PARENT TIPS CHOOSE WISELY

Five tips from Liat Hughes Joshi, parenting expert and author of New Old-fashioned Parenting

Consider longevity

Think about how long the present will last and make sure it’s something they’re not going to grow out of. Don’t necessarily be tempted by the latest gimmick if it’s something they’ll be bored with by the following week.

Look for play value

Make sure it’s a toy that can be used in different ways and used creatively. Toys that capture the imagination are especially good for younger children. Lego, for example, can be used in a thousand different ways. Enhancing your child’s ability to play and think creatively is important in an age when they’re in front of screens so much of the time.

Avoid over-spending

It doesn’t need to be something extortionate. Younger children don’t have that much of a sense of what things cost. It’s about whether the present excites them or not. Sometimes choosing something unusual that they haven’t seen before, or something very personal to them, can mean more to them than something expensive.

Don’t buy something you’ll hate

It should be a toy that won’t become annoying to you, such as one that plays awful music or one you’ll constantly be tripping over.

Keep the magic alive

This is Christmas, so it’s got to be something that makes your child’s eyes light up. Give them something they’ll remember.

As told to Rosa Silverman