A pretty little dress. It's a gift ?

Not really. We especially enjoy ourselves by offering a dress to a little girl. A bit like playing the doll again . Moreover, when we say of a little girl that she is coquettish, it is more our phantasm that we express only her true attitude: we introduce her into a process of seduction because she is destined for it by society . Recognize it, we would not have idea to offer a jacket to our little fellow for Christmas . Result: Lola will put the dress on Christmas Eve to please the adult but do not care a bit. She is more interested in a game to have fun with others. Why not little dolls to dress or, as a matter of fact, a princess disguise ?

A board game for the family. It works ?

Yes. The board games have the wind in their sails, a way to tighten the family cocoon and optimize the time spent with the kids . And, "children are increasingly prescribing board games," said Nicolas Benoist, director of marketing at Asmodée (which publishes the bestseller Dobble). "This is due to word of mouth - they have played with friends - and this allows them to reclaim their parents because opportunities to share a time, other than homework and meals, funny, friendly and relaxed are not not so common. And even the most addicted to their console are delighted (at least up to 10 years) that the adults make a part with them, especially since the new games are more fun than were the P etits Chevaux ! "It's true: Beurky Sneaky (Dujardin), in which you have to go get items in the throat of a plastic snake, Panic Cafard (Ravensburger), which turns us into a cook handling at best its cutlery to knock cockroaches , or Trap'Tartine (Asmodée) where you have to catch tartines ejected from a crazy toaster ... all these games are funny, delusional and transgenerational. The rule is simple (observation, trick and reflex with a small shoot of adrenaline guaranteed), the short part (20 min maxi) ... Carton assured .

Gift certificate or cash for teenagers?

A gift certificate . It is a little less trivial and impersonal than money, which never takes long in the pocket of a teenager, since, by definition, it is liquid! And then it may lead him to think that one no longer breaks his head to give him gifts . On the other hand, the gift certificate (or the gift card) dematerializes the gift of cash and leaves to the one who receives it the freedom to choose. At the same time, we direct our expenses while personalizing the present since we select a particular brand ( Zara, Fnac ...) in one of its favorite domains ( fashion, culture, sport ). A rather fine way of showing him that we have taken note of his independence of tastes , but that we continue to take an interest in him.

With an eco-citizen gift, do I make a flop?

It depends on the game . A kit to build a solar-powered vehicle ( Buki at Oxybul Eveil and Jeux) or a game on endangered animals (54 WWF cards on endangered species), which encourage the preservation of nature . generally works well. Especially when these values ​​are already shared in the family. But if it is offered to give oneself conscience or to "format" it, it is something else ... and not necessarily appreciated. The primary goal of a toy is to allow imagination, to create ... So one must first take into account its "playability" and if it suits the personality of the child .

Thanks to Anne Gatecel, psychologist.