(Some holiday buying tips from Beverly Weathington, parent educator Merrill-Palmer Institute Wayne State University)

Parents are constantly faced with decisions regarding merchandise that they purchase for their children. They make decisions about diapers, clothing and furniture before the baby is born. These shopping excursions usually involve purchasing very practical, necessary items. Holiday toy shopping is in a category of its own. Every parent wants to buy the toy(s) that will make the holiday special for his or her child. However, your child's wish list, the advertisements, and the selection of toys are endless. A trip to your local toy store can leave you overwhelmed and frustrated. Here are some guidelines based on the age and interests of your child that can make toy shopping easier:

Babies: birth - 18 months

Babies explore the world through their senses. Choose toys that stimulate your baby's sense of sight, touch, hearing, smell and taste. Select toys that are interesting to look at. Babies are very attracted to contrasting colors such as black and white, red and yellow, etc. Feel the toy - it should be easy for small hands to manipulate and have an interesting texture. There are many sturdy, colorful textured books for infants. All infant toys should be safe for the babies to put in their mouths. Be sure to check all toys, even those that are labeled for infants, for small detachable parts that could pose a choking hazard. Consider toys that make noises. Very young infants tend to enjoy soothing music and sounds, and as babies get older, they may find toys that clang, bang, and squeak to be more exciting.

Toddlers: ages 18 months - 3 years

When babies master the art of walking, they become very active and interested in manipulating their environment. Select toys that let them exercise their newly acquired skills and that promote fine and gross motor skills.

Toddlers are very interested in toys that they can ride, push or pull. Toys that they can manipulate and control also intrigue them. Toys that can be stacked or easily pulled apart and put back together are especially popular with children in this age group. Once again, avoid items with small detachable parts. Toddlers are constantly gravitating between their need for independence and their need for security. A soft, cuddly toy might be a welcome addition. Books with big, colorful pictures and repetitive text are also a good choice.

Preschoolers: ages 3 -5

Children become social creatures during this time. They become interested in playing with other children. They also become much more aware of the world around them and love to imitate and pretend. Their fine motor skills are improving, and they enjoy using their hands to manipulate and create. Children in this age group enjoy very basic board games and puzzles. Age-appropriate building toys are a good choice. Markers, crayons, safety scissors and clay and paints are welcome items. Imaginative play is such an important part of this age group's developmental stage. Dress-up clothing, puppets and miniatures of adult items are very popular items. When selecting books for this age group, realize that they have become as interested in the story as they are in the illustrations. Therefore, selections should be somewhat different from the ones you chose when your child was an infant and toddler. Check with a local library or bookstore for a list of books for preschoolers.

Grade-schoolers: ages 5-12

Children in this group are especially influenced by toys that they see on television and tend to have particularly long holiday lists. Parents have to reach that delicate compromise between what the child wants because everyone else has it, and what they feel their child will really enjoy. Choose items that encourage the learning of a new skill, creativity and problem solving. Children in this age group love to be challenged and are developing sound reasoning skills. They are also beginning to show interest in sports and hobbies. Check to see if the item that your child really wants requires any use of the imagination or reasoning skills. If it does not, the odds are that after the initial excitement has worn off, it will be discarded. If your child plays a sport or a has a hobby, select items that will promote that interest. Choose toys that children can enjoy or assemble in groups such as games or models. Select items that encourage outdoor play and physical fitness such a bikes, skateboards, sleds, etc. Consider options that make children more aware of the world around them, such as books about other cultures, a young tree to plant, or passes to your local science center. For reading, a subscription to a child's magazine such as Ranger Rick, Nickelodeon, National Geographic World or Stone Soup might be a good idea.