If a friend or family member is expecting a new baby, you will want to give a unique and thoughtful girl before they bring their baby home. Although baby clothing is adorable and toys are always fun, you may prefer giving a more meaningful gift. To contribute to the baby’s future, you might choose a gift for a later phase of the baby’s life. Here are some ideas!
Infants Need Sensory Stimulation
An infant’s brain can maximize development through sensory stimulation. For example, a mirror will help the baby grasp the concept of facial recognition and visual acuity. Books with brightly-colored pictures of cartoon animals and baby faces will enhance speech and language development. During the fourth through sixth months, babies can learn through tactile stimulation from squeeze toys or gifts of varied textures.
One-Year-Olds Have Open Minds
When a new baby completes its first year, its brain can learn best by using its evolving motor skills. Investing in a playhouse or outdoor toys like a kite is a perfect way to give children experiences that will ignite their brains while they become enchanted by nature. An early appreciation may also allow them to place technology in its rightful place as an educational aid rather than an all-day activity. At this point in their lives, their minds can have multiple channels of simultaneous learning, so your gifts for them at this age can be multidimensional.
Toddlers Learn By Solving Puzzles
Toddlers’ brains will develop best by learning to solve puzzles or to put things together. Using toys that can help them pretend, like toy cars, dress-up outfits, and puppets, will allow their imagination to grow. Music is an excellent tool for younger children because the repetition included in children’s songs is a valuable way for them to build and store their knowledge base. Toddlers can also benefit from gifts that help develop their large and small muscles, like balls or tricycles.
School Age Children Can Explore Their Capabilities
No matter which school a child attends, they will begin mastering the basics of education during their elementary years. Some parents choose to send their children to private schools. 24% of private schools offer learning experiences that will identify a child’s unique gifts and provide academic enrichment experiences beyond the typical school day. Educational gifts for a school-age child could also build on those unique talents.
Children Gain Skills Through Language Learning
Although your child’s language skills will first develop in the language their parents speak, the flexibility of children’s minds can allow them to learn a second language quickly. Children will have the best results in learning a language if they begin before they are 10 years old. To assist children in learning new languages, you could give them books or movies that tell children’s stories in those languages.
Consider Contributing to Expenses
People who are unable to have a child by traditional methods often choose to have a child through a surrogate mother. Contributing to travel expenses could be a thoughtful gift. After all, costs for the surrogacy process can unexpectedly add up, since the full costs can vary widely. Total costs will be increased if an egg donor is needed, and it can be challenging to predict the total cost of all the medical expenses the pregnant woman will have.
Giving a gift for a friend’s new baby can help you share in your friend’s happiness. You can be happy knowing you had a small part in that child’s educational future. The bottom line: if a gift comes from your heart, it will be the right one to give.
