As a mother of three, I'm constantly looking for children's birthday gifts for classmates, cousins, neighbors, and more. Unfortunately, it seems that children often receive many toys that are very similar to each other. When my son turned five, only two of the toys he received featured something other than Star Wars and Spiderman. A great gift doesn't have to come from the mass-marketing of Hollywood, though.



How do you choose a terrific toy that is also educational? Here are several ideas:

1. Consider the themes that currently interest your child. Does she love horses and ponies? If so, look for a puzzle that features these animals. If he's into sports, find a set of plush sports balls or an outdoor activity that involves his favorite sport. Other popular themes include firemen, ballet, dinosaurs, princesses, trucks, or pirates.

2. Match the toy to the child's current work at school. If she's learning to read, then a toy that offers phonics development is a great choice. For science buffs, look for electronics kits or live insect habitats. (You may want to check with the child's parents first!) If he's learning about government, a toy model of the White House might go along with his schoolwork.

3. Consider the child's natural strengths and abilities. The artistic child will always appreciate supplies, such as paints, brushes, paper, stickers, or anything else that is age appropriate. A musically-gifted child will be thrilled by harder-to-find music toys and instruments, such as an accordion or ukulele. Encourage her strengths by providing toys that are really tools for further development of her talents.

4. Try to help the child improve upon an area in which he is not strong. For a child who isn't very kinesthetic, an outdoor water toy might help him become more active. Likewise, if you want to encourage a child to get along with others, look for a toy that helps her act out social situations, like a doll or family playset. Some toys are good "cross-over" activities, such as an alphabet puzzle for a child who likes to manipulate items but isn't interested in practicing his ABCs.

5. Plan for an upcoming event. If you know the family will be travelling soon, such as during the summer or the holidays, look for a travel toy that will occupy the child on plane and car trips. During science fair season, an "experiment kit" toy may be both entertainment and school supplies wrapped into one package.

6. Consider the parent's involvement level and availability ? for a large family or one with a stay-at-home parent, multi-player games build on together time. Other activities can be done alone but still promote pride and achievement; building kits and art projects can often be done alone or with minimal guidance.

I find that educational toys offer more value because they are treasured for a longer time. Parents appreciate the stimulating nature of the toy, and you'll usually have a one-of-a-kind gift that is the biggest hit at the party.