Europe (Commonwealth Union)_ Tired of spending money on presents that are used once then forgotten about? These gifts will entertain children far beyond the festive season.
Parents will be kept busy looking for presents their little ones will love, with Christmas just around the corner.
For those who like to shop strategically, the approach of “want, need, wear, read” will help decide which gifts to buy. The idea is to organise gifts into the things children have said they want on their Christmas wishlist, along with something they need, like reading material such as books, comics and annuals and an item to wear.
The strategy could also include experiences, such as a trip or visit somewhere, which can be looked forward to after the festive period.
Another approach to gift-buying is to look at its play value. This is the value of a toy or game, measured by how much it will be used, its engagement level, how many different ways it can be played with, and, that the child can determine the toy’s play value rather than having to be directed by mum and dad.
Items such as building blocks, construction toys, Lego, clay and yo-yos are good examples of toys that have high play value, according to child development experts.
Playability is another aspect to take into consideration, which concerns toys that can appeal to a range of age groups, allowing the toy to grow with the child and for older or younger siblings to join in too. Board games, ball toss, Mr Potato Head and the classic teddy bear all fall under this category.
With all these factors in mind, here are 12 toys with high play value and playability, which can be used for years to come.
Lite-Brite
This timeless toy Created in 1967, comes in many variations, including original, electronic and themed, such as Pokemon, Scooby-Doo and Barbie.
Children are able to create different images by pushing coloured pegs into the holes on a board, while a light in the background illuminates the designs.
The creative possibilities are endless, and the small pegs assist with concentration, and finger strength and dexterity.
Domino train set
Dominoes are a high value toy thanks to the many different ways they can be used; however, they can be tricky for little ones to set up.
This is where the Beauenty Kid’s Domino Train Blocks Set comes in. Fill up the cartridge with dominoes, press the button and let the little train create patterns that children could enjoy knocking down as much as setting up.
Dh57.95; www.amazon.ae
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Magnetic tiles
These magnetic tiles from Mideer will be a toy box go-to for years, with endless possibilities to construct and create.
Children can put together an array of 2D and 3D creations such as cars, houses and planes, while the different shapes provide plenty of science and maths-based learning opportunities with 100 pieces to play with.
Dh161; www.mumzworld.com
Drawing projector
If arts and crafts toys are high up on the play value scale, this projector by Leerfei will keep children engaged and encourage them to explore their artistic side.
The projector shows 32 different images, which little ones could draw around to copy and colour. It is adjustable to recreate in a variety of image sizes and comes with 12 coloured brushes.
Dh223; www.amazon.ae
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Guinness World Records 2024
To tick off the “read” gift on the list, this book of record-breaking feats will intrigue and entertain.
This long-running series of books continues to entertain younger generations by moving with the times to feature world records about rollercoasters, movies, robots, gaming, Pokemon and manga.
Dh105; www.jashanmal.com
To be continued tomorrow …..
