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New Toy Ideas

Children use toys for learning all kinds of things. Toys correspond with developmental stages, interests and ability level. As parents, when our kids become bored with their toys, or when we are thinking about gifts for an upcoming holiday, we often need to come up with ideas for new toys. These new toys will help our children have fun, learn things and continue to grow developmentally.

Consider Your Child
- Before choosing a new toy, you will need to think about your child. How old are they? A toddler will need a very different kind of toy from a teenager. Do they have any interests? If your teenage daughter is very into the arts and cannot stand math class, you might want to think of a gift relating to music, art or theater and stay away from technical math related gifts. If your child is working on a developmental milestone such as talking, walking or moving off to go to college, you will also need to consider this. Toddlers who are learning to walk enjoy push toys, while a teen going off to school might enjoy sheets, towels or a mini fridge for their dorm.
Brainstorm
- Looking at the age and stage of your child, write down all of the toys you can think of that they might enjoy. Do not limit yourself to budget for now. Just get your creative juices flowing by coming up with ideas. Remember that toys are not always found in the toy store. Toys can include items such as school supplies, art supplies, tools, electronics, and more. Anything that your child would enjoy playing with and learning from could be considered a toy.
Budget
- Once you have brainstormed your ideas for toys, think about your budget. Your gift will be very different if you have $10 to spend than it would be if you had $100 to spend. Looking at your list, cross off all of the options that you know for sure you cannot afford. Leave items on the list if you think you would be able to afford them if you found a good deal.
Shop
- With the list of remaining gift ideas and your budget in hand, it is time to shop for your child's new toy. You can try traditional toy stores, but don't forget about thrift stores, online auctions, art supply stores and hardware stores. For instance, you might be able to find lots of beautiful fabrics in a thrift store for your child who enjoys sewing. Fabrics would make a great toy for your child, and would not cost much money. You might be able to find some clearance woodworking tools that would make a great toy for a teen interested in working with their hands. The possibilities are endless. Make sure to get a gift receipt in case the gift isn't quite right, and don't forget to wrap it well to make a great first impression.

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