How to Buy Gifts for a Two-/Three-Year-Old Child
Whenever you buy a gift for someone, you want to spend your money wisely, buying something the recipient can enjoy and use. Fortunately, choosing a good gift for a 2- to 3-year-old doesn't have to be difficult. As long as a toy is made well and safe, "there aren't really any bad toys or bad kinds of play," says R. Keith Sawyer, education professor at Washington University. By keeping a few gift-buying tips in mind, you can select a gift -- toy or otherwise -- that will be enjoyed and appreciated by a 2- to 3-year-old.
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Instructions
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Choose age-appropriate gifts. Two- to 3-years-old children enjoy dress-up clothes, art supplies, construction toys, puzzles, books and child-sized versions of things adults use, such as dishes, a vacuum cleaner, a doctor kit or a makeup set. Make sure that the age recommendation for any toy you buy is correct for the child you are shopping for.
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Purchase toys based on characters from television shows, movies or books the child enjoys. Two- to 3-year-olds are developing their pretend play skills and might find it easier to make up play scenarios if they base them on characters and storylines they have watched or read.
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Call the child's parent ahead of time for ideas. Find out what kinds of gifts the child enjoys best, if he has a wish list of things he'd like and what toys he already owns. Check to see if the parent would object to any specific gifts. For example, if a child has a habit of coloring on furniture or walls, you should avoid buying him markers or a paint set.
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Search out creative, non-toy gifts. Choose a decoration or picture frame for the child's room. Purchase a subscription to a children's magazine. Buy a day's pass for a zoo, amusement park or bounce house.
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Give a gift card or cash if you can't find a present you feel satisfied with. Children enjoy having money of their own to spend and feel grown up when they get to purchase something themselves at a store.
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References
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