Giving Books and Other "Educational" Presents

Deciding what to give children for their birthdays, Christmas, or other holidays can be difficult. Many parents look for gifts that will not only be fun but also educational. And in what surely must be the golden age for children's toys, it's easy to find such presents, from entertaining science kits to brightly illustrated books on nearly every conceivable childhood passion.

But how do kids themselves feel about these gifts? Although many are happy enough to receive them, just as they'd be with nearly any surprise wrapped in colorful paper and ribbons, their reactions rarely reveal the sort of unmitigated joy parents hope for. That true delight is reserved for toys, or even books, the child has been longing for—which are sometimes "educational" (as with a robotics set) but more often aren't (Mario Kart, for instance).

So what's a parent to do? Giving presents of both types may be the best course of action—perhaps a few books or art supplies mixed in with the latest "must-have" toy. Even if kids shower all their attention and glee on the latter, once the thrill is gone they may well discover the former's quieter—and potentially more enduring—rewards.