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No, It Doesn't Walk, Talk or Light-Up

Gifts with Staying Power

By Donna Smith

are two great magazines for preschool-age children.

What child doesn't love a ball? Balls encourage interaction and cooperation with others, and are also lots of fun! Kids love those big colorful bouncy balls, or how about a football or soccer ball? Preschoolers are just beginning to form their interests, so give them a variety of different balls and see which one they enjoy the most. Will you have a football player? A soccer player? Or maybe just an entertained preschooler playing catch in the back yard? Encourage your child to make up new games to play.

Parents often forget about buying kids a musical instrument. Who wouldn't want an active preschooler banging on a set of drums in the living room? OK, so how about a harmonica or a tambourine? Get a tape recorder and tape them playing their music. Kids will love listening to the sounds they make. "Real" musical instruments can be expensive, so opt for the cheaper, plastic kind for now. If your kids do develop an interest, wait until they are older and able to take care of an expensive instrument.

Toys don't have to talk, walk, beep, light up, blow up or require batteries to be fun. The toys above have sustained through many, many years. While most new toys are made to entertain the kids, these toys get the child's mind working so they create ways to entertain themselves. You can't go wrong with a toy that stimulates a child's mind.