Days of wishes, smiles, and surprises are coming, and for parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles, days of nerves and often, not knowing what to choose from so many options. We've put together a carefully curated selection ofevolutionary toys which guarantee many hours of play and a wide selection of toys to choose from, depending on their interests. There are also options designed for children with special needs. Four key points to understand this guide:

Since the major Asian platforms have entered the European market selling directly to consumers, many small local businesses, both brick-and-mortar and online, have struggled. That's just how the market is, and everyone is free to choose where they shop.

Some children play very close to adults. They don't wander far, they don't explore on their own. When shared play doesn't arise, adults may feel uneasy, doubt themselves, and be tempted to intervene. In these cases, the best course of action is to pause for a moment and learn to distinguish whether the child we are with is introverted or shy.

From Goethe to the present day, numerous studies have demonstrated the relationship between color and emotions. Color is not just a visual stimulus; it is emotional language. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology (2020) states that certain shades influence our mood: warm tones activate, cool tones calm, and bright colors generate joy or excitement. Does that mean we should surround our children with fluorescent colors? No, but we must understand that color speaks and, above all, accompanies us.

Aggressive play is uncomfortable. The fear that by allowing it, we are encouraging violent behavior is very common. Rejecting this play is equivalent to denying a natural need for expression.

A few days ago we were listening to an episode of the podcast Stabbing pains dedicated to one of the four elements: the earth. They mentioned a lovely exercise that a university professor posed to her students: Observe what they stepped on for an entire week.

In an increasingly digital, fast-paced, and sensory-poor world, activities like sewing, embroidery, and knitting are more necessary than ever. They may seem old-fashioned, but numerous studies confirm their benefits for children's cognitive and emotional development.

We want free girls, adults with a clear idea, who can move through the world safely and without fear. We defend equality, we sign manifestos, we are shocked by the data on the gender gap and gender-based violence. And yet, play, the first space in which children and society meet, is still full of stereotypes.

Every child inhabits an internal landscape made of images, memories, fears, and desires. It can't always be expressed in words; it is hinted at and manifested in play, in the way pieces are arranged, in the way a ball is kicked, or in the way a doll is cared for. Pediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald W. Winnicott, whom you may know for his concept of the "transitional object," described it as "the potential space."