Happy Birthday Gifts for Kids

Finding a special birthday gift for a child is not always easy, partly because he may lose interest within a few hours of receiving it. Find gifts that the child will truly enjoy not only on his birthday, but also in days to come. Gifts that can spark a child’s imagination and encourage learning–while providing hours of fun–are ideal birthday gifts that will make the child happy and stay interested longer.

Educational Toys

Educational toys are not only practical but also fun. They encourage children to learn while playing. When considering educational toys for smaller children, choose the toys that will increase their motor skills and sharpen their senses. Toys that children can push, pull and squish are ideal choices for infants and toddlers. Prevent choking and injury by avoiding toys with small parts.

Preschoolers can play with building blocks and puzzles that they can put together. Blocks with different colors and shapes will help prepare them for kindergarten. Blocks, puzzles, coloring books and flash cards with letters are ideal for children who are starting to learn to read.

As children start to understand or read numbers and letters, they can benefit from electronic educational toys that they can manipulate by pressing buttons or following directions. Math, spelling and grammar are some of the things they can learn by playing with interactive electronic educational toys.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments help nourish a child’s musical talent and help with other aspects of learning. “Experience with music appears to help with many other things in life, potentially transferring to activities like reading or picking up nuances in tones of voices or hearing sounds in a noisy classroom better,” researcher Nina Kraus, a neuroscientist at Northwestern University, told LiveScience.com.

Plastic keyboards, guitars and toy drums are instruments that toddlers can play with to produce musical sounds and rhythms. Find out if the older child will be able to handle real musical instruments. Some children start as early as preschool age to learn instruments such as piano and violin.

Electronic Gadgets

Many electronic gadgets are available in the market today for older children. An MP3 (media player), which plays digital music and videos, is a popular gift for preteens and teens. The gadget comes with a headset; however, you may also purchase a docking station with speakers so that the child can play louder music whenever he wishes.

Nowadays, children are becoming more technology-savvy. They know how to use computers, digital cameras, video recorders and portable electronics. Handheld games are desirable because kids can play their favorite games wherever they go. Night-vision goggles, digital binoculars and telescopes are gifts that you can buy a child who loves to explore nature and the universe.

Don’t forget about cell phones for older children who love to connect with friends by phone or text messages. A video diary recorder, which is the modern version of a notebook or journal, makes a great gift for a child who loves to keep tabs of her daily activities.