Buying gifts for toddlers and little children can be both easy and difficult. Easy, because there are numerous products available in the market nowadays – and online stores have made buying all the more effortless to do. The multitude of choices, however, makes the process difficult. Should you buy this – or buy that? Is this toy age appropriate, or should you just get a book instead?

If you are finishing up your holiday shopping and planning to get a couple more presents for your little one or for your niece or nephew, then you may want to buy gifts that actually foster creativity.

You heard that right – there are toys that nurture creativity (read here on how you can foster it that at home). When you think about it, your gift goes beyond the physical present but the long lasting effects of these presents.

Here are a few suggestions I think you may want to buy and give:

Puzzles are timeless gift items that allow children (and adults, too) to solve problems at their own page. You can start helping out with the edge pieces, but step back after that and let them come up with their own strategies. There’s no rule on how long it should take to complete the puzzle so give your little one time. Choose age-appropriate puzzles. As  rule of thumb, start with fewer pieces and increase the count as your child grows older. To make puzzles more interesting, choose one that has a design of your kid’s favorite cartoon character.

Kids love music and noise, so allow them to let loose with instruments. Play drums, keyboards, rattles, tambourines – these are great for toddlers. For older children, you may want to consider actual instruments like the ukulele and music lessons, to boot!

Any art materials are welcome for children of all ages. Go beyond the traditional crayon and coloring book set and try looking at dustless chalk, pastel, different sized markers, coloring mats and more. Better yet, get those “art sets” that contain hundreds of pieces and colors.

Mini figures or miniature toys – whether that of people or animals – give preschoolers and toddlers the chance to create situations. They’re great for role-playing, exploration and storytelling, too.

There’s nothing like modeling dough or clay when it comes to creativity – they start off as very basic pieces but can transform into a vast range of pieces. Fruits, characters, animals – basically anything! Best thing about this toy? If a child doesn’t like what he has created, he can start all over and create something new. Non-toxic clay brands are great to work with, but you can also get those DIY dough sets.

The process of building helps kids solve problems – like how to make pieces fit with each other or how to make a certain structure more stable. Buy sets that are open-ended, preferably ones without pictures of structures, so that your child’s imagination is not bounded by what she’s “supposed to” create or construct.

Don’t buy pre-made costume sets, but buy basic fabric pieces that your child can use for a variety of things. Scarfs for skirts and capes, why not?

I haven’t recommended any brands but I’m sure shopping should be a breeze as there are a lot of brands out there. Feel free to share other recommendations and suggestions.

Happy shopping!

Nani Nani Kids