When choosing a gift for a one year old baby, adorable gifts don’t just have to be just pretty keepsakes, but can be useful presents which aid their development, adding infinite value to your gift choice.

The best first birthday gifts are items that are both practical and memorable, as well as those that contribute to the baby's development and enjoyment. Not to mention, items that are sustainable and kind on the environment.

Our gift range at KindtoKidz tries to meet all these requirements. Here are some of the most popular choices sorted by gender and other preferences the gift buyer may have:

First Birthday Gift Ideas for a Girl or Boy

At KindtoKidz we don’t believe that specific toys or clothes need to be catered towards solely one sex, but rather that they should be geared to the individual child and their tastes and preferences, regardless of gender. For example, some girls may like toy cars or trucks and some boys may like baby dolls. Therefore, our gift range for one year old’s is on the gender neutral side! 

First Birthday Gifts for a Second Child

The best first birthday gifts for a second child are gifts that are unique, of which their older sibling doesn’t already have. This can be something personalised, like a name bracelet or name puzzle, or even an experience gift – like a play centre voucher or local activity group voucher.

Unique toys are another fantastic idea, because their older siblings are unlikely to possess these. Toys like the Manhattan Deep Sea Activity Centre or the Enchanted Forest Stacking Blocks , are good examples of unique gifts.

Another type of present appropriate for a second child, is something that the older sibling can also partake in, without taking away from the young child who is the birthday gift recipient. This is where toys that are suitable for more than one person are a fantastic idea. This helps minimise sibling jealousy or feeling excluded.

Some examples would be our Montessori starter set which has a range of unique and developmentally appropriate toys that foster curiosity, learning and independence, and there are enough toys in the set, to go around and be shared with siblings and friends.

Another example would be a musical set like the Djeco Animambo Percussion Set which has a few different instruments that are suitable for a range of ages and for playing with together! 

First Birthday Present Ideas that Aid Development

The best presents are also those that are aid child development. We have outlined some excellent choices below with their specific benefits!

Wooden Blocks

Wooden blocks are a classic first birthday offering since they will grow with the child and give them a chance to hone those fine motor skills and spatial reasoning.

Grippy Cube Blocks

For one year old’s we recommend blocks that are easy to grip (known as ‘grippy’ blocks) and that are the right size for them to play around with (not too large or too small). Basic blocks/cubes are a popular choice for this age for this reason, such as the Qtoys My First Block Set, which is also available with natural wooden hues. With simple colours and easy to grasp pieces that are also safe to put in one’s mouth if teething (they have no toxic paints), they make a wonderful and SAFE gift idea.

ABC Blocks

Adding an alphabet or number design to blocks, also introduces children to literacy and numeracy. Although at age one, most children can't recognise letters or count yet, they can get used to seeing the numbers and letters, which helps familiarise them for learning these later on. A popular choice along these lines is Le Toy Van’s ABC Blocks. These also come with pictorial representations of the alphabet and counting, so as babies grow older and start learning their basic abc’s and numbers, these blocks can also be used as a learning aid.

Block Wagons

Another popular choice for one year old’s is block wagons , which combine the benefits of block play with a wagon toy, which is perfect for children who are learning to take those first steps! 

Particularly, block wagons help develop a variety of skills, which include:

Fine Motor Skills Development : At one year old, children are developing their fine motor skills, which involve the use of small muscles in the hands and fingers. Playing with wooden blocks and a wagon encourages grasping, stacking, and manipulating objects, helping to strengthen these muscles and improve hand-eye coordination.

Gross Motor Skills Enhancement : Pushing and pulling the wagon around the room or outdoor spaces engages larger muscle groups, promoting gross motor skills development. This activity helps children practice balance, coordination, and spatial awareness as they navigate different surfaces and obstacles.

Cognitive Growth : Wooden block wagons provide opportunities for cognitive development as children experiment with stacking blocks and fitting them into the wagon. They learn about concepts like size, shape, and stability as they problem-solve and explore spatial relationships during play.

Creativity and Imagination : At one year old, children are beginning to explore their creativity and imagination. Wooden blocks are open-ended toys that allow them to build and create whatever they can imagine, fostering creativity and a sense of accomplishment as they construct towers, bridges, or other structures.

Sensory Stimulation : Wooden blocks come in different shapes, sizes, and textures, providing sensory stimulation through touch and sight. Children explore the sensory properties of the blocks as they handle them, enhancing their sensory processing abilities.

Durability and Safety : Wooden block wagons are often made from high-quality, durable materials that can withstand rough play and exploration. They are also safe for children to play with, as they are typically free from harmful chemicals found in some plastics.

Activity Cubes

Activity cubes are an excellent gift option for one-year-olds because they are both fun and great for development! Our activity cubes are gender neutral which means they can be passed onto others, regardless of sex, when the child outgrows them. They offer a wide range of developmental benefits tailored to their stage of growth and exploration. Le Toy Van’s Petilou Activity Cube is a great option as it is compact and can be taken anywhere, with different fun developmental activities on each side. For a larger gift, Viga’s 5 in 1 Activity Cube will surely impress.

The benefits of activity cube gifts for one year old’s are outlined below:

Multi-Sensory Stimulation : Activity cubes typically feature various colours, textures, shapes, and sounds, providing multi-sensory stimulation for children. This helps engage their senses of sight, touch, and hearing, promoting sensory exploration and cognitive development.

Fine Motor Skill Development : Many activity cubes include activities such as turning knobs, flipping switches, and moving beads, which require precise hand movements and coordination. These actions help strengthen the small muscles in the hands and fingers, enhancing fine motor skills and dexterity.

Hand-Eye Coordination : Manipulating the different elements on an activity cube—such as pushing buttons, sliding beads, or fitting shapes into corresponding holes—encourages hand-eye coordination. This skill is crucial for tasks like writing, drawing, and grasping objects.

Problem-Solving Skills : Activity cubes often feature puzzles, mazes, and other challenges that require problem-solving and spatial reasoning. As children experiment with the various activities on the cube, they learn to anticipate and overcome obstacles, fostering cognitive skills and critical thinking.

Cause-and-Effect Learning : Many activities on an activity cube produce a response when manipulated, such as lights flashing, sounds playing, or objects moving. This helps children understand the concept of cause and effect, teaching them that their actions have consequences—a fundamental cognitive skill.

Encourages Independent Play : Activity cubes are designed to be self-contained and engaging, making them ideal for independent play. They provide children with opportunities to explore and interact with different activities at their own pace, fostering independence and confidence.

Long-Lasting Entertainment : Activity cubes are often designed with multiple sides or panels, offering a variety of activities to keep children engaged and entertained over an extended period. Their versatility makes them a valuable investment that can grow with the child and provide hours of fun and learning.

Push & Pull Toys

Push and pull toys from KindtoKidz’s selection make an excellent choice for a first birthday gift because of their developmental benefits. These toys are designed to engage children in physical activity while also promoting motor skill development. By pushing or pulling the toys across different surfaces, children improve their coordination and balance. These toys also encourage problem-solving as children navigate obstacles, fostering cognitive growth. Additionally, they offer children a sense of independence and accomplishment as they learn to move the toys on their own. With a focus on durability and safety, Kind to Kidz's push and pull toys provide both entertainment and learning opportunities for children at this important stage of development.

Shape Sorters

Another developmentally beneficial toy for one year old’s are shape sorters – these classic, yet fantastic toys, will have children engaged for hours, while spearheading their fine motor skills!

At Kindtokidz we have a large range of wooden shape sorters that come in many different shapes and sizes (excuse the pun!), including classic ones, pull along shape sorters , noah's ark shape sorters , natural wooden ones and more!

Our range has a sustainable focus, as wooden shape sorters have less environmental impact than plastic ones, and they are generally considered safer, with less toxic chemicals involved in their production and composition.

They are also fantastic for development. As the child plays with the shape sorter, they learn to recognize different shapes and develop problem-solving abilities as they figure out how to match each shape with its corresponding hole.

Overall our shape sorters offer the following features:

Developmental Benefits: Shape sorters promote cognitive and fine motor skills development by encouraging shape recognition, problem-solving, and hand-eye coordination.

Exploration and Curiousity: Children are engaged in interactive play, sparking their curiousity and encouraging exploration as they discover how the shapes fit into the sorter.

Creativity and Imagination : Shape sorters offer opportunities for creative play, allowing children to experiment with different shapes and sorting strategies, fostering creativity and imagination.

Better for the Environment: Wooden shape sorters are preferable for the environment due to their sustainable sourcing, biodegradability, durability, and non-toxic properties. As renewable resources, wooden toys can be sustainably harvested and decompose naturally at the end of their lifecycle, reducing environmental pollution and waste accumulation. 

Summary

In summary, our recommendations for an adorable yet useful children’s first birthday present include choosing something unique, something that is gender neutral, something that is also appropriate if the recipient is a second child, something that is more sustainable due to being wooden, and something that while looking good is also going to benefit their development, hence the ‘usefulness’ of the gift!

Our top toy picks thus include:

• Wooden Block Toys, such as a grippy blocks, abc blocks and block wagons
• Activity Cubes, including compact ones or larger ones if you have a bigger budget
• Push and Pull Toys, which are so much fun and contain so many developmental benefits
• Shape Sorters, which are a classic, yet come in so many adorable designs!

We hope you enjoy our curated selection of high-quality products designed with both aesthetics and functionality in mind, ensuring that the gift will be both visually appealing and practical for the child and their family.

By selecting a gift from Kindtokidz, you're supporting a company that values sustainability and ethical sourcing, making environmentally conscious choices for the planet's future. All of our products are designed to promote the child's development, whether through sensory exploration, imaginative play, or cognitive growth, ensuring that your gift will contribute positively to the child's early years.

Choosing an adorable yet useful first birthday gift from our store not only delights the recipient but also reflects your commitment to quality, sustainability, and supporting children's well-being and development.

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