Toys for Christmas
Whether you’re staying at home or
going to the seaside this Christmas, holidays with children (of all ages) can
be a challenge. They get bored, bicker, get up to mischief, and mope. Don’t
imagine the things that you did as a child will make them happy – kids of today
want to do their own thing in their space, time and way!
If you have teenagers, they only want
to go to the mall and watch movies (with their friends), eat, sleep, talk on
the phone, watch TV and play video games. It’s just about impossible to get
them to do ‘Christmassy’ things like decorate the house, visit their
grandparents and get involved with roasting the turkey. Tweens are slightly
more co-operative as long as there is a reward, they can bring their friends
and you don’t get involved. Younger than 10 age-group
enjoy activities like art or acting classes, baking or karate courses, playing
sport, picnics, fishing, camping and trail blazing. Preschoolers are often
catered for at community centres or the local library. Shopping malls sometimes offer
secure entertainment while you shop, and selected nursery schools offer holiday
programmes run by students.
Toys for
every age:
Babies
are happy with wrapping paper and empty boxes!
Toddlers
are at the destructive, messy stage. They’re also developing gross motor skills
like walking, kicking, pushing and catching. Because they can’t sit still or
concentrate for very long they need a variety of colourful, noisy, messy toys
and games. Drums and anything musical with buttons to press, little doors to
open and shapes to fit into are suitable gifts. They enjoy building towers only
to knock them down, popping bubbles and throwing a ball at skittles. They love
playing in the sand and water with cups and spades and messing with finger
paint.
Preschoolers enjoy imitating adults so toys like prams, trolleys, tool kits and tea sets.
They also have vivid imaginations and enjoy dressing up games, concerts and
pantomimes they can participate in. Because they’re becoming constructive and learning fine-motor skills,
preschoolers enjoy creating order out of chaos – like puzzles, Lego, making
things, playing house and colouring in.
In
primary school, children enjoy competitive sports and board games with the
family. They’re also learning to play by the rules and accepting that you can’t
always win. Children love tablets and computer games and by now, should be
old enough to understand that these ‘toys’ will break if they’re dropped. Because
these games tend to be ‘addictive’, parents need to allocate ‘time slots’ and
stick to theses.
It’s
best to give tweens and teens money for Christmas. This gives them the freedom (and responsibility) to budget and to buy what they want.
Tips when
buying toys for Christmas:
It’s
best to buy what your child really wants – and not what you think your child should have. Writing a letter to Father Christmas gives you an idea of what to buy.
Play
should come from the child and not the toy!
Children
learn through their senses. Toys should stimulate touch, sight, sound and even
smell.
Don’t
buy cheap toys – they break easily and sharp edges can be dangerous.
Beware
of imitation musical instruments e.g. piano’s and guitars – these could damage
your child’s musical tone. If your child is musical, buy a second-hand
instrument that’s in good condition.
