Like many parents, I’m tempted to race down the dollar aisle at a discount chain store for last-minute stocking stuffers and gifts to put under the tree. But… I’m going to do better this year!

Instead of disposable toys that add to the clutter, I’m going to be more intentional about planning ahead and seeking out gifts that encourage learning, creativity and active play. Here are some ideas that experts endorse too.

Educational toys

Kids can have fun and learn something at the same time! From traditional educational games like matching colors or numbers to beloved Bananagrams, educational games for kids stimulate the senses and help develop critical thinking skills.

Early learning toys and activities address the particular developmental needs of the youngest children and get them off to the best start possible. Wooden and bristle blocks, stacking toys, and push-and-pull toys help develop a child’s fine motor skills and reasoning capabilities. These toys help facilitate early learning activities such as understanding shapes, colors and textures, counting, alphabet, basic words, and more.

Karen Maxwell, lead teacher at Methodist Family Health’s Day Treatment program, suggests that parents and caregivers -- and others giving gifts -- keep early learning toys simple and age-appropriate.

“The age ranges you find listed on toy packages have been researched and provide a good guide as to what toys will be developmentally appropriate for your child,” she says. “I’m not a huge fan of electronic toys for early learning because most of them are too distracting for a little one. Some of my favorite early learning toys for preschool-aged children are the lacing and tracing toys [such as these wooden versions from Melissa & Doug]. The extra large stringing beads incorporate so many concepts such as hand/eye coordination, patterns, colors, shapes and allowing creativity. The Melissa and Doug toys have a wide variety of toys in the lacing and tracing categories, as well as building blocks, dramatic play toys and craft kits.”

Dramatic play

Many of my 4-year-old daughter’s sentences begin with “Let’s play…” which means, “Let’s pretend…” Making believe is perfect for indulging kids’ creative sides. Dramatic play toys, clothes and props, as well as puppets, allow kids to become cowboys, chefs, firefighters and more. They encourage kids to dream and to play, to invent and to act.

“It’s important for parents and caregivers to encourage dramatic or pretend play with young children because it develops a child’s imagination,” Maxwell says. “Imagination development helps with important areas such as problem solving and critical thinking.”

Like most kids, mine love stories and flannel boards, and this nursery rhyme felt set that includes Humpty Dumpty, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Where Has My Little Dog Gone?, Baa Baa Black Sheep, and Mulberry Bush, as well as rhymes, songs and coloring sheets, would be a perfect gift. In addition to stirring their imaginations as we re-enact the nursery rhymes, it encourages reading and singing. And we wouldn’t be limited to the traditional stories, but could create our own.

Active play

Active play leads to active minds! Physical play is an important factor in mental growth and leads to a better-developed child. Team and competitive group activities such as games and puzzles promote collaborative effort and are an important part of every kid’s growth and development. Encouraging active play develops both intrapersonal and team-building skills kids will need in the future.

Kids love to build things up and then tear them down. Wooden building blocks and wood toy blocks give kids hours and hours of constructive playtime. From basic wooden toy alphabet blocks to wooden blocks in architectural shapes, wood toy blocks are great for teaching stacking, sorting, colors and shapes. For more advanced fun, check out similar building items, such as this Architectrix Constructor Set for ages 3 and up, which allows kids to create a never-ending variety of structures.

Maxwell says active play is important in developing many areas. “When the whole body is used in learning, the activity is helping the child develop physically, emotionally and socially. They explore spatial relationships and their own physical abilities, interact with other children, and build self-confidence through active play. Parents usually don’t have to encourage active play with preschool-aged children, because they are self-motivated to engage in active play. However, changing the activity and the location is important to maintain interest. It’s crucial to provide a safe area for your child to engage in active play. Building an obstacle course using different objects to run, jump, crawl and climb on provide an easy indoor or outdoor activity for small children.”

Arts and crafts

Arts, crafts and inspiration go hand in hand. Developing a child’s artistic side leads to greater understanding in other areas. Art and crafts supplies for kids include items for drawing, painting, crafting and constructing, using kid-friendly materials of all kinds. These items also are great to encourage gratitude when it’s time to send thank-you notes for presents received.

“Arts and crafts activities provide a creative outlet for children of all ages,” Maxwell says. “It’s important not to be critical of your child’s artwork because that usually discourages future attempts. Children naturally communicate and release emotions through artwork, so what may seem like scribbles to an adult could actually be art therapy for a little one that isn’t able to verbally communicate their feelings. Keeping art supplies readily available is important so that a child can have access to this coping tool when needed. Many children with ADHD and anxiety find that immersing themselves in a drawing or other creation helps calm their thoughts, and they are able to focus on other tasks with much better impulse control.”

Lest your holiday stress be compounded by this list, take a deep breath--now you know how to be more deliberate about your gift purchases! Whatever you decide to buy, ultimately the most important thing is time spent with your kids. “It is important that the toys we sell be educational and enriching, but we also want them to be family-friendly,” says Kelly Black, director of marketing for Mardel. “Parents play a huge role in helping their child develop, and you cannot overestimate the effect of quality time spent exploring and playing with your child.”