Birthday Gifts for a Boy Turning One

As a baby boy approaches his first birthday, he becomes increasingly aware of his environment and surroundings. His mobility increases, as does his dexterity and the development of his fine and gross motor skills. Deciding on an appropriate gift for a 1-year-old requires thinking about what will benefit the developing toddler most, while at the same time fall within safety guidelines.

Ride-On toys

As a baby boy finishes his first year he becomes increasingly mobile, wanting to explore things in a more upright position. One appropriate type of birthday gift is a toy he can climb onto and ride on, such as a four-wheeled plastic toy without pedals that the child can sit on while using his hands to steer and his feet to scoot around the room. Ride-on toys resemble animals, fire trucks, trains and cars. In addition to ride-on toys that have wheels, 1-year-olds also might like a toy that allows him to sit and rock, such as a rocking horse.

Books

Boys who are 1 love to be read to while they look at pictures, learn new words, learn to turn pages and touch different textures. Books on the market for boys of this age include books with thick, easy-to-turn pages for little hands. Some of the books have textures for the child to feel. Many of them have pictures on each page of different objects or creatures with a short word or phrase simple enough for a 1-year old to understand. Some books are interactive, featuring buttons for the child to push that activate music or spoken words.

Musical Toys

As a child grows, he learns that when he touches something or does something a reaction follows. Toys that play music teach this lesson. When a child touches a key on a toy piano, for example, he hears the note. When he shakes a toy tambourine, he hears the sound of jingling. When he hits a toy drum, he hears the resulting bang. Little boys also enjoy creating "musical" sounds while releasing their energy.

Clothes

A practical gift idea for a baby boy's first birthday is clothes. Toddlers grow quickly and become increasingly more active as they grow and develop. Because of this, they tend to wear out their clothing rather quickly as well as outgrow it. Appropriate ideas for clothing gifts include pajamas, matching sweatpants and shirts, overalls, snow suits and shoes.

References:

http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/birthdays/56729.html?page=4&detoured=1

http://www.nncc.org/child.dev/todd.dev.html