Perfect Kids’ Gifts
Monday, November 29th, 2010
My sister is the best kids’-gift giver I know. Every single present she’s bought for my children over the years has been perfect for their age and developmental stage, not to mention something I hadn’t thought to give, and most importantly a hit with my girls. (No pressure on me this holiday season, her 8-month-old daughter’s first! And now I know how my two other sisters have felt for the past five years.) Part of the reason she’s so good at this is because it’s her job to know what kids like; she’s a pediatric occupational therapist here in NYC and one of the founding members of The Meeting House, an innovative after-school program for children who need a little extra help socializing and communicating. So she can spot a good toy, game, and activity a mile away.
Each year she creates a list of gift ideas for the parents of the children she works with. For the most part, the kids are between 3 and 8. The list is so helpful, I asked her if I could share it here. (In a few cases, her picks echo some of the toys we here at Parents picked for our 2010 holiday toy guide, or have featured in a previous issue.) The descriptions are hers, except where I chime in as noted:
To work on increasing independence and comfort for dressing:
EZ Sox are adorable socks that have little handles on them for small hands. Helps young children learn how to put on their own socks without the frustration that typically comes along with that. [From Kara: My 2-year-old happens to be better at putting on her socks than my 5-year-old, but they're both getting these this year.]
If you have a child who doesn’t like tags or has a difficult time with the feeling of some clothing, the brand Soft Clothing is perfect. Really cute clothes without tags, seams, etc.. [From Kara: We've featured these in Parents. The designs are very cool.]
Add a CommentTags: arts & crafts, Games, gift ideas, presents, toys | Categories: GoodyBlog, Holidays, Shopping & Gear, Time for Fun, Your Child
