While shops are stuffed with bright coloured plastic toys that promise to turn our kids into geniuses – most of these are overpriced gadgets that will quickly be discarded.

If you want to buy gifts for kids that will provide hours of fun and play while not breaking the bank, read on and let the ideas flow!

1. Art supplies – coloured papers, scrapbooks, glitter makers, felt tips, pencils, crayons, watercolour paints and other art and crafts supplies are all perfect gifts to inspire budding artists and encourage artistic talent and self-expression
2. Dolls, teddy bears, soft toys and action figures are great gifts to spark up kids’ imagination. They are flexible and encourage role play and social skills on many levels – from taking care of someone to going on an adventure with friends and their doll or teddy
3. Books – there are plenty of beautiful and inspirational books for children. Books allow kids to solve problems and experience a variety of adventures through the book’s characters. When shared with adults, books are also associated with warmth and companionship
4. Construction toys – while scientific research suggests that playing with blocks can help young children learn about geometric shapes and spatial relationships, it also allows them to work in a team with other kids to build a structure. Toys such as Lego encourage creativity and imagination. They can also be used over and over again to create different structures – so your gift will provide for hours of play
5. Board games are also popular gifts for kids. Some traditional games such as snakes and ladders can help children acquire number skills, while most games will teach them to negotiate and respect rules, take turns and in some games to plan ahead and use strategy
6. Play dough or clay – playing and shaping / moulding squishy substances is a great gift for kids as it enables them to create objects and creatures from their imagination… add a garlic press to help them create great hair to put on their creations!
7. Puzzles and jigsaws – are interesting gifts for kids that help them build problem solving skills, spatial knowledge and provide plenty of opportunities for social interaction and co-operations with friends and relatives
8. Costumes, dressing up outfits, hats, funny beards and wigs are all gifts that will allow kids to fashion themselves into new characters and roles as they improvise on the spot
9. Musical instruments – horns, drum sets or recorders are all fun gifts for kids. They will not only provide them with hours of entertaining play but also help them discover sounds, patterns and rhythms – preparing them for any future musical success
10. Torches – if you have torches for emergency and struggle to keep the kids’ hands off them why not simply buy them their own? It’s an inexpensive present – especially if you buy rechargeable batteries. Kids will love making creative shadows and hand animals with them. Remember to let them explore the house in the dark with them too!

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Looking for kids birthday gifts? Why not check out our children’s birthday balloons?

Just as I was racking my brains for ideas, I stumbled across Jessica Jonzen’s article “Getting Presents all Wrapped Up” for the Sunday Times. Far from putting my mind at rest, she mentioned that:

• If my gift failed to hit the spot it might end up in “a “present drawer” where all these unwanted knickknacks lie before they can be redistributed”
• Parents not only need to buy a gift, but need to “get something “thoughtful” and “original” as well”
• If your own child sees the present you have bought for them to take to a party: “Never let them see it,” “They always want to keep it and then end up having a tantrum.”

Who said buying birthday gifts for kids was easy? I decided to forget about the dread of the “present drawer” and as the boys couldn’t wait to go shopping for a present for their friend I took them along.

We headed for the girl’s section of the toy shop and picked a girly a pink toy pony that can grow a play-doh mane and tail (don’t ask!)… I am happy to report the experience was blissfully tantrum free.

Here are a few tips that should help you buy great birthday gifts for kids – while keeping things simple and stress-free:

1. If you have children involve them – they will love to help you choose and wrap the present and choose and write the card. From my own experience, even very small children do understand that if they buy a gift for a friend, sibling or relative they can’t keep it. Older children probably know better what their friends might like so you’ll have a better chance of buying a good present.
2. Choose craft or educative toys – young children always love crayons, colouring sheets, stickers, play-doh and other “creative” toys. They are also just perfect to keep everyone busy on a rainy day, so they’re good for parents too.
3. Give vouchers or money – it might seem like an easy option but if you have no idea what to buy, book or toy vouchers can be a good option. At least your money will go towards something they want. Alternatively, you could take the birthday boy or girl shopping with you and let them choose something they like.
4. Avoid noisy toys for babys and toddlers – although a noisy toy will probably turn into a much-loved favourite toy, it will quickly drive the parents insane.
5. Ask the parents or the child for ideas – if you’re planning to buy a more expensive present or are buying for a god-child, niece or nephew, it might be worth asking the parents, or the child what they want – presents are important to kids, so it’s important to get it right.
6. Keep a list of what you buy for whom – if you have a lousy memory this will eliminate the risk of buying duplicate presents… and save you much embarrassment too!

I hope this helps. Of course the most important thing about birthdays is to remember them – having forgotten many I do speak from experience!!

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Are you looking for a birthday surprise for a kid? Just check out our kid’s birthday balloons, birthday gifts for boys and birthday gifts for girls.