WRAL.com: Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville

Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:

4:52 a.m. • 5-24-13

66°F

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

Today: Partly Cloudy.
- Hi: 72° F
Sat: Clear.
- Hi: 72° F
Sun: Partly Cloudy.
- Hi: 75° F

Other Locations

7 Day Forecast

Contact Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Site Search

Help a Mom: Gift ideas for a one-year-old boy's birthday

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Posted: September 4, 2012

Tags: Activities, Birthdays, Mom's Life, Help a Mom

I received this email from a grandma last week. Here's what she wrote:

Could other moms suggest a really good toy for my grandson's first birthday? He's able to run around like crazy, if that makes a difference. Started walking at nine months.

Here's what I recommended: The classic Fisher-Price corn popper, a small parachute for outdoor play, simple puzzles with larges handles for kids to grab on to and a bead maze where colorful beads move along a wire path. At least that's what my girls loved at that age.

Happy birthday!

Do you have advice for this grandma? Please share your tips in the comments box below. (If you don't see the comments box below, you'll need to log in or sign up for a WRAL account. You can do that by going to the top of the page and clicking on either "log in" or "register").

Help a Mom features questions from readers every Wednesday. If you have a question that you'd like to ask Go Ask Mom readers, click here to email it to me.

14 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

page 1 \| 2
<prev	next>

sort order: oldest first | newest first

so what did granny end up buying?

americaneel
September 7, 2012 2:14 p.m.

Report abuse

My son loved and still does, action figures. We started with Fisher Price Little People sets. And have moved up to Imaginext by Fisher Price for ages 3 and up. He still does have his Fisher Price Little people nativity scene and we put it out each Christmas so that there is a nativity scene he can play with. They make many different sets. Go to www.fisherprice.com to see all the sets. Every child that comes to our house has loved these and they are a favorite in the church nursery as well. (we had the nativity, Noah's ark, two different barn yard sets, the Garage with parking ramp, a dollhouse, a hayride and santa and his reindeer.

kcastleberry
September 6, 2012 9:48 a.m.

Report abuse

An Inflatable ball pit, toy trucks, toy lawn mower that blows bubbles, or a toy work bench with tools!

afull7122
September 5, 2012 4:50 p.m.

Report abuse

Ask the child's parents what they want you to give. We suggested a wagon from one set of grandparents and a shopping cart from the other, and our 5yo still uses both of them. The cart has been especially good in pretend play and in having him help at the grocery store (we got a Melissa & Doug - it's metal and very sturdy, but parents may not like it ramming into their walls). The wagon's useful at the fair.

He loved the popper, but we had three break in six months. He liked the bead maze for a year, and it's good for their development. A ball is great, if there's room to play with them. A lot depends on what kind of space there is for play / storage.

Our son was not interested in Marbles or L&S at 1 - he didn't get interested until age 3 or so.

But in the end, listen to what his parents say they have room and interest in - at 1yo, he won't miss anything.

babbleon
September 5, 2012 3:50 p.m.

Report abuse

jrwachholz...

Museum membership to Marbles or the Museum of Life and Science? Yea, I am sure he will really be excited about that.

americaneel
September 5, 2012 12:13 p.m.

Report abuse

get the kid a simple toy but offer to babysit for his parents - they're the ones who need a gift after a year

JAT
September 5, 2012 12:00 p.m.

Report abuse

A museum membership to Marbles or the Museum of Life and Science would be great starting around this age. Also, does he need a new convertible car seat? We got our two daughters special keepsake boxes at their first birthdays. Nice wooden ones made by a local woodworker. Something they can use the rest of their lives, though clearly not something to play with now. If you want to get a toy, how about a play lawnmower that blows bubbles?

jrwachholz
September 5, 2012 10:59 a.m.

Report abuse

Any and every kind of ball- football, basketball, golf ball, baseball, bowling set, bouncy ball. As long as the ball isn't small enough to be a choking hazard. My son's favorite gift was a 6" kickball that cost me $5. Take advantage of the fact that kids this age are very easily amused and usually have more fun playing with the packaging and the box the present came in than the actual toy.

grantfamilysavings
September 5, 2012 9:59 a.m.

Report abuse

My son just had his first birthday! He got a wagon, which was a great gift! Melissa and Doug puzzles, books, a ball, and toys with wheels (cars, trucks, etc) are all his favorites too. Also, the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair is a GREAT gift! Someone suggested a museum/zoo membership and I completely agree! I wish someone would have given us that!

jamcclamroch
September 5, 2012 9:57 a.m.

Report abuse

track shoes

americaneel
September 5, 2012 9:54 a.m.

Report abuse

page 1 \| 2
<prev	next>

sort order: oldest first | newest first

Meet Sarah Hall
GoAskMom Editor

Video

•••

←→

The students and staff at Cedar Fork Elementary star in a music video to capture their journey of learning for this year. The lyrics…
Leeann Eagle talks about her business creating personalized and appliqued apparel for kids.
Check out the scene at our big playdate featuring Artspace, Lil' Chef, the Chick-fil-A cow, Rissi Palmer, the Wake County Sheriff's…
Cristin DeRonja, director of the SAFEchild Advocacy Center and a Raleigh mom of four, tells us that listening to your children is…
LeeAnn Donnelly of Biltmore talks about the estate in Asheville and spots that families shouldn't miss when the visit.
Anna Norton, a Cary mom, talks about her journey with Type 1 diabetes, her involvement in Diabetes Sisters and the nonprofit's…
The city celebrates the grand reopening of its historic carousel on Saturday, April 20.
Julie Stoner, a Raleigh mom of two, will compete in her first Boston Marathon on Monday.
Go Ask Mom editor Sarah Lindenfield Hall talks with WRAL about preparing for a half marathon and how running can help moms stay…
Cristin DeRonja of SAFEchild in Wake County talks about the agency's program called Funny Tummy Feelings, which teaches kids skills…
Mary Poole, Artspace executive director, talks about the collection of artist studios and galleries in downtown Raleigh and why it's…
Beatrice Diaz, a mom of four in Chapel Hill, talks about her business Absolute Joy.
The best part about the playground at north Raleigh's Optimist Park is it's in the shade. And when the kids get too hot, you can just…
Cristin DeRonja, director of the SAFEchild Advocacy Center, talks about the programs offered at the Wake County nonprofit.
Cristin DeRonja, director of the SAFEchild Advocacy Center in Raleigh, talks about the four kinds of child abuse and what you can do…
Robyn Bennai and Liz Lemons, Raleigh moms, talk about their venture - shopbidgive.com - which provides an online home for silent…
Buffaloe Road Athletic Park, home to the Buffaloe Road Aquatics Center, also features a small playground.
Rosalind Baglio, manager of the Chapel Hill boutique, talks about what the store offers. It's part of the Women's Birth & Wellness…

WRAL.com: Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

Other Locations

Help a Mom: Gift ideas for a one-year-old boy's birthday

14 Comments

Video

Resources