The following rules should be followed for choosing gifts for kids that are not your own. To those of you with kids these ideas will appear obvious. But just think, there are people in the world without small children, people who do not dedicate a section of their brains to scanning the ground for choking hazards as they walk through a room. These people may need help, and we here at the Toy Report feel it is our duty to help educate them.
Avoid Magnet Toys
Magnet Toys are fun for kids of all ages, but are one of the most dangerous swallowing hazards out there. Swallow one magnet and they will likely pass right through so to speak. Swallow two magnets and they can attach from different sections in the intestines and cause major life threatening problems. You do NOT want to be the Aunt that caused little Jimmy to need major stomach surgery.
Avoid Pop Culture Characters
This may seem less obvious to many, but unless you know that a child already loves a kids pop culture icon, do not buy them Dora, Diego, Spiderman, Barbie, Pokemon, or similar items as a birthday gift. They can spark a pop culture frenzy that some parents may prefer to avoid. It’s akin to smoking cigarettes, far easier to never start than it is to stop once you are addicted. Mommy and Daddy may never be able to get through the supermarket again without tantrums for whatever Dora branded junk food is on the shelves.
Avoid Noisy Electronics That Can Not Be Powered OFF
Last year our twins were given a pair of electronic drum sticks for a birthday present. The first problem was that there was one pair of sticks given to two boys who happen to share the same birthday through no fault of their own, but that’s covered in another article. They had lots of different buttons that played different drum noises when someone whacked the sticks on something. They also had the astounding quality of not having any method to power them off. They were on 100% of the time and could only be disabled by removing two screws to get at the batteries. The also had the added bonus of going off whenever a car drove by or a plane went overhead or someone sneezed near them. The friends who gifted them to us are now forever known as the “Annoying Drum Stick Givers”. You do not want to be those people. If you buy any electronic devices that make noise, make sure they have an off switch and volume control.
Avoid Small Parts
Kids love to play with tiny toys sized for tiny fingers. We know many 6 year old girls that LOVE Polly Pockets, and many 5 year old boys that love Lego Sets (And vice versa). But their 1 year old sibling is going to eat them and we all know nothing good can come of it. The same rules apply to a 4 year old, but for different reasons. They may not eat the toys, but they are not old enough to understand picking up after themselves yet. You’ll doom their parents to endless cleanup time. Leave the choice up to the parents if they want to clean up 50 tiny parts after the kids go to bed and get them something larger.
Avoid Obvious Danger
Avoid Pogo Sticks, avoid Baseball bats, avoid Roller Skates, avoid BB Guns, avoid Alien Slime and Silly Putty (which ruins hair and carpets), avoid Rubber Band Shooters, etc. Most of these come from experience, trust us. You don’t want to be remembered as the Aunt who broke Bobby’s arm, shot Billy’s eye out, or ruined Katie’s long curly hair on Christmas morning.
Avoid the High End of an Age Range
Stay with the capabilities and interests of the child’s age. Don’t give a baby toy to an toddler, or a toddler toy to a six year old. For example, the Wooden Chomp and Clack Alligator Push Toy is the single most perfect gift for any 1 year old. The age range says 1 to 4, but it’s likely less than exciting to a 4 year old.
In the end, a small amount of forethought into choosing a kids gift can make all the difference in the world. Do not just grab the first thing you see on the toy store shelf and you will ensure a happy child and parent on that special occasion.
Now that you know what NOT to give, see our advice on chosing the perfect kids gifts at Kids Toys – 8 Tips to Choosing Perfect Kids Gifts
Need more help finding a unique kids gift for the holiday season? See our review series on Unique Toys For Kids
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