by Eleanor O'Donnell

Created on: May 31, 2009   Last Updated: March 25, 2010

I would hope that every parent tries to find the most suitable toys for their child, irrespective of their abilities, or whether or not they're technically "gifted". That said, it can be more of a challenge to find suitable toys for a gifted child. It's easy to find comprehensive lists and reviews containing lists of toys targeted at specific age groups, but what if your child doesn't fit easily into their specific age group? You can't just assume it's okay to buy all of your child's toys from the next age group up, as it could result in over looking essential skills that your child is not ahead in; or alienating your child too drastically from their peer group.

When considering what toys to buy for your gifted child, you firstly need to think about how your child is gifted, and try to be realistic. We all think our children are the best in the world at some things, but try not to let your pride carry you away. I know that my son is gifted in certain technical skill areas, but also that he is behind in others such as social skills. As much as I want to encourage his gifts and his strengths, I am careful not to do so at the expense of his other, equally important, skills. It's all very well my son being a budding engineer, but it's equally important that I encourage him to make and maintain friendships along the way too, which is something he just isn't very good at doing without support.

When you're choosing a toy for your child, consider what their gifts are and also what they need to work on. Try to find a toy that will meet somewhere in the middle for them. As my child is brilliant at following instructions at an ability beyond his years, but he also needs help in developing his social skills, I like to buy him construction toys that include people such as Lego and Playmobil. I let him have sets that are designed for children several years older than he is, to give his instruction following skills a challenge, while encouraging him to then use any models he's made to role play with. Although his peers are not yet old enough to build with Lego (my son is three), they are old enough to participate in the role playing aspect of the toy, and that makes this a toy that he can play with alongside children of his own age.

Sometimes, choosing the right toy for a gifted child simply comes down to purchasing a good quality model and brand of a popular toy for their age group. While other children will find a cheap toy laptop sufficient for their abilities,

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