Gift Guides Focus on Play, Personal Interests and Experiences

Choosing a gift gets harder when a child is still exploring the world by touch, or when an adult already has plenty of things. Editors at several publications offer different ways to narrow the search, from simple infant toys to subscriptions that deliver new surprises each month.

The recommendations span gifts for babies, three-year-olds, wives and runners, alongside subscription services pitched as an alternative to a single present. The source guides do not provide a common price range or a shared list of specific products, but they point to a recurring idea: tailor the choice to the recipient’s age and interests.

For babies, keep play simple

Shop TODAY’s guide says babies can benefit from play before they are able to grip a toy. It advises choosing items that engage their developing senses through visual contrast, sound or movement.

Tovah Klein, director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of “How Toddlers Thrive,” says toys that respond to a baby’s actions can help infants understand their surroundings. A rattle is one example. The guide also stresses avoiding choking hazards and keeping toys uncomplicated.