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Top toys: the greatest gender-inclusive gifts for children
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All natural. All neutral. One size fits all.
The possibilties are endless. The perfect toy.
Don’t box in those kids when buying gifts. If you’re like many of us, you’ve still got a bit of holiday shopping to do. And if you’re reading this article, you might be wondering what to get kids that won’t play into social stereotypes and that will leave them free to explore and imagine, be they boys or girls.
We’re ready to rescue you with some simple ideas that you’ll never find in the pink and blue of aisles of certain big-box stores.
1. Pipe cleaners – ingenious. These inexpensive items (usually about $2) can be turned into literally anything. While my son prefers to make earrings, necklaces, and bracelets out of them, others fashion them into people, complex geometric figures, neverending chains, food items, etc. The possibilities are truly endless.
2. Magnets. There are so many different magnets that you can find for kids to play with. From magnatiles, which appeal to a wide age range (and don’t have the small pieces dangerous for little ones) to the technical goobi packs that allow kids to build with multiple magnet sizes and connectors. Kids love to play with magnets. Heck, I love to play with magnets. There’s something mesmerizing about magnetism. It’s sort of like a magic power. And the kids on your list will be sure to be under the spell of magnets for hours!
3. Bikes. I know, it’s a big-ticket item, but bikes are great. Kids can tool around the neighborhood, or the park, or with you as you walk to the nearest coffee shop, desperate for a dose of caffeine. Now you might want to be on the lookout for the sneaky gender messages in some bikes – the “girl” bikes with sparkles and the “boy” bikes with flames. But you could always push back and get a girl a flame bike and vice versa. Or find a nice, classic red bike and avoid the issue altogether. And don’t forget the exercise that kids will get out of those bikes!
4. Science kits. Like magnets, science kits, especially those involving dramatic chemical reactions, are fun for everyone. Take a pinch of this, a scoop of that, add them together, mix, and whoosh! You’ve got some sizzling, smoking, gurgling fun. (Just don’t forget to snag an adult to supervise).
5. The basics: Paper, markers, crayons, scissors…and don’t forget the glue! You can’t avoid the basics when thinking about kids. In fact, so many folks try to get fancy toys and supplies for their kids that many kids are actually lacking these basics. But kids can never have enough paper (especially colorful paper), markers, crayons, scissors, or glue (glue sticks to avoid the huge mess, please). Again, the possibilities are endless. Cut out shapes, glue them on paper. Make 3-D models. Draw mini pictures. Draw huge pictures. Really, the enjoyment could last forever. And do allow yourself a few minutes to sit down with the kids and get into the art yourself. It’s a zen experience, trust me.
mcl
