When it’s time to choose a gift for a child, you might find yourself at a loss for ideas that don’t include a phone, tablet, or other electronic devices. If you’re on a budget, it can be even harder to find an age-appropriate gift that your favorite little one will love. Fortunately, there are several things on the market these days that are educational without relying on a screen. However, video games aren’t all bad. Games have been shown to offer many benefits for the brain. Educational games can be especially useful.
Think about activities they might enjoy and how you can give them access to those things, or find out what they are most interested in and look for a toy or book that ties into a theme. From dinosaurs and building blocks to trips to the zoo, there are plenty of gift ideas for all age groups, such as the ones below.
Look for experiences
Sometimes, a child can only have so many toys. If the little one in your life has a room full of things that don’t interest them anymore, consider showing them an experience instead.
There are so many things to experience at home. You can show them household chores, and they may even be able to pick up some practical skills if they’re interested. You can show them how to cook, how to tend to the garden, how to stitch their favorite doll together, or how to wash the car. If they like what you show them, you can make plans to cook, garden, sew, or maintain cars together.
Experiencing a trip to the zoo, a day at the museum, or a few hours at a cultural event can also have a lasting impact on kids of all ages. Look online for some ideas near you. Check out websites for the events you’re interested in to learn more about dates, times, and restrictions.
Look to STEAM
STEAM—or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—has been instrumental in helping kids branch out into areas of learning that are often under-utilized. There are many different kinds of toys and games specifically designed to help further a child’s growth in those areas. Building blocks, experiment kits, sets that come with everything needed to build a robot, and books that teach about things like biology or the solar system are great ideas for any curious child who enjoys learning. You don’t have to spend a ton of money to find something good; even a simple Rubik’s cube is a fun, beneficial toy for a little one.
It can be a good idea to foster hobbies that involve STEAM principles. Storm spotting can be a great way to get your child interested in science. Tracking the weather and making predictions and observations will build a number of useful skills.
Bring out their creativity
It’s hard to find a child who doesn’t love to make art. Give them a blank piece of paper and a crayon or two, and they’ll find a way to create something. Fostering a child’s creativity can help boost their confidence so they’ll keep trying, which will, in turn, elevate their self-esteem and even help them in school. There are tons of options on the market these days, but you can look for simple tools, such as watercolor brush pens, oil pastels, and colored pencils that will be easy for kids of any age to use. You can often find these items at your local dollar store, and you can even throw in a large piece of poster board so your little one can let their creativity loose.
Get musical
Just like art, music is highly beneficial for young people. It can help them learn mathematical concepts and social skills, and beyond that, it’s just plain fun to sing or play an instrument. Look for something simple and inexpensive that’s easy for a child to handle and play, such as a ukulele or a recorder, and encourage them to practice often. Show them tutorials or videos of a musician they admire so they can see the hard work that goes into learning to play well or set up playdates with other like-minded kids.
Finding a great educational and affordable gift for the child in your life is as easy as thinking about what would benefit their needs most. If the gift is for a young relative, talk to their parents to make sure the gift you have in mind is suitable.
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