A child psychologist named the most dangerous toys for a New Year's gift to a child.

Choosing a New Year's gift for a child should take into account not only its external attractiveness, but also its impact on development and psychological well-being. As noted by Svetlana Migunova, a child psychologist and consultant to the manufacturer of educational kits Give Creative, in an interview with Izvestia on December 26, a toy is an important tool for learning about the world and an incorrectly chosen gift can provoke aggression, anxiety or lower self-esteem.

"First of all, it is necessary to abandon realistic toy weapons — pistols, machine guns, swords, as well as figures of monsters and villains. The child's psyche easily transfers behaviors from the game to real life, which can lead to a decrease in empathy and an increase in aggression. Instead, it is better to give a construction kit that stimulates the imagination and develops fine motor skills, or sports equipment if the child is interested in active games," she said.

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Another category of unwanted gifts are overly complex toys that perform actions on their own, depriving the child of the opportunity to show initiative and creativity. Such toys can cause a feeling of insecurity if the child does not cope with the controls. According to Migunova, it is much more useful to choose simple but functional toys that give freedom for self-expression: cubes, paints, plasticine or musical instruments.

The psychologist also advises avoiding toys that are rigidly separated by gender, since girls do not have to play only with dolls, and boys only with cars. When choosing a gift, it is extremely important to take into account the age and level of development of the child, so that the toy does not turn out to be too complicated and does not lead to disappointment and loss of interest. Ultimately, a good toy should support natural development, stimulate imagination, and bring joy appropriate to a child's individual needs.

On December 18, representatives of the ORO marketing research agency pointed to an increase in Russians' spending on New Year's Eve in 2025. According to their research, the largest spending on New Year's Eve is observed among young people and residents of the Central region. Young people spend more on holidays than older generations — on average about 24 thousand rubles.

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