As a gift for a child a toy is almost always a good choice, since children love to play and use their imaginations. While children enjoy a wide variety of toys, there are always toys that are in fashion or popular, and those that are more classic. In order to determine what toy to pick for a child, think about the likes and dislikes of the child, as well as what they currently have and enjoy playing with.

There are boys? and girls? toys, and then there are toys that are equally good for both boys and girls. A good rule of thumb is to stick with toys that encourage the use of imagination, play and creativity and you can't go wrong.

Boys have always traditionally loved cars and racetracks. There is now a racetrack available that runs on kid power. The child has to shake the cars and then place them on the track. The two cars race each other to the finish line, with an automatic voice providing commentary as the race progresses. Made by Fisher Price this ?Shake and Go Speedway Racetrack? is a hit with younger boys. The Wild Hunter set by Lego will catch the imagination of older boys with its included models of elephants, lions and crocodiles. Always popular, the benefit of Lego is that all sets are interchangeable, so it is easy to continue to add to the sets that the child has. For smaller children a set of large magnetic blocks called Magneatos is great for smaller hands and doesn't require the interlocking blocks that can be frustrating for young children.

For the girls there is a set of lovely and sad-eyed puppies and kittens called the Rescue Pets. These animals come with instructions for proper care as well as adoption papers. An excellent choice for a young child that wants a live pet but doesn't yet have one. Barbie has gone to Hollywood, and the latest set has Barbie with all the accessories of a movie director. Of course outfits and accessories from other sets can be interchanged, providing more options and adventures. For the young girl that loves to cook and Easy Bake Oven makes a great safe and functional gift. Girls can use the oven to cook really food, or use their imagination, without any safety concerns. For older girls that enjoy crafts, the EZ 2 Quikrochet spool knitting kit is an excellent choice. Girls can make their own hair accessories, scarves, fashion jewelry and other projects.

Both girls and boys should be encouraged to play as much together as possible, and to avoid thinking of games as just for boys or just for girls. Toys should be used to spark the imagination and to get kids to be creative and enjoy themselves. A great gift for artistic children is the Etch A Sketch Wired. This is like the traditional Etch A Sketch except it hooks up directly to your TV screen so what you see on the board is also on the television. The game of Cranium or Cranium Family Fun is a popular board games for families to play together. The Cranium Family Fun game is designed for children under the age of 7, while the original game is for families with older children.