When you have pre-school or grade-school aged children, it seems as if there is a birthday party once or twice a month. And that doesn’t include your own child’s birthday!

In general, I have discovered that the simpler the gift, the better. All of those cute, trendy, plastic toys you find in discount stores rarely see the light of day after their “newness” wears off. Toys that allow kids to use their imaginations seem to have more “staying power”. It’s amazing how excited kids get over some sidewalk chalk or a box of crayons and a coloring book! My youngest daughter has a summer birthday, and she once received a beach towel and swim toys for a gift. This was a huge hit!

We like to give craft kits as gifts. You can find all kinds of kits at your local craft store. Some of the favorites are scrapbook kits, knitting kits, bead kits, and stationery kits. Science kits are also fun. You would be amazed at how simple and fun these can be. Gifts that encourage a cooking or baking hobby are also fun. There are many kid-friendly cookbooks on the market, and child-sized cooking utensils or an apron to go with the cookbook.

I happen to have girls, so buying gifts for girls is a little easier for me than buying for boys. I tend to get completely lost among the Transformers and other action figures. To me, they are the equivalent of Barbie dolls for girls. The kids beg for them in the store, but then they end up as “land mines” for parents to step on. Instead, I try to steer more towards games or construction-type toys such as tinker toys or the new magnetic toys.

Of course, all kids like to be active, and there are lots of toys out there that encourage active/outdoor play. Who can resist a jump rope or hula-hoop! And do you remember those “hoppy” balls. You know the rubber ball with the handle on it that kids sit on and bounce around. They are great fun indoors and out. And speaking of simple, my nephew loves balls of all kinds. He can never have too many footballs and basketballs. A new baseball hat to go with a new baseball brings all kinds of joy to his little face.

It is true that kids seem to have more toys than they need, and it makes it difficult to decide on a gift. We are lured into thinking that the latest toy on TV is a great idea, because they probably don’t have that yet. But in reality, it’s the tried and true simple gifts that bring smiles to kids faces on the day of their birthday and for many days after the party is over.