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Holiday Gifts for Young Children Choosing toys and games for your child is one of the joys of the holiday season. As you make your selections, consider toys that offer a combination of fun and learning. Many holiday gifts can enhance children's problem solving skills and encourage their imaginations. Included below are a few gift ideas that will nurture learning behaviors in key areas of your child's early development. Math Toy Cash Register: Children learn to recognize coins and bills. They can learn to make change if they work with an older child or an adult play partner. Dominoes: Children love to play games with their parents and siblings. Dominoes can help children recognize similar quantities...an early math readiness skill. Reading Magazines: Children at Kids Express Learning Center have enjoyed Ladybug, Your Big Back Yard and Ranger Rick. Receiving mail is fun for everyone and sharing a monthly magazine is a gift that continues to enrich long after the holidays are over. Books: Check out www.bookadventure.org for some great book ideas for your holiday gift giving. Jan Brett, one of KELC's featured authors, has recently published a new "Noah's Ark" book. Check it out at your local bookstore. Imagination Art Materials: A "DO IT" craft box makes a great gift for any preschool child. Fill a safe and sturdy box or plastic tub with glue, crayons, craft sticks, safety scissors, glitter, sequins, colored paper, lace doilies, templates, a small stapler, a couple rolls of tape, and other art supplies. Your gift will foster creativity and provide hours of fun for your child. Make Believe: Encourage a child to create fantasies and imitate or recreate the world by giving a gift of dress- up clothes, a well-crafted dollhouse or barn and other props that encourage dramatic play.
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