Ben Kelly, Freshman
December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month, and with the holidays coming around the corner, it is the season of gift giving, which means all gifts given should be safe for the receiver. The arrival of December means the holidays are coming, so this is the number one time of the year for gift giving, and it is important for gifts to be right and safe for who they are given to. This year, we have practiced many ways to stay safe, and we should continue being safe in gift giving too.
Just as December happens every year as well as the holidays, Safe Toys and Gifts Month follows along, and December 2020 is introducing a new one. Safe Toys and Gifts Month encourages that anyone buying and acquiring gifts to give to another person is suited for the receiver's age group and abilities, and is most importantly safe for them. With 2020 requiring everyone to have a safer holiday season than usual, Safe Toys and Gifts Month further hopes to make December safe.
The younger the child, the more important it is to look into what types of toys and gifts they are given. Many toys and gifts are equipped with a warning that explains how small parts are included and can be choked on. This warning usually goes for younger children, especially children who are celebrating their first few holidays. Young children in the infant and early toddler age range should be looked after for the most. For children this young, many precautions should be taken. Toys and gifts with small, removable, detachable, or launchable pieces should not be given to these children, as they serve many choking and injury hazards. Avoid gifts and toys that include dangerous materials including lead, magnets, and easy to reach, small batteries, these serve even more dangerous choking hazards. To add on to this, some toys are labeled with "non-toxic" or other informative notes to show that they are safe. Infant children are just developing in many ways, so toys that can stimulate senses are good ideas, of course if they are safe first. Stuffed animals to play with and books to read to infants are other common ideas. Rattles and teething toys that aren't too small are good for infants to have something to engage with.
Toddlers are older than infants, but still require precautions. Depending on the age of a toddler, which is typically from 1 to 4 years of age, it is good to consider most of the guidelines for infants, meaning they should receive similar gifts. Gifts like stuffed animals, sensory gifts, and engaging puzzle gifts are good for toddlers too. Older toddlers may be ready for more engaging gifts such as games to play with their family that are easy to understand, or even playsets, toy car sets, or sets such as Step2's Lifestyle Dream Kitchen, that allow for children to have something of their own kitchen. Possibly even consider a beginner's scooter or ride-on gift such as the Razor Wild Ones Jr. Scooter or Schwinn Roadster Tricycle.
Young children from 5 to 12 are more ready to move on from as many safety precautions, still requiring some for the lower ages in this spectrum, but are open to many more gifts. By this point, children can move from using developmental toys to get creative, and can start receiving better ways to get creative, such as art kits, Lego or other building sets, puzzles, and possibly simple, safe science kits. They are also now suitable for less simple, better board games and games like Connect4, or even Monopoly Junior. Children of this age range may also like less simple playsets and toy sets, or maybe even some sport equipment, which should always come with safety equipment. Children of ages in this range are most likely ready for some device such as a tablet or Ipod, which may be better to give before a phone, other handhelds such as Nintendo products, or perhaps even a console such as the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo consoles are typically better for younger children and families to use together, with a selection of kid-friendly, iconic, and fun games, which can be included as an extra gift, just as you would give equipment with something like a skateboard. Other tech gifts include beginner's cameras, and headset or earbuds. This age range is also better to move from a beginner's scooter or ride-on to possibly the child's first real scooter or bike, of course with a helmet and training wheels preferably.
Next comes teenagers. Teenagers usually have the widest range of gifts to be given, and can be hard to shop for, but there are many things that may make them happy. First, many things for the 5 to 12 children age group are still good ideas for any teenager if they do not own one already including headsets, consoles, bikes, sport equipment, video games, and other gifts of that style. Teenagers are much more developed than the previous ages, especially teens nearing their 20's, and are open to much more. Of course, many parents start seeing as the teenage years progress, it is time to start buying more of what the teen needs. This obviously includes new clothes for the most part. Teens may also like tickets to concerts of their favorite artists, or live shows, sports games, or movies they wanted to see. Perhaps also give teens gift cards for their devices or for other reasons, or subscriptions to services like Disney+.
Adults are the next range and receive much less for the holidays than children usually, and still need little safety precautions compared to younger children. Adults are better off with new supplies, especially for their skills and occupation, or just some extra supplies and items for the kitchen. Clothes, decorations, and ornaments are also common gifts among adults, as well as books, pictures, and jewelry. Subscriptions and gift cards also carry on to adults, making good gifts for them too. It is still important to make sure whatever gifts are given to any age should still be safe.
As for older adults and seniors, good gifts may include the same gifts listed for adults, but also perhaps some form of communication with their family, or a similar piece of technology such as an Echo or Echo Dot. If they are older, consider even giving them some form of medical alert device, just in case. Also consider some form of entertainment for them like a puzzle or music player. For older seniors with conditions like Dementia or Alzheimer's, consider a nice photo or photo book of the family for them to see nice, memorable pictures. Consider others gifts that can help them if they have other conditions.
Lastly, for anyone with disabilities or special needs, precautions should be thought about again. Younger people with these conditions may like gifts and toys that appeal to their senses or allow them to interact. Not only consider the previously mentioned guidelines for younger children, but also make sure to find gifts that they can still use, even with their condition. Make sure the gift is right for their condition no matter their age. In fact, all ages with these conditions may also receive sensory and interactive gifts. Also consider not only gifts that they can use even with their condition, but also gifts that help them with their condition.
Safe Toys and Gifts Month spreads awareness for everyone to make sure the gifts they give for the holidays, or anytime, are safe and usable for the receiver, no matter who they are.
Works Cited
moneyunder30.Com, www.moneyunder30.com/cheap-gifts-55-inexpensive-christmas-gifts.
Anonymous, et al. “The Big List of Best Gifts for Seniors.” DailyCaring, 31 Oct. 2020, dailycaring.com/big-list-gift-ideas-for-seniors/.
Leighton, Mara. “50 Fun and Unique Gifts That Teens Actually Want to Receive.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 25 Nov. 2020, www.businessinsider.com/best-gifts-for-teens.
“Safe Toys and Gifts Month.” AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/apha-calendar/2019/safe-toys-and-gifts-month-2019.
TodayShow. “37 Gifts Your Bundle of Joy Will Love This Holiday Season.” TODAY.com, 16 Oct. 2020, www.today.com/shop/best-gifts-babies-our-2017-holiday-gift-guide-t118481.
TodayShow. “47 Toys That Toddlers Will Be Thrilled to Unwrap.” TODAY.com, 3 Dec. 2020, www.today.com/shop/these-are-best-gifts-toddlers-2017-t119601.
TodayShow. “The Ultimate Gift Guide for Kids at Every Age - from Babies to Teens.” TODAY.com, 18 Nov. 2020, www.today.com/parents/best-gifts-kids-age-according-our-2018-gift-guides-t142282.
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