Children’s Day is getting closer, so it is time to start looking around for a gift – especially as it is a day so many children look forward to. If you are not sure what to give your child for this special occasion, we have put together a few ideas in the article below.
What gift should you choose for a child?
Children’s Day gifts can be divided into several categories. You can give your child toys that support their education and development, art and craft sets that nurture a passion or spark a new hobby, or even sports equipment so they can enjoy their favourite activity. There are countless options, which is why we have prepared a gift guide full of inspiration for Children’s Day. To make the search easier, we have grouped our suggestions by the child’s age. Take a look at our ideas below.
Gifts for babies
For a child who is not yet one year old, the best gift is one that supports their development. This includes things such as:
- high-contrast pattern cards that stimulate the development of a baby’s eyesight,
- sound books that teach your child new sounds,
- bath books designed for children over 6 months old.
Another idea is to give your little one an interesting soft toy that they will keep for years to come. Make sure it has no parts that can be pulled off, such as sewn-on plastic eyes.
For older babies, we suggest sensory toys that will develop their curiosity and encourage them to move.
Gifts for children up to 3 years old
Children of this age will happily take an interest in board books that they can flick through on their own while their parents read the text to them.
Toys that imitate real objects also work brilliantly – for example a mini kitchen with plates and pots, a mini shop till, or a small workshop or greengrocer’s with toy vegetables. You will find plenty of interesting sets like these on the market.
Children aged one to three will also love any kind of musical toy – a small guitar, a xylophone, a tambourine or rattles will bring them enormous joy. And if you would rather not buy musical instruments, a safer option is to give building blocks as a Children’s Day gift – the Lego Duplo range will appeal to any child under 3.
Children’s Day falls just before the summer holidays, so holiday gadgets make a great gift. If your child is heading to the seaside, sandpit toys or inflatable bath accessories will be a big hit.
Gifts for children aged 3 to 5
Children of this age will be delighted with interactive educational toys, but also with play figures and colourful picture books. Board games, card games and games of skill make great Children’s Day surprises, as do sets of building blocks.
Children aged 3 to 5 will also enjoy creative sets that let them make something interesting themselves – here you can choose from all sorts of plasticine and modelling clay kits, and even embroidery or beading sets.
Accessories for the child’s room are another good idea – fun bedding with a print of their favourite animals, a night light in the shape of a character or animal, or other accessories such as a chalkboard to draw on.
Gifts for children aged 6 to 10
Older children like toys that keep them engaged for longer and that they can come back to whenever they feel like it. A great idea for this age group is a construction set on any theme they like. The joy of finishing a set is enormous, and the fun of playing with the finished model is even greater!
Children of this age may also like merchandise featuring their favourite characters from films and cartoons – soft toys, mugs, books or posters are sure to make them happy.
Books, both educational and adventure stories, are another excellent idea – you can buy the next book in a series your child already has, or a new one that will capture their interest.
Gifts for children aged 10 to 12
Children of this age already have their own passions, hobbies and favourite activities. The best approach is to listen to what they need and give them the gift they dream of. If your child is into sport, consider buying sports equipment or accessories for Children’s Day, such as a skateboard, inline skates, roller skates or a scooter. And if they train in a particular discipline, a smartwatch that tracks their training results will be perfect for him or her, as will accessories related to their sport – a football, a volleyball, a new tennis racket and so on.
You can also think about more universal Children’s Day gifts. Children of this age will enjoy Lego bricks, creative construction sets, merchandise linked to their favourite Marvel, DC or Disney films, or computer and console games.
Interesting books or board games are also gifts that help develop their interests.
Gifts for teenagers aged 13 to 15
Teenagers are still children – bigger ones, admittedly, but still children. So it is worth preparing something special for them on Children’s Day too. A gift for a teenager could be a practical gadget they do not yet have, such as a power bank or headphones.
Gadgets that get young people active are also a good idea – a smartwatch, a skateboard or inline skates will encourage teenagers to spend more time outdoors.
And if you are looking for a gift they can use over the summer holidays, we recommend an instant camera that prints photos on the spot, or a selfie stick, which is a must for those holiday snaps.
Creative fun on Children’s Day
How about organising some creative activities for the whole family on Children’s Day? Here are a few ideas.
Face painting
All you need is a set of face paints – and a skin test the day before to make sure none of you is allergic. This is very important! Then, on Children’s Day, let your imagination run wild: let the children paint you and you paint the children – we promise there will be plenty of laughter! Do not forget to take some photos to remember it by!
Breaking a piñata
This one is for slightly older children. You can buy a ready-made piñata online or in shops. Fill it with sweets and small toys, hang it in a suitable spot and let the children break it open with a special stick. Do not forget to blindfold them with a scarf to make the task more difficult.
Soap bubbles
Soap bubbles are a timeless favourite with children. Not much has changed over the years, but it is worth taking a look at the more modern bubble makers – you can now get special bubble guns, bubble machines and even giant wands for making enormous bubbles. Blowing bubbles is great fun!
XXL colouring sheets
How about a colouring sheet the size of your living-room rug? We know what the children will say – WOW! You can order one online and give it to the children on Children’s Day along with a set of new crayons. It will keep them busy for at least a few hours. Of course, we encourage parents to join in too.
Spending Children’s Day together
There is no room for boredom on Children’s Day! That is why it is worth organising a few activities for your little ones and spending time together. On this special day, you could head to a trampoline park together and hold a family competition for the best trampoline jumps.
Another idea is a trip to the zoo – a perfect outing for all children, big and small, and for their parents too. Some zoos also organise extra attractions for children on site, such as a junior zoologist trail or themed games linked to Children’s Day.
And if not the zoo, how about a family bike ride around the neighbourhood? You can combine time spent together in the fresh air with a visit to an ice-cream parlour or a picnic.
Another fun idea is to visit a themed museum in a bigger city – for example a chocolate museum where you can make your own chocolate. Look for museums like this in your area or in a larger city nearby. In this article, you can check out museums in Poznań, for example!
Non-toy gifts for Children’s Day
Gifts for children, big or small, do not have to be toys at all – especially as there are plenty of occasions throughout the year when they receive them, not only from parents but also from grandparents, aunts and uncles, or siblings. On Children’s Day, you can give your little ones something other than toys that will make them just as happy.
An indoor swing for their room – it can be a hammock-style swing that you hang on your patio or balcony in the summer season. A swing like this is a huge treat for children, especially as they will have access to it all the time, not just when you are at the playground. Of course, the swing should be installed somewhere you can supervise your children while they play.
An original sleeping bag or blanket – there are lots of fun designs of blankets and sleeping bags for children of all ages on the market today. A big hit with the youngest are sleeping bags or blankets with fun endings – a dragon’s or mermaid’s tail, for example, to tuck their feet into.
A play tent or teepee – a toy tent or teepee you can set up in your child’s room. They can spend as much time in it as they like or play with their favourite toys inside. It also makes a lovely decorative feature.
Personalised jigsaw puzzles – a puzzle featuring a photo of the whole family takes play to a whole new level! You can choose a photo from your child’s favourite trip or a family event, or even get a little creative and do a photo shoot of your child surrounded by their favourite toys, then order a puzzle with that picture.
Ready for Children’s Day?
The celebration of the youngest – Children’s Day – is just around the corner. If you are looking for a gift for your little one, the ideas above should help you find the right one. When choosing a gift for your child’s special day, go for something that will make them happy and that they can enjoy for some time to come.
Remember, though, that Children’s Day is also a perfect opportunity to spend time together with your child. Plan something special for the day that will stay in your little one’s memory – you could go to the zoo or the cinema as a family, or simply head out for ice cream. Any activity or gift is sure to be appreciated by every child!
