What are the best gifts for one-year-olds?
Sensory toys, puzzles, musical instruments, play tables, and walkers are all winners when it comes to the best gifts for one-year-olds. But the truth is, what you pick is less important than how you play with it.
Yep, decades of research suggest that the most important thing parents, aunts, uncles and carers can do is interact with their little ones by talking, reading, singing, and getting down on their level to play. A 2019 clinical report from the American Academy of Paediatrics explains: “The most educational toy fosters interactions between caregivers and children in supportive, unconditional play.” Therefore, the authors recommend choosing “toys that will grow with the child, foster interactions with caregivers, encourage exploration and problem-solving, and spark the child’s imagination.”
And while you really can’t go wrong with something eye-catching for your little one, we all know you’re also very much gifting the parents who are coping with early-stage toddlerhood. Essentially, opt for something they’ll enjoy using with their toddler but also that doesn’t turn their house into a migraine-inducing rainbow rave.
Sharing her advice, Parenting Expert at Kiddies Kingdom, Kirsty Douglas, says: “When children get to 12 months, they’re beginning to develop more social and communication skills. You can help your child reach these exciting milestones by introducing plenty of imaginative and creativity-based toys. Musical toys are brilliant for this as they help children understand cues and practice mimicking sounds.
She continues: “At around 12 months, your child will typically be eating weaning snacks such as vegetable sticks alongside meals. Using toys which require sorting, picking up and moving will allow your little one to build out the fine motor skills needed to help them feed themselves independently. For this, toys such as ring towers and stackers are perfect, as they support fine motor development whilst keeping your child engaged and entertained. This type of toy can also be a terrific way to support cognitive thinking.”
