74 HAWAII PARENT January/February 2025 kisses. Gifts that continue to nurture baby’s natural curiosity and development while maintaining safety make great gifts. To build strength, pulling, pushing and rocking toys are a clever idea. Many of these toys also have extra play features, such as music, moving pieces, or sorters, which children can enjoy for a couple more years. The traditional toy blocks still continue to entertain children, while also building core strength, spatial relationship skills and even the fundamental concepts of physics and math. Hand-made or personalized items are also special presents for a first birthday. A knit rattle or blanket or personalized print can be treasured throughout a young child’s life. Around one year is also the time of ests. You could also give a trip – either to the movies or Chuck E. Cheese’s or to the mainland and beyond, allowing for family time and fun. After surveying 3rd graders at Maryknoll, the non-toy gift of trips was in fact the second most popular present ever received. Maximus expounds, “My favorite birthday present was going to San Diego to visit my cousins. Why I wanted to go there is because I do not see them much.” FIRST BIRTHDAY PRESENT IDEAS First baby luaus are a blast – to celebrating baby’s first year and continued health, and to also applauding the wonderful parents. By the time baby is one, most children have figured out how to sit up, crawl, and even pull up to stand. If not already, they soon will be walking and speaking their first words and also giving hugs and “Invest in toys made of high-quality materials, which will withstand years of use.” Knowing a child’s interests makes buying great gifts easy.
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