Birthday party season is upon us, which means birthday party invitations from your children’s friends are about to pour in.

by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff Some of the best gifts for 1-year-olds are those that engage kids’ rapidly developing motor skills, sensory exploration, and boundless curiosity.

texted me from the park where the party was taking place to tell me that some of the other kids had brought gifts. I grabbed the present, jumped in my car and drove over to the park to hand ...