32 posts tagged “plush toys”

For my soon to turn 6 year olds birthday this year, she decided that she wanted to have a stuffed animal party. A stuffed animal party basically means that all the little girls invited will bring their favorite plush toy so that they can all play with them together. This is a great theme, but in order to keep the young ones attention, I knew I would have to be very inventive when it comes to creating games in order to keep everyone happy.

We had ten girls invited as guests, and I knew that with those kinds of numbers it was quite possible that someone would forget their plush toy at home. So that is why I decided to have a couple extra stuffed animals and teddy bears on hand. And sure enough two girls forgot their toy. One of the girl's forget her favorite teddy bear in her mom's car, and the other had just lost her favorite plush dog at school. Luckily, my extras managed to head off the tears at the pass, and then we could get to the games. Here are some of the games we played, and hopefully they'll be able to help you if you want to create your own stuffed animal party.

The Stuffed Animals Treasure Hunt

This one I had to think ahead for, as before the party started I hid a teddy bear somewhere in our house. I then used post-it notes to write down some clues. The first post-it note I gave to my daughter's plush dog, Fluffy. This clue would lead them to the next and so on, until they (and their companion stuffed animals) finally found the teddy bear. But the game didn't end there. The teddy bear himself contained another clue. You see, I had gotten some teddy bear cookies (to continue the theme) and hidden them also. This was a great game and all of the girls had a lot of fun.

Pin the Tail on the Bunny

While not as inventive as the treasure hunt, this variation of pin the tail is a classic for a reason. My daughter had a big stuffed bunny she had gotten for Easter. Realizing this would be perfect, I turned the bunny around so it's back was to the girls, and made a tail out of Velcro and some bandanas. That way, the girl's could be blindfolded, and whoever got the tail in the right place would stick with the Velcro. We played in teams, and the team that won (by pinning the tail the most times) would get to be the first to take a picture in the bunny's lap. This kept the girl's busy, and the prize was benign enough that we didn't have any jealousy issues.

Stuffed Animals Fairy Tale

After stuffed animal crackers and cake, we had time for one last game. We turned their plush toys, every plush dog, stuffed cat, stuffed raccoon and teddy bear, into a character in a fairy tale. This really let them be creative, and I was careful to make sure that each little girl's plushie got an important role. Since everyone wanted to be princesses, I let everyone do that and then they had to work together to overcome obstacles and get to the palace in time for the queen's birthday. This imaginative game was a great success.

As you can see, everyone had a wonderful time and my daughter said this was the best birthday party she had ever had! And the best part, I was able to throw a great party without breaking my budget! My daughter decided that this was a good omen for her year six, and I have to agree. With a little bit of imagination, a stuffed animal party can be a great way for everyone to have a blast!

Your children’s room and playroom may be the most exciting room in the house, but it can also be the most disorganized. If the closest you get to putting away your kid’s toys, stuffed animals, and games is throwing them on the floor, then you have a problem. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be embarrassed to have guests over. Clean up the disorganization with the following tips:

Key Tip #1: Storage

Storage items are critical when it comes to the organization of your child’s room, so the first thing you’ll need to do is clear some space. Even in a small room, storage items can save space. Here are some ideas that will fit any size room.

Probably the most ideal storage item for a child’s room is something you wouldn’t necessarily expect: fabric boxes. These have several major advantages over other types of storage. For one they are sturdy enough to hold practically any toy or plush animal, yet they are soft and free of sharp corners enough to be safe for children. They also come in many sizes, assuring appropriateness for any space. And lastly, they come in practically any color, meaning it’s easy to find one that fits the theme of your child’s room and matches perfectly. So once you choose a few of these colorful boxes, they can be placed in any empty corner, or even set right at the end of a bed, which is a very traditional place for a toy chest. And remember, organization doesn’t have to stop there, assuring that you have a chaotic box. You can get different sized storage boxes to organize toys by type. For example, get a small red basket to keep small toys in, such as cars and games. Then use a bigger, green box for the large toys, which could include plush toys and dolls. If you have extra large toys, such as giant teddy bears or life sized dolls, place them neatly on the floor, bed, or dresser as a piece of your decorating motif.

If you feel your floor space is too limited for this, here’s another option: hanging storage! Get a couple of colorful hanging wall baskets with pockets. These are extremely functional, save on space, and are fun besides! Place your hanging storage on the door or next to the window and you’ve got the perfect tool to keep your child’s room organized! Just having these storage boxes or baskets will put you on your way to a neat room. You’ll find that cleaning up all the clutter on a daily basis should only take 5 minutes or so, making creating a neat room a snap!

Key Tip #2: Functionality

The key to keeping a room organized is functionality. Even if your toy to space ratio is uneven, you can still keep the room ready for visitors. Just remember to use each space and piece of furniture for a specific purpose.

Room furnishings should be arranged in such a way that there is plenty of space for storage and storage boxes. Sometimes the furniture itself can play a part in this. You can get a higher bed, or add a leg extension, which will create room underneath the bed for you to place storage. This way smaller toys can have bins that fit under the bed and out of sight. Remember to categorize these boxes so certain types of toys go in them, which means you’ll always be able to find what you need. Also, if for some reason you’re not a fan of storage boxes and baskets, you could keep the floor organized by creating a “stuffed animal corner.” First start with the bigger plush toys, for example, lean a big stuffed dog against the wall corner. Then place the smaller toys around it (such as teddy bears and dolls) and other standing toys (like games and other items) can be placed under and beside. This way the toys aren’t spread all over, and give functionality to an otherwise empty, and boring, corner. While this might not be the easiest way to clean up, as you have to arrange the toys every time instead of just throwing them in bins, it does create a wonderful decorating motif.

So there you go, using these tips will make handling clutter in your child’s room a snap! Remember, a little organization will make every part of your house attractive and functional. As a last tip, teach your children to put away toys every time they are finished playing. This assures that not only will their rooms be guest ready at all times, but they will also be taught the all important value of responsibility!

It’s that time of year again: Easter! And as always, you need to create some fun Easter baskets for the children in your life. Whether you are looking for something non-traditional, or trying to come up with a basket that’s fun and yet doesn’t break the bank, or even making your first Easter basket, this article will have something for you.

Each of these baskets are inexpensive and great time savers. They are easy to construct and can be put together in less than an hour. So hop to it and go ahead and create the perfect basket; here there is something for everyone!

Forest Easter Basket

If you know a child that’s an avid hiker/camper/outdoor lover, this is the basket for them. Before you start building the basket, get these items together:

* Brown wooden basket
* Brown and green Easter grass or shredded paper of the same colors
* Construction paper in green and orange
* Your choice of plastic, chocolate or hard boiled eggs
* Animal shaped cookies or crackers
* A natural appearing plush rabbit
* Butterflies and ladybugs 3-D stickers (optional)

Once you’ve gathered together everything, it’s time to create the basket.

1. To represent soil, place the brown paper or Easter grass at the bottom of the basket. Then, layer over the brown with the green in order to represent grass. This is a good base to start with.

2. Next you can add the bunny. You can either use it as a centerpiece and place the plush toy in the middle, or you can place it towards the back so it’s a “supporting” element.

3. Then it’s time to start adding the eggs. Place them all around the bunny. If you want a very natural looking basket, don’t use too colorful of eggs. But if you like a lot of color, or only have colored eggs on hand, use them.

4. Next, you can arrange the animal cookies or crackers. Put them among the eggs, so that it looks like they are peeking around them.

5. Next it’s time to use the green and orange construction paper into “carrots. Cut long triangles from the orange paper for the carrot, and then add the green paper by cutting and shredding a small rectangle that you can tape to the carrot’s base for its leaves. You can decide how many of these you need.

6. Lastly, if you decided to get some stickers, place a couple of lady bugs and/or butterfly stickers to the handle, as if they were crawling up it. This will give the basket a very forest friendly look.

So now you have the perfect Easter basket for an outdoor lover!

Farm Easter Basket

This basket is very colorful and utilizes the traditional farm animals as symbols of Easter. For this basket you will need:

* A Small or Medium basket (any color)
* Green and yellow Easter grass or shredded paper
* Plastic, chocolate or hard boiled eggs
* 4 -5 fuzzy plush chicks or baby ducks
* Optional: Twizzlers or gummy worms
* Optional: Flower 3-D stickers or colorful ribbon

Now it’s time to build this fun basket:

1. First, you should mix together the green and yellow Easter grass until it simulates farm hay. Then fill the basket almost full with the mixture.

2. Next, take your stuffed chicks or baby ducks and place them on top of the hay. Arrange them however you see fit. This could be at random, so they’re evenly spaced, or so they are arranged in a line as if they were following each other.

3. Then place the eggs all around the plush toys. If you want to add an extra, cute touch, break some of the egg shells so it looks like they just hatched. Put some of the shells on their head or beside them.

4. Next, if you want to add more candy to the basket, because after all, Easter is a big candy holiday, set some twizzlers or gummy worms around the chicks. This way it looks like they are about to have lunch! Yummy!

5. Your last step could be to add some colorful flower stickers to the basket, because what spring scene is complete without freshly blooming flowers? Also, take the ribbon and tie it around the handle for that perfect finishing touch.

So there you have it, an adorable farm themed Easter basket! It seems that you can put all your chicks and eggs in one basket after all!

As you can see, Easter baskets can be a really fun way to flex your creative muscle, and create some wonderful new memories of one of the biggest holidays around! Happy Easter!

Easter Sunday is a holiday much anticipated by kids. After all, they get to hang out with friends and family, play games, eat candy and other treats, and even get presents! Of course, unfortunately for us adults, we’re the ones who have to provide all the fun. Instead of carefree enjoyment of the holiday, we get responsibility. It can be exhausting to have to find the perfect Easter kid’s gifts, and make sure we come in within budget. Luckily, this article is here to help. Here you’ll get fun ideas for Easter presents, which can either be wrapped individually or put together in a great Easter basket!

Sweets, Candy and other Goodies

Easter is a great time of the year for candy. Tasty, holiday-appropriate treats are released in droves. There are chocolate eggs, jelly beans, marshmallow chicks, and that all-important staple: the chocolate Easter bunny. In fact, if you’re just giving out small favors, the chocolate Easter bunny can be a great choice. Another option would be to fill a medium-sized plastic egg with jellybeans, or some other treat. The possibilities are endless. Candy is also a great filler for an Easter basket, whether you want nothing but treats in the basket, or want to fill the edges around another gift. Candy is something that both kids and adults would enjoy, so it’s hard to go wrong.

Games and DVD’s

Games and DVDs can of course be given as an individual present, but they are even more fun as part of an Easter basket. And although Easter movies are not as popular as Christmas movies, properly themed films and shows are available. For example, Chicken Little, Dora the Explorer, and many other cartoons do have Easter specials. In fact, if you know what the child’s favorite cartoon or television show is, you could find the corresponding Easter special and have a fantastic gift. Alternatively, Easter-themed games can also be a great addition to any basket. And once the child hasn’t gotten the gift, they have instant entertainment for your Easter get together, giving all the adults a break!

Activity Books and Art Supplies

Easter is a holiday that can really spark some artistic creativity. After all, egg painting is probably the number one holiday activity among children. So getting activity books and art supplies can be a great follow-up. Put together a box of crayons, some colored construction paper and craft kits and you have a great gift. Or, there are many Easter-themed pop up activity books or coloring books. For example, a coloring or activity book that follows the Easter Bunny on an adventure, or one that shares the story behind Easter. Once again, these items can be given individually, or part of a basket. Either way, it’s another great way to keep the kids entertained and make you their favorite gift-giver.

Easter Outfits

This can be tricky, especially if you’re trying to find the right size, but it can be a lot of fun as well. For example, get them a pair of cute bunny ears, because most of these would come in one size fits all. Or you could get them adorable Easter printed dresses or t-shirts. There are a lot of choices available, and most of them are very budget friendly. Don’t forget that children love costumes, so this could be a really fun, really unique, gift idea!

Stuffed Animals

Who doesn’t love stuffed animals? We’re definitely saving the best for last! Plush toys are hugely in demand during the Easter season. The most obvious example of a good stuffed animal gift would be a plush bunny. After all, Easter is personified with the character of the Easter Bunny, what better way to represent him then with a small, furry, doppelganger? In fact, a rabbit would make a great centerpiece for your Easter Basket. But if the bunny isn’t for you, there are other animals that are traditionally associated with Easter. These are chicks and ducklings. In fact, if you are making a smaller basket, this can be a great option. A baby plush chick or a little baby duck would make a very cute basket centerpiece. Any of these plush animals can also be given as a great individual present. But don’t forget, there’s no reason you have to be this limited when it comes to stuffed animals. Pick one that you’d know they’d like and you’ll have a super fun gift!

So there you go, all those ideas should give you something to work with and take some of the stress off for us adults! You can find an individual gift or a gift basket for practically any budget, and have a truly happy Easter!

Spring is a wonderful time of the year. Not only does it herald the return of sunshine and warmth, but it also brings one of the biggest holidays: Easter! Easter is loved by both adults and children. Adults get to visit with friends and family and eat great food, while children get to go hunting for eggs left by Easter Bunny and receive fun presents. And though the egg hunt is a really great, traditional activity, it is unfortunately not enough to keep the kids happy and busy all Easter Sunday.

Luckily, there are other activities and games you could put together to keep children entertained. So here are some fun Easter activities to keep the kids happy!

Easter Egg Piñata

Pinatas come in all shapes, sizes, and themes, and luckily that includes themes that are appropriate for Easter! Easter is a big holiday, so your local party goods store is sure to have piñatas that are egg, bunny, duck, or chick shaped. Or if you don’t want to buy one pre-made, you could always make your own into any shape you desire. Once you have your piñata, fill it with Easter candy. This can include candy eggs, jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, or something else holiday themed. Or, if you’re worried this is too much sugar, you could mix in some little Easter stuffed animals, like stuffed chicks, plush baby ducks, or stuffed bunnies.

Before actually having the kids take turns trying to break the piñata, you have to set it up. Remember that you must have it at a safe height, because if the objects inside fall from too high of a height there could be an injury. Also, attach it to something sturdy so the whole structure doesn’t come down, because you don’t want the piñata itself falling down and hitting someone. Just remember these tips and you’ll have a fun, safe way to entertain everyone.

Pin the Chick on the Egg

While we’re all aware of the game pin the tail on the donkey, it pays to remember that there are other holiday variations. Pin the chick on the egg is one of these variations. To create, all you need to do is draw an egg on a piece of cardboard. To make it look nicer, you could paint the egg, or cover it with some tissue paper. Then, tape some tweed on the back of the egg so that you have a small hoop to hang the cardboard with. Or you could use hooks you already have for paintings and frames. Hang it someplace that works for you. Some good places are the inside of a door, like the front door or a basement door. Then all you need is the chicks. Get a few small plush chicks, put tape on their bottoms or beak, and lie them down in a box and you are ready for the game.

Obviously, the game is almost the same as pin the tail on the donkey. Tie a blindfold around the first contestants eyes, a small piece of cloth or a clean dishtowel will often work find, and spin them around until they are disoriented. Then tell them they have to find the egg, and pin the chick to its top. Pinned correctly, and it looks like the chick is coming out of the top of the egg. Let the other kids cheer them on and yell out guidance as they try to pin the chick. This game has the advantage of being easy to play and set up, and can keep the kids entertained for a fair amount of time. For a prize, you could give the little chick to the child who manages to pin it correctly at the top of the egg.

So there you go! These two fun and simple to set up games will keep the children at your Easter gathering happy and entertained. Not only will these activities be fun for everyone to watch, but they will also create memories of a great holiday that these children will remember for years to come. Happy Easter!

Easter is a wonderful holiday, especially for children. Family and friends have a great excuse to get together, and there’s great food and games. The games are key, as Easter is a time of the year that children really look forward to. After all, every year they expect the Easter Bunny to hide eggs, baskets, and/or treats, that they can than go and find.

So with such high expectations, what can we do to keep the kids happy and entertained? Why, games of course! Here is a list of some of the best Easter day games, guaranteed to meet both kids and parents expectations for a wonderful Easter.

The Egg Hunt

As already mentioned above, one of the most anticipated games of Easter is the Egg Hunt. In fact, it doesn’t matter if you have a small home or the weather isn’t cooperating for you to hide the eggs outside. An egg hunt doesn’t actually need a lot of space to still be fun. All you really need is creativity, and a half hour to an hour to play the game.

Just remember when you’re hiding eggs: don’t make the game to difficult! Hide them in easy to reach places, such as under bed or couch pillows, or behind the stuffed animals in a child’s room. This is a great hiding place because these soft toys are safe for children to be around, as stuffed lions, teddy bears, and other plush animals don’t have sharp corners or require kids to climb to get to them. The inside of shoes can also be a really fun hiding place, just make sure that the shoes you put the eggs in aren’t going to be worn, or you may find yourself with a mess! Remember, it’s very important to hide them in places within a child’s reach, because climbing sets them up for a fall, and safety should always be your foremost concern for children.

Also, just because the game is called an “egg hunt” doesn’t mean you have to just stick with eggs. Hide a stuffed rabbit in the home also, and tell them that the Easter Bunny left them a cousin of his to play with. In fact, you can use many things besides eggs. One really popular idea is hiding an Easter basket or baskets. You can fill the basket with candy (chocolate bunny rabbits, jellybeans, etc) and toys, like another stuffed bunny or a plush duckling. If you’ve got several children, and you want to make sure that they each get a basket, put each child’s name on one basket and tell them that they have to find the one that’s for them. This will most certainly be a great start to your Easter holiday!

Easter crafts

After the excitement and chaos of the Egg Hunt, it’s nice to have an activity for the kids that will wind everyone down, which is where doing Easter crafts come in. This is also great because it doesn’t require as much supervision as the egg hunt, and so is a little break for everyone. All you really need is some paper and crayons and the children can create all sorts of Easter related masterpieces. You can even give them some artistic inspiration by creating a display for them to base their pictures on. The display could have painted eggs, some chicks and a bunny.

Then you can make things as structured or unstructured as you’d like. Let them use their imaginations and draw anything they want about Easter, or tell them what do draw, such as painted eggs with chicks cracking through the shell, or a picture of the Easter bunny hiding eggs. You could even turn this into a contest, with the first prize drawing winning the bunny in the display, the second prize winning the chick, and everyone else getting the eggs as a consolidation prize.

The egg hunt and the arts and craft projects are very traditional Easter games, but you can make them more fun than usual by adding plush chicks and a stuffed bunny to motivate the children even more. Remember, there’s a lot you can do to make your Easter holiday one that all the kids will have fond memories of, just follow some of these simple ideas!

Some of us may think that stuffed animals are a thing of the past, as they no longer seem to be the “it” toy. You may often decide to not give a stuffed animal for a gift, and instead get something more practical, because after all, what point does a plush toy have? What reason is there to get a stuffed animal?

The answer to that is: plenty. Stuffed animals can be very meaningful, and symbolize important events or people. This is truly a timeless gift, and we all need to be reminded of that! Let’s look at why plush toys are important in the lives of three particular age groups: kids, teenagers, and adults.

Kid's Symbols

There is no such thing as too many stuffed animals for children. Kids love collecting plush toys of all kinds, and they could always use more. What could possibly symbolize the innocence of childhood better than a soft and lovable stuffed animal? In our own childhood, we probably spent many a night cuddling up to our favorite plush bunny or bear. Children enjoy the comfort of a stuffed animal, and that comfort is a great nightmare repellant! In fact, those who say that stuffed animals aren’t in “it” toy anymore, haven’t been paying attention to what’s happening in the world of little girls. Plush animals are darn right “fashionable” for girls to have. Many girls will get a natural appearing plush cat or plush dog, just so they can carry it around in their little purses as they emulate fashionable women carrying around their small pets. Stuffed toys have certainly not gone out of style!

Teenager's Symbols

Teenagers may not play with toys any more, but stuffed toys aren’t just a toy. They are a confidant and a comfort. In fact, many teenage girls have more animals now than they did when they were young. This is because stuffed animals often symbolize love or a crush. They are keepsakes. For example, a teenage girl will really cherish that little plush dolphin that her boyfriend gave her because he knows that dolphins are her favorite animals. Or maybe her father gives her a stuffed bear as she’s on the way out the door for college, so she will never be alone.

But it’s not just girls who can cherish plush animals. Teenage boys can also enjoy them a lot too. Boys often keep them as a reminder of something they did that was brave or impressive. For example, maybe they love keeping around that stuffed tiger they received after winning a sports game. Or maybe they have a huge stuffed lion they won at a boardwalk after proving their prowess at a darts game or baseball stand. To them, stuffed animals are a symbol of accomplishment and pride.

Adult's Symbols

Lastly, stuffed animals can also be enjoyed by adults, though for different reasons than the kids and teenagers enjoy them. The majority of adults use stuffed toys as a decorative item. They will search for natural, classy appearing plush toy figurines or stuffed animals that can add little touches to their home or vacation home. For example, a dolphin plushie in their vacation home on the ocean, or a tiger to make their home more exotic and fit in with a jungle theme. Hallways and entrances can be embellished with stuffed lions, black bears, or even plush dogs as decoration to give a unique touch. Part of this too, is that plush toys for adults are more of a collectible than a toy. Many adults are true collectors, who have large collections to capture that nostalgic feeling from childhood. In fact, it’s not uncommon to realize someone you knows has kept an old teddy bear for 20 years because of the meanings it carries.

So as you can see, stuffed animals will never go out of style for any age group. They continue to symbolize and carry meaning of all kinds. Never discount the importance of stuffed animals!

There are some great games out there that you could put together for a children’s party, and this article has two great ideas for you! One of these would be a trivia game on children’s toys. In fact, there is some great information out there. For example, there is the story of President Theodor Roosevelt’s compassion and how it led to a popular toy.

Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was known to the public affectionately as "Teddy." An outdoor enthusiast, “Teddy” was once on a hunting trip to Mississippi when he was told to shoot a black bear that had been captured alive by his hunting crew. He refused, on the grounds that killing an already helpless animal was unsportsmanlike, and not proper hunting. This act quickly captured the imagination of the public, and was portrayed again and again in many newspaper drawings and caricatures. And according to Wikipedia, this story inspired a toy maker to design a little cute plush bear, which he named "Teddy's Bear." So this is how teddy bears got their name. In fact, they are called the same thing in many other languages.

This would make a great piece of trivia at a child’s party, as its both interesting and educational. When you are telling the story, get a toy soldier and a realistic appearing teddy bear so you can make the scene come alive! Then have crayons, pencils, sticker letters and paper so the kids can draw the scene, and then create their own newspaper page on the historic event! Have them assemble their drawings on the big piece of paper and then let them create a fun headline that they can put as the front page news. You could even cut out some paragraphs of newsprint from a real newspaper to make theirs look more authentic. Then, give each of them a little black teddy bear as a door prize that they can play with.

If you want to add a second idea, here’s another fun activity you could make using stuffed animals: create a boardwalk!

Create a few stations throughout your home. One of them could be a basketball station. Get those wall hopes that will stick on any surface, assign a certain number of tries and a line from which they must throw the ball, and you have a fun game! Just remember not to make it too difficult, but not too easy either. As a prize, have plush toys, like a big stuffed tiger, stuffed lion or even a teddy bear. This will definitely be a hit for your party guests!

The fishbowl game would make another great station. Get different sized containers (these could be something as big as a cereal bowl or something as small as a water bottle, use whatever you have on hand) and arrange them relatively close to one another. Then let each kid have three chances to throw a small soft ball through the containers openings. The smaller the opening of the container the bigger the prize they can win. The smaller prizes could be things like crayons or stickers and the grand prize could be a teddy bear or other large stuffed animal.

Another great station would be a bowling arena. Split the kids into two teams. The team who knocks down the most pins is the winner after a certain number of tries. Have a consolation prize for the runner up so that no one feels bad. Because after all, hurt feelings ruin parties. For example, the winning team could get a stuffed tiger while the other team would get a box of crayons.

So there you go, trivia, boardwalk games and stuffed animal prizes and you have the perfect kid’s party. You’ll probably find yourself having just as much fun planning it as the kids will have playing with it!

Buying toys and plush animals for children isn’t always easy. No longer being children ourselves, it’s hard to get into the head of the modern child and understand what they would enjoy. This is especially true if we don’t have a lot of experience with kids, and so we often bemoan the lack of guidelines for what to look for in the toy section. Toy stores and toy sections rarely have knowledgeable staff, and all the toy label itself will have is the general information that tells us what ages the toy is safe for. We often end up buying the so-called “must have” toy of the season, either because it has been heavily advertised, or because that’s what the sales person tells us is the “hot” toy. But how do we know this “must have” toy is right for child we’re getting it for?

That is why we have developed these five guidelines that will help you decide which stuffed animal is the right one to give for a gift. Read on, and make your gift giving experience much easier.

1. Age

Age can be a good indicator in as that it can tell you how specific you have to be. If you’re getting a gift for a toddler, practically any stuffed animal is good, as they haven’t developed specific tastes yet. But if the child is older, it’s probably a good idea to ask their parents if they are really into a particular animal. For example, they could love whimsical creatures such as unicorns, or they might love jungle animals, such as a stuffed lion. Remember, most older children have very developed likes, so it doesn’t hurt to do a little research by talking to someone close to them.

2. Safety

This is a critical consideration. Always make sure that the toy you buy is safe, especially if the child is very young. If the child is under three years of age, any toy with small parts or sharp edges is a big no-no. For example, make sure that the nose and eyes of a stuffed animal won’t easily fall off and give the child something to choke on.

3. Gender

There are very different toys marketed for little boys and little girls, so always consider gender when getting a gift. Girls often prefer plush animals that are colorful, cute, and sweet. These could include cute teddy bears, little chipmunks, a plush cat, or a plush dog. Boys often enjoy stuffed animals that are a bit mightier, with an edge of danger. These include stuffed lions, stuffed tigers, or a big grizzly bear.

4. Quality

This ties in with the issue of safety. If a toy is not high-quality, you run the danger of having a safety issue. A poorly built or stitched toy could allow parts to come off, and cause the possibility of choking on little pieces. Also, just imagine how sad a child would be if they got attached to the stuffed animal you bought them, and then it falls apart! Don’t sacrifice quality for price. Remember, there are plenty of high quality stuffed animals out there that you can get a good deal on.

5. Purpose

The last guideline has to do with the purpose you have when giving the gift. Maybe you want to give them a bed time toy, or you want to get them something with some educational value. Educational toys feed a child’s curiosity. Just imagine getting them a stuffed lion or stuffed tiger with the purpose of feeding their curiosity on the natural world. Or maybe you know that they are having a hard time lately. Get them something comforting, such as a cute teddy bear or a sweet stuffed toy pet. You can combine the function of the present with the child’s personality and needs, getting them a great gift.

So as you can see, there are five easy guidelines to follow when getting a gift for a child. Don’t just buy the newest “hot” toy with no forethought. Consider age, gender, safety, quality and the function of your gift. Getting a fantastic present doesn’t have to be difficult when you have these great guidelines to follow!

When we were kids, it seems that our grandparents were always getting us some of the best gifts. But now that we are older, and making our own money, it’s time to return the favor. Of course, choosing a gift for someone from a different generation isn’t always easy as their likes and dislikes are often very dissimilar than our own. That’s why this article will give you some of our top ideas for gifts for grandparents.

Traveling Gear

The greatest perk of retirement is more free time, and many retired folks spend that free time traveling. Longer vacations are possible, and whether they are jetting off to exotic locals or staying closer our grandparents often have the time to do the things they’ve always dreamed of. But just because their traveling a lot more, it doesn’t mean they’re buying new gear for their vacations. Many grandparents have luggage 20 years old, which is why it can be a great idea to get them some new traveling gear as a gift. This is also a gift that can fit any budget. You could get them a matching luggage set or keep things a little more budget friendly by just getting them a new carry-on bag. In fact, even if your grandparents aren’t doing any traveling, you can get them this gift. After all, it might inspire them to take that trip to Paris or African Safari that they’ve always dreamed of.

Home Decor

Buying decor for your grandparent’s home can be great, but beware, as it can also be tricky. Purchasing a gift based on your own taste isn’t always a good idea, as often your sense of style is a great deal more modern than theirs. Remember, that novelty fruit bowl you love may not fit the Renaissance style of your grandparent’s home. Luckily, there is a piece of home decor that you can rarely go wrong with: stuffed animals. Of course, these have to be elegant and realistic-appearing plush toys, instead of crazy colors or obviously shoddy sewing. Stuffed animals have become very popular pieces with which to decorate, as they liven up a home. Plus, they’re kid friendly, which isn’t certainly useful in the home of a grandparent. Maybe grandma will want to put a cute little cat figurine on the kitchen counter, or a big stuffed dog at the front door. Or if grandma’s a well-known adventurer, get her a stuffed lion or stuffed tiger to decorate her living room, which would make a great place for her to tell her grand kids stories!

Gear to Promote Relaxation

One of the main problems with getting older is the aches and pains that accompany the advancing years. It seems that all grandparents have some kind of pain, whether it be back, knee, feet, shoulders or hips. This is why gear for relaxation is such a great idea; it gives them a chance to forget about their discomfort for a while. Just imagine their delight at a water foot massager for their aching feet! It’s also a great gift idea for those with differing budgets. You can get something as small as a pillow massager for their neck, or something as big as an actual massage chair. This kind of gift shows that you understand grandma and grandpa’s need for some “me” time.

So there you go. The top three gift ideas for grandparents are travel gear, stuffed animals to use in home décor, and relaxation gear. May you never have trouble picking out a gift for a grandma or grandpa again!