It's getting to be that time of year again. The time of year where we set out to find the perfect gift for our loved ones, that special something they don't already have. While gift buying can be challenging for anyone, buying for super smart, curious minds, who learn quickly can be even more of a challenge. This goes for adults as well. When shopping, look for gifts or experiences that can build interests and skills, spark creativity, as well as be interactive and age appropriate.

Here are some ideas I have personally vetted to help you this season. If you have younger children, be sure to check out the toddler gift section.

Games:

All kinds of games are great for using skills and building new ones. Remember to buy games that are age appropriate, even for super smart kids.

• Chess and Othello are excellent for building memory, focus and planning ahead. They are especially good if your child is exposed to a little bit of strategy to get them started.

• Swish is a card game that build pattern recognition and critical thinking skills.

• Prime Climb is a replayable math game that builds a deeper level of math learning.

• Spy Alley was rated the "Best Mind Game" by Mensa. It is a classic hidden identity strategy board game for 2 to 6 players. It "helps sharpen your deductive reasoning, logic, interpersonal, and body language reading skills".

• Quirkle is a tactile strategy game, great for people of all ages, including younger children and adults alike. This game is great for developing planning, and problem solving skills.

• DiXit is an award winning, illustrated story telling, strategy game, sure to delight.  It builds creative, social and executive functioning skills.

• Dungeons and Dragons is a role playing game appropriate for middle school aged kids and older.  It is a great way for players to express creativity and explore different aspects of their personalities.

• The Scrambled States of America is a fun way to learn U.S. geography.

• Continent Race teaches problem solving and communication skills while learning about geography.

• UPMSX Joyful Mathmatics Board Game is a strategic and innovative math game recommended for ages 8 and up.

• Wingspan is a strategic board game for those who like strategy and birds.

• Passtally is a building and strategy game, which builds problem solving skills.

• Nine Arches is a fantasy game for teens and adults to plan travel adventures.

• Minecraft subscription will keep your kid building, creating, planning, learning, programming and playing for hours on end.

• Civilization VI for Nintendo Switch allows people to strategize as they build their own civilizations.

• Kerbel Space Program 1 and 2 allows players to engineer and plan their own space missions, alone or with friends.

Science, Engineering and Building:

• Snap Circuits are a great gift for budding engineers. There are at least 74 different projects to make, and they learn about electrical circuits without any danger.

• Building Planks can provide hours of creative and engineering fun for children of all ages. Here are two sets I like, Keva and Constructables.

• Microscopes and Telescopes are great for budding scientists.

• Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction books provide instruction for building launchers, catapults and other toys with household items. It will provide fun and learning for hours.

• K'Nex Building Kits provide opportunities to build and apply physics concepts. There are many kits specifically for learning and some just for fun.

• Awesome Physics Experiments is a book which will provide 40 experiments to try at home.

• Element Density Cube Set is a nice gift for older children and adults who love chemistry.

• Theodore Gray books are outstanding for budding chemists of any age.

• Kitchen Science Lab for Kids provides 52 science experiments you can do in any kitchen with what you have at home, with scientific explanations.

• Popsicle Sticks can provide hours of fun building and experimentation. There are countless videos on YouTube showing how to make catapults, crafts and exploding stars.

• Build it Yourself Woodworking Kit allows you to create and build your own wooden projects with wood and tools from the kit.

• Marble Towers are great for those who love to build, plan and strategize.

• Robot Building Kits provide programing and engineering skill building opportunities. There are many kits ranging from Lego Spike Prime, Lego Mindstorms Robot Inventor, to Sphero Mini.

• Rigorous Science Kits for Girls are kits designed to appeal to girls and encourage them in STEM. Kits include chemistry, biology, and chromatography.

• Puzzle Baron has logic games with backstories.

• Legos are a timeless classic that provide a creative outlet for builders of all ages and skill levels.

• Skulls Unlimited Subscription Box will provide scientific bone specimens for learning all year long.

Creative:

• Craft Lab for Kids will inspire kids to create with 52 DIY craft ideas.

• Origami Kits are great for creative kids. They allow people to create, build concentration and math skills. Pick a kit that matches the skill level of the person you are buying for. There are countless kits and books for people of all skill levels ranging from beginner to expert. This is a great activity to do as a family as well.

• Lulu Jr. Illustory and Comic Book Making Kits help budding illustrators create their own books.

• Sewing Machine and instruction can allow kids to create all sorts of things they can dream up.

• Imaginative Play toys allow children to express themselves through play, explore different realities and go wherever their imaginations with take them.

• Art Supplies are always appreciated by artists. Quality paper, drawing pencils, paints, markers and pens are a great gift.

• Writer's Toolbox teaches kids to write stories, poems, journal entries and more.

• Subscriptions (some free) for editing tools and online learning programs for 3D drafting and art (Tinkercad, Onshape, Fusion 360, Blender)

• 3D Sculting Pen allows kids to create 3D sculpures with a pen.

• Toybox 3D Printer for kids can get young artists and engineers started printing 3D works right away in your own home.

• Prusa Mini 3D Printer can be used by the whole family and is a great start for learning 3D printing.

Movement/Sensory: Many kids feel calmer and find it easier to learn when they can move and utilize their senses. Here are some great toys that can promote positive emotional health, help with concentration, relieve stress and satisfy the sensory seeker.

• Speed Cube like is like a Rubiks Cube, but moves smoother and faster. It's a great fidget and well liked by those who are stimulated by movement + problem solving. It is also great for building memory and concentration skills.

• Kinetic Sand is great for digging, sculpting and squishing. Many people find it relaxing just to run their fingers through the sand.

• Play Foam is great for squishing and shaping. It never dries out and can be used over and over.

• Sensory Chew Brick or chewelry can be great for those who like to chew or bite. It an be great for reducing and managing stress.

• Wobble Chair strengthens core and allows for movement while learning or playing.

• Exercise Trampoline With Balance Bar can provide opportunity for movement. This is great for study breaks and thinking time for those who need to move.

• Yoga Balls are great for movement and stretching.

• Fidgets of all kinds can help calm the mind and nervous system.

• Weighted blankets and toys aid sleeping and promote calmness. I like this weighted sloth. A weighted blanket should be no more than 10% of body weight for optimal comfort.

• Jelly Bean Scented Bubbles are fun at all ages, help us practice deep breathing and exhaling and smell great.

• 360 Balance Board strengthens core, improves balance and increases sensory integration.

• Therapy Putty can strengthen hands and increase fine motor skills, with the added bonus of being great for stress relief and concentration.

• Calming Sensory Light to help relax and regulate.

Kit Subscriptions: Are great for the kids who have everything. You can have monthly kits delivered to your house providing activities for your child based on their age and interest.

• Kiwi Co. has monthly science and engineering kits delivered to your door. They offer eight different kit subscriptions depending on the child's age, ranging from 0-104.

• Mel Science provides monthly chemistry experiments for ages 10 and up.

• CreationCrate is a monthly subscription of electronics projects.

• KidStir is a monthly cooking class for kids.

• Raddish Kids has monthly recipes kids can make.

• LittlePassports has monthly activities to teach children about other cultures and countries.

• Sensory Theraplay Box provides monthly boxes of sensory toys to your child.

• We Craft Box and OrangeArtBox provide art and craft ideas, plus supplies each month.

• SketchBox sends serious art supplies to older children and teens each month.

• Bluum supports moms and kids through preschool.

Stocking Stuffers:

• Rubiks Cube is great for those who love puzzles, and builds problems solving, concentration and planning skills.

• Hand Held Microscope can allow anyone to see anything at a microscopic level. Great for exploring and learning on the go.

• Fidget Pencil Toppers are great for helping kids to focus, reducing anxiety, and they're fun!

• Pencil Grips for handwriting can be helpful when developing fine motor skills needed for writing.

• Stretchy String fidget and sensory toy.

• Big Book of Silly Jokes because laughter is great.

• Mini Tins of Thinking Putty make a great fidget and are fun to play with.

• Multifunction Tool Pen is great for those who love to build and create.

• Gum is great for stocking stuffers, and can help kids to focus, feel less anxious and it's fun.

Toddlers: Bright toddlers need age appropriate toys that hold their interest, spark curiosity and help them to develop skills in a fun way. Here are some ideas to get you started.

• Duplo building blocks are a starter leggo set for toddlers. They can build, use their imaginations and strength fine motor skills without choking hazards.

• Wooden Puzzles ranging in difficulty can build spatial awareness, problem solving and fine motor skills.

• Musical Instrument Set introduces your child to different sounds and rhythms which is great for musical development and emotional regulation.

• B. Toys Orchestra 13 instrument musical toy for babies and toddlers.

• Musical Piano Mat allows toddlers and small children to explore music and movement together.

• Melissa and Doug Puppet Theatre is a fun way to encourage creative play with your little one. You can also build your own theatre and incorporate different puppets you already have or make with your child.

• Finger Paint Kit can encourage creative expression and build fine motor skills, and is super fun.

• Boon Building Bath Pipes is a fun bath toy that builds planning skills, spatial awareness and awareness of cause and effect.

• Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Introduces children to counting, grouping and sorting while using basic physics to spin gears. It helps to develop fine motor skills, problem solving and reasoning.

• Lacing Toy for Toddlers builds fine motor skills

• Fisher Price Code and Learn Kinderbot can get your pre-schooler off to an early start in programming and robotics.

About the Author:

Christy, is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, practicing in San Diego, California. She has nearly 14 years of experrience working with children, teens, parents, families, couples and individual adults with complex psychological and relationship problems. She specializes in the needs of gifted, bright and high achieving people, as well as those who have suffered past trauma. Christy uses an eclectic approach, meeting the needs of whomever she is working with. Her work addresses the needs of the whole person, incorporating mind and body.