How to buy a gift kids actually keep

(NC) When you’re looking for a gift to give a child, the hot new toy can feel like the perfect option. But those trendy, popular holiday gifts have an unfortunate habit of ending up at the bottom of the toy bin early into the new year. Another trap many gift-givers fall into is basing everything on the child’s age and gifting something they grow out of quickly. Here are some things to consider when looking for a gift that they’ll treasure for years to come:

Kids enjoy unstructured play. There’s research which shows that hands-on, open-ended gifts—the kind a child has to do something with—tend to hold kids’ attention far longer than passive or single-use toys. A gift a child can take apart, remake, or use to invent a new game has no obvious endpoint, so they can keep returning to it. Their relationship with the toy can also grow and change along with them; an open-ended toy, such as a Lego set, can be rebuilt and played with in new ways as the child develops.

It's also worth thinking about how much of the play the child gets to drive. Play is an important space where kids can make their own choices: to set the scene, change the rules or start over a different way. That sense of ownership can help them develop confidence and decision-making skills. Most importantly, it lets kids have fun on their own terms. A toy that puts the child in control can outlast one that simply performs for them.

A useful trick to make shopping easier: When thinking of a gift for a kid, start from what they love doing, not their age. Think of two or three of their genuine interests—animals, drawing, gaming, cars, telling stories—then look for a gift that lets them do more of it. A kid who lines up toy cars wants something different than one who narrates elaborate adventures, even if they're the same age.

By focusing on the child’s interests and looking for open-ended, hands-on toys, you can help reward their curiosity, and fire their imagination. You can give them something that keeps its place long after the wrapping is gone. Find more gift ideas and inspiration at lego.ca.

Evergreen introduction (for after the holidays):

(NC) When you’re looking for a gift to give a child, the hot new toy can feel like the perfect option. But trendy, popular gift have an unfortunate habit of ending up at the bottom of the toy bin once the novelty wears off. Another trap many gift-givers fall into is basing everything on the child’s age and gifting something they grow out of quickly. Here are some things to consider when looking for a gift that they’ll treasure for years to come: