.
• Bath crayons.
• Fat crayons.
• A puzzle (preferably wooden with big knobs).
• A small tent (I found one in an op shop for a couple of dollars one year).
• A ball.
• A small bike that they can use their legs to motor along.
• A mini-trampoline.
• Beach toys – shovel, bucket – you know the things.

• A portable CD or tape player.  The latter can be purchased for under $15.  You may even get a good deal on something like Trade Me.
• A musical instrument – please, please, please don’t buy something of such poor quality that it will sound awful no matter how musically talented they are.  A simple recorder or penny whistle could work.
• A new music tape/CD of their favourite type of music.
• A music book.
• A nice pair of headphones so they can listen to music to their hearts content – at the level they enjoy without disturbing the rest of the family.

• A book about an artist (the ‘Dead Famous’ series are fantastic).
• A new set of paints and brushes.
• A special notebook for their sketches and ideas.
• An art magazine.
• A ‘how to’ book.
• Alternatively, surf the net, get some great ideas about art and compile it all into a book especially for your child.

• A journal to record ideas and questions.
• Special pens to write with.
• A book that deals with searching questions – for the older child, ‘Sophie’s World’ is excellent.

•  If you cannot purchase, try making your own cupboards, stoves etc. using big cardboard boxes.  Turn it upside down, cut a door in it.  Secure a shelf and add lids for knobs at the top.
• Dress up gear – go to your local op-shop and discover what is there!  Scarves, large billowy material, golden shoes and outrageous jewellery.  Sometimes there are wigs and hats, and don’t forget belts.

• Lego – a great toy that takes many hours and a heap of imagination.  Too expensive?  Hop on Trade Me or visit the local op shop.  One year I got a HUGE bag of Lego for my eldest for $7.  We put it in a nice plastic storage box, and he is still playing with it.
• There are some ‘building’ toys available where the child makes a castle or clock.
• Even better, get a child sized builder set (under $20) and provide a bunch of wood (cut offs) and nails.  Hours of fun and creation here.
• Jigsaw puzzles can also be purchased cheaply.
• If it suits, a book about room decorating, and some materials to get them started.

• Books, of course!  Again, before buying new, checkout 2nd hand stores, op shops and Trade Me first.
• A plain journal where they can record the books they have read and their opinions of them.
• Encourage their own writing (the big reader is often the big writer) by either putting together a book with lots of ‘idea sparks’ or give them a journal specifically for their writing.
• A bookshelf.

•  Pretend money and food.
• Magnetic numbers.
• Abacus.
• Wooden blocks, attribute blocks or Cuisenaire rods.
• A calculator.

If you can make sure that your gift reflects your child’s passion, then they are more likely to spend hours playing, doodling and creating this summer rather than shoving it in a corner after a week and nagging you because they are bored.

Allow them to use their imagination and creativity with the gift – if it tells them what to play and how to play – you can be assured that it will not last long.  Unless, perhaps it is a CD rom.

*Register now    RSS Feed
Email a friend