Choose Christmas Gifts for Kids That Power Their Imagination

Mailboxes are starting to fill with holiday catalogs. Predictions for this year's hot toys are in the news. Kids are staring wide eyed at the television ads. Parents and grandparents are feeling overwhelmed. There are so many options out there. The mass merchandiser on every corner has several aisles of toys to choose from. There are specialty toy stores and endless stores online.

Recent toy recalls of products made in China, the rise in childhood obesity, the sexualization of young girls, and other issues have many thinking more about what toys that are buying. We should be thinking more about what our children are spending their hours playing with, but it can be overwhelming with all the options out there. Considering the following points will help get you started on the right path to choosing toys that are truly enriching for your child's gifts.

A good toy should foster your child's imagination and creativity. Choose toys that can be used in an open ended way. Open ended toys have better play value as such toys have many uses in play and not just one. For example, a princess costume can only be just that. A few brightly colored play silks can be use to create a number of costumes, create tents, fill cups with drink, play peek-a-boo, wrap babies, and in an endless number of ways. Blocks can be used to create farm houses, castles, or towers.

Toys should be powered by your child's imagination and not by batteries. Let your child's imagination create play scenarios rather than be dictated by pre-programed sounds and dialog. A doll that claims to be your child's best friend should strike us as creepy not cute. Children need to be encouraged to interact through games and free play with real people.

Consider what the toy portrays. Are these ideas you want your child emulating? We shouldn't be surprised when a child desires to dress provocatively when we provide dolls dressed that way. When a toy makes a smart-alecky remark, we shouldn't be surprised when the child uses it and disrespects us as parents. Art supplies are another great kid powered item.

Active play needs to be encouraged in children of all ages. Avoid gifts that encourage more time spent in front of the television or computer screen. Choose toys that encourage time out of doors exploring and active play. Outdoor game sets are a great option for physical activity. Magnifying glasses, journals, nets, and bug catchers encourage time in nature. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time at all for children under the age of two years. Products encouraging screen time to enhance infant's cognitive development flood the market, but these are a big no-no.

Branded toys have many down falls. Characters from television programs and movies are most likely to be used to simply mimic that which was seen on the screen. By providing generic people, animals, and fantasy creatures your child will use their imagination to create their own unique play scenarios. A child will benefit greatly from creating their own stories rather than the scripted play that comes from branded characters.

Another pit fall of branded toys, they promote consumerism among children. A child sees a movie, and now they think they need the doll, the lunch box, the cereal, and the Happy Meal. They don't need these things nor do they need to be hooked to brands at such a young age (or ever.) Help your child avoid consumerism as an adult by helping them avoid it now.

You may also want to consider where the toy is made and what material it is made out of. Recalls of toys made in China have parents checking the "made in" stamps on toys. European and U.S. made toys are other options widely available online. Take things a step further, and buy hand made toys from a local artisan or from online market places such as Etsy or Hyena Cart.

Most kids toys on the market are made of plastic. Toys made from natural materials, such as wood and wool, are worth seeking out. Toys made of natural materials have character and details that plastic toys do not such as the grain of wood or the texture of a knitted object. Natural toys have a warmth that plastics does not. Many are concerned about the possible negative health impacts from certain plastics.

Children spend much of their time at play, as they should. It is worth carefully considering what you provide them with for their play. Take these various points in to consideration when choosing your child's gift. It may take extra time, but the extra time is worth fostering your child's imagination and creativity.