Question: How do I keep my child interested in her toys?
My daughter is definitely gifted. She figures out new things quickly and then wants more new stuff. I'm having trouble keeping up, and I can't buy a whole new set of toys every week or two!
Answer: The first thing to do is to forget about the age recommendations for toys. Gifted kids tend to enjoy toys meant for older children, mainly because they find such toys more challenging. If the toy is too challenging, you can always put it away for a few weeks and try again. Of course, you still need to be careful of toys that present choking hazards. Gifted kids might be smart, but they still like to put things in their mouths and can still choke.
Some toys that are recommended for your child's age might be okay if they allow children to think, learn, or be creative. If you consider these and other criteria before you buy a new toy for your gifted child, your child will be more likely to stick with the toys you buy for a longer time.
The other thing to do is be a little creative. For example, if your daughter gets bored with puzzles after putting them together one or two times, rekindle her interest by using them in different ways: combine them, turn the pieces upside. Or buy toys that have additional pieces that can be purchased at a later time. Duplos and legos are examples of such toys. If your daughter gets bored with the pieces she has, buying a new kid, even a very small one with just a few pieces can rekindle interest and keep her going for weeks.
Some toys that are recommended for your child's age might be okay if they allow children to think, learn, or be creative. If you consider these and other criteria before you buy a new toy for your gifted child, your child will be more likely to stick with the toys you buy for a longer time.
The other thing to do is be a little creative. For example, if your daughter gets bored with puzzles after putting them together one or two times, rekindle her interest by using them in different ways: combine them, turn the pieces upside. Or buy toys that have additional pieces that can be purchased at a later time. Duplos and legos are examples of such toys. If your daughter gets bored with the pieces she has, buying a new kid, even a very small one with just a few pieces can rekindle interest and keep her going for weeks.
