For busy parents who have separated, the challenge of gift giving is more difficult than for couples still together. The child or children do not see enough of both parents as it is. A special weight is added to any kind of gifts that are expected by excited kids who are often confused why their parents aren’t still together and are in need of reassurance.

It’s important for parents to understand that while gifts are eagerly welcomed by children, what they most need is your time and attention. Overspending on gifts as a transplant for not being there never makes up for the lack of personal time in the child’s eyes. We mention this because it has a real bearing on what to buy for a gift, how many gifts becomes too many (children easily get overwhelmed) and how much you should be spending.

Let’s look at a handful of gifts suitable for divorced parents wanting to do the right thing.

Jetson Jupiter Scooter

The Jetson Jupiter is a decked-out scooter with one-hundred LED lights illuminating their path. There’s a convenient braking system besides putting their feet on the ground to slow their progress in the park or the sidewalk. This little number is robustly put together, so it’ll stand a few drops on the ground when they take less care with it than we’d like them too.

The best gift for kids are the ones that they already enjoy. If they’ve been wanting a great scooter, they’ve worn out their current one or they need an upgrade, try the Jupiter. Good for boys or girls, but girls may like it best.

Playthings Playstix

Think of Playstix as a bit like Lego for kids. They have grooves to lock the bricks together (similar to the tongue and groove system for basic wooden constructions). The bricks come in different colors and allow the creative young child to design their structures however they wish. There’s 150 pieces in the standard box of Playthings Playstix, which is plenty enough to let them develop creatively.

Kindle e-Reader

Older children who are finding they need to read a lot may enjoy receiving their very own Kindle e-reader. The Kindle connects right into the Amazon eco-system and lets them access different books for school and personal reading too. The e-ink display is easier on their eyes when they read in the dark, as kids love to do! Be sure to set up the child safety settings and restrict purchasing, so they don’t go crazy buying books left and right.

Cooking Books for Kids

Children who are learning how to cook meals at home or who have classes at school on cooking education will enjoy receiving a cookbook. Ones like the Complete Children’s Cookbook from DK Publishing are filled with recipes that older children will find more challenging. There’s over 150 different recipes, color photos and a full list of ingredients. Also, for children who get bored of their gifts quickly, a book is something they can delve into over time and be encouraged to try the next recipe in the book that they want to make. Turn it into a weekly family event taking it in turns at one parent’s home and then the other’s parent’s residence.

Guilt shopping because you’ve been spending more time at work and less time with them doesn’t soothe their concerns. Shop sensibly and choose gifts that they will love based on their current interests. It’s all too easy to buy something for them that they were fans of three months ago, but their interest has since waned. Therefore, be sure that your planned gift is still on their wish list to avoid disappointment all round.