On buying toys

Lauren Brauer [18 November 2008] -

With so many toys available on the market nowadays, looking for an ideal toy for a specific child can be a daunting task. Children’s needs and tastes vary considerably and so, what’s good for the goose, may not necessarily be good for the gander. The favourite birthday or Christmas toy also needn’t be an expensive one. I’m sure you have all laughed as one year old children often find the wrapping or box more fascinating than the gift

There are a lot of values encompassing the ritual of gift giving and receiving such as learning about appreciation and thoughtfulness. It is also important for children to understand being respectful to the gift giver if the gift isn’t always the desired one. There is nothing worse than a child ripping off the paper and saying "boring" or "Oh no - I’ve already got 3 of these!".

In our household we ask the older siblings to clean up, and beautifully wrap some of their favourite toys which they have outgrown and give them to the younger siblings. This was extremely unpopular when it was first introduced, but it works very well now and it is wonderful to witness the love and attention that goes into the "giving" process.

It is a wonderful feeling to find that perfect gift which is a mixture of a whole lot of elements such as appropriateness, value for money, durability, and of course the "fun" factor.

Age appropriate gifts:
0-1 years
1-2 years
2-3 years
3-6 years

Lauren is the owner of Timeless Toys.