The best gifts for 5-year-old girls and boys

an article from Circulate the plastic says that 80% of toys, almost all of this material, ends up in landfills, incinerators or… the ocean. And that one in three fathers and mothers admit that they throw away undamaged toys because their children simply stop using them. Next…

In addition to offering you a good green conversation starter to brighten up your Christmas meal, the idea of ​​this article is to provide you with gift ideas for your daughters, sons, nieces, grandchildren or godchildren. For this, we consulted four subject matter experts who, from different disciplines, gave us simple and interesting suggestions for gifts that are meaningful, fun, stimulating and which, hopefully, will not end up floating at sea.

The game is essential to human development: from the earliest childhood, it is the dynamic that allows a healthy cognitive, muscular, social and emotional evolution of people. Play, especially outdoors, teaches children about the deployment and limits of strength, impulse control, balance, ethics, and problem solving, among other things.

“I am more and more anti-consumerism,” admits Maria José Buttazzoni, kindergarten educator, author of books and director of Ombu Play + Grow . “That’s why I think it’s a good idea to give hours of nature, of outdoor games.” Buttazzoni, for example, proposes to innovate by offering “a voucher for a day camping” or “an outing to a nature reserve”.

You can find the complete list of natural sanctuaries here and an article with camping recommendations to enjoy with the family here.

“Give a gift card symbolic of experiential experiences, meaningful time without screens and sharing a playful activity for life and its history, it is much better than a silly toy,” he asserts.

The co-author of the book children to eat He also recommends, if you’re looking for something more specific, things that stimulate outdoor living, like a balance beam.

“I recommend games that allow you to explore the outdoors, it’s something very important in childhood,” advises the child-adolescent psychologist. Valeska Woldarski . “In this sense, insect exploration kits, magnifying glasses or water games allow them to develop, move and play in groups.”

“It’s hard to imagine gifts that can last for many years, since at that age, between 4 and 5 years old, they are just beginning to change a lot”, testifies the preschool teacher. Maria Veronica Gajardo , creator of the “Espacio Casa Infante” nursery in Valdivia. But a good backpack, he suggests, is always a good idea – it’s useful not only for school but also for walks and trips – and it can last for many years.

“Given any idea of ​​sports skills you might show, I recommend thinking of an item or accessory to start playing a sport. From beach paddles or a soccer ball to a bike, if possible, or even a board for swimming too,” he adds.

One idea that Gajardo and Buttazzoni agreed on, if there is a patio in the house, is to give it a good swing. It’s something that guarantees time outdoors, shared experiences and reasons to invite friends over to play. This Big Bounce model supports up to 100 kg of weight.

the pediatrician Marianne Elberg offers games such as colored carpets or wrestling. It is an excellent gift, according to her, because it allows children to be entertained both alone and with others. In addition, it helps to develop the fluidity of movements with its jumps and stretches. As they understand how their body develops or moves, challenges can be added to keep it fun and challenging.

Elberg also adds that building blocks can help develop fine motor skills. “A good example are legos or their alternatives, even more when they have the design of their favorite characters.” It’s a toy that can last for decades and adapts to the different stages of boys’ and girls’ imaginations.

To promote sociability and family exchanges, nothing better than board games. “There’s a game I play a lot at the office and kids love it,” says psychologist Woldarsky. “His name is Double children and that forces you to be constantly attentive: it’s played with cards and you have to look at the pattern that repeats itself. It has 5 different modes, making it versatile and portable, perfect for vacations. It is also transversal, because young and old can play it with the same pleasure”.

A great alternative, adds Woldarsky, are games steam —Educational acronym designating that English brings together the concepts of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics—, “which are associated with exploration, pleasure and development in more scientific fields”. They can be a lot of fun, arouse concerns and curiosities that could later become professions or hobbies, and they go a long way in bridging the gender gap that still exists in science.

“There are many varieties, such as chemistry experiments, robot building or dinosaur games, which allow girls and boys to explore different areas through play,” she explains.

Another type of gift that professionals agree on are books. Not only because of the importance of promoting reading from childhood, but also because of the great shared experience that means reading together, before going to sleep. If anyone was looking for ways to spend quality time with their sons or daughters, reading stories or books, they would easily find it, as Mariana Elberg says.

For those unfamiliar with the vast universe of children’s literature, Woldarsky recommends two titles: Stories for Children Who Dare to Be Different and Good Night Stories for Rebellious Girls .

The specialist explains that the two books have the particularity of opening a conversation with girls and boys. “It allows you to get out and explore, to find more information about the characters or to go to a museum, if it’s about artists. These are things that transcend giving and I like this idea, that the present generates an experience,” he says.

How to ensure that the book is a success for the one who receives it? Elberg gives some clues. “I hope they have big letters, that they are not very long and also didactic: with that it will be easier for them to reach the end of the story.” For her part, she recommends the book Lía and the dentistof the dentist Daniela Almeida .

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of December 7, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.