Birthdays, Christmas, Epiphany have one thing in common for us all: the anxiety of the right gift, whether it is for an adult or for a child. GIFTS FOR CHILDREN: THE RIGHT TOYS FOR EVERY AGE

When we turn to an adult we are aware that the gift we will give will almost certainly be one of the many objects that he will use (if he will use it) for a limited period of time and then put it back in the “drawer of disused things” (we must admit that all we have one).

For children, the situation is quite different: children are anxiously awaiting Christmas and their birthday months before, if not even a year before, thinking about the gifts they will be able to receive. If the gift is stimulating for them, they will use it for a long time.

When it comes to younger children, it is even more important to donate something suitable for their age and useful for their sensory development.

So what are the most suitable toys for each child’s age?

Here are some suggestions:

0-6 months – Babies begin to observe the world around them, they are very attracted to bright colors and sounds. Around 5 months, the first real contact with objects begins with the intention of grasping and pushing them.

The games recommended at this age are soft games that emit sweet sounds , brightly colored games with rounded shapes.

6-12 months – At 6 months, children’s motor coordination is still limited but they are already able to manipulate objects in a simpler way. In the following months, the children begin to gain control of posture and to snoop around giving meaning to the action. It is the period in which they approach the cause / effect mechanism for the first time.

The games recommended at this stage are books and other soft games that invite the child to explore, and the simpler games aimed at developing motor skills.

12-18 months – This is the phase in which most children start walking without the need for support, however they are very curious and not very aware of the danger, it is therefore advisable to help them with suitable products (push-steps etc.). At this age, children learn to coordinate their movements and recognize familiar actions. The recommended games are posture supports , shapers , stacking games , joints and symbolic games (only if recommended from 12 months).

18-24 months – Babies of this age have acquired the necessary awareness to move with skill: now they get on and off things without problems. Language also begins to develop: children learn the first simple phrases and concepts and identify with reality by pretending to perform actions.

The recommended games are some rideable , dens in which children can create their world but also first bingo and association games.

2 years – Children at this age begin to approach art with simple materials ( pastels , modeling pastes ) and to create with construction toys suitable for their age. Their coordination improves and they are able to perform more structured actions even in the game.

The games recommended for this age are creative products such as colored crayons and some p rods to model , not very small constructions and precision games such as bolts to screw, gears, and mazes.

3 years – At three years of age, the gender distinction between boys begins to be clear: girls tend to prefer dolls and creative activities, while boys love toy cars and constructions. At this stage, children have now developed fine motor skills and are able to perform almost all types of actions.

The recommended games are again construction ( this time more complex), puzzles (preferably with characters that are recognizable to them), dolls and toy cars .

4-5 years – Children at this age love to imitate adults, therefore they identify with different roles: cook, doctor, mom, dad … with the aptitude to prefer objects similar to real ones. From an artistic point of view, 4-5 year olds can start using tools such as glue and round tip scissors. Their balance also begins to improve so the first bike rides begin!

The recommended games are those close to reality: pots, imitation games of crafts , dolls’ houses , tracks . For children who love to color and create the perfect gift is a nice set of watercolors, brushes and colored pencils but also a set of manipulation materials. Bicycles and tricycles are also a very popular game for children of this age!

6-8 years – At six, children are much more attentive to detail and problem solving . Even their inclinations are now beginning to take shape: there will be the child who is passionate about drawing, the one interested in modeling, the lover of logical games.

The games recommended in this age group are the most varied: board games, bingo , creative kits, puzzles, but also games for sports activities such as balls, basketball etc.

From 9 years – From the age of 9 the child is now aware of what he knows and what he can do. Even his tastes are now well defined. The recurring feature at this age is the child’s aptitude for creating and experimenting.

The games (and not only) recommended are those that enable the child to create and build: products for crafts, sets of beads , puppets to invent stories, tools for experiments, robotics and coding and much more.

These are my suggestions … now you just have to choose, always keeping in mind that the tastes and attitudes of each child (especially after a certain age) are different from each other 🙂