Buying someone a gift is representation of a joyous occasion, but at times, the process of choosing the “right” gift can feel like anything but a celebration. This is especially true when you are shopping for some of the harshest critics to date: children.

Let’s face it–if kids don’t like something, they won’t hold back. With all the rules and regulations associated with the purchasing of toys or games for kids, it’s hard to keep these guidelines in mind along with a kid’s ever-changing likes and dislikes. Buying a kid in elementary school a gift for ages 6-and-up may teeter into “babyish” territory, but getting the newest rated T or M (teen or mature) action video game may not be what mom wants her 11-year-old playing before bedtime. So how do you know if you are choosing what’s best?

Age ranges are placed on games and toys for a reason. For the toy industry, the main and most essential purpose for those guidelines is safety, says Adrienne O’Hara, a Toys”R”Us spokeswoman. “Parents and gift-givers should absolutely take note to packaging notifications when dealing with young children,” says O’Hara. “When kids are 3-years old and younger, they are at greater risk for swallowing small or hazardous pieces.”

Don’t Hold Back
Since children are constantly going through various stages of development, games geared toward complimenting and enhancing that current phase of the child’s life make the best gifts. For children ages 6 and up, it’s important to take his or her skill level and interests into account, but you should only purchase gifts that fall within their age range. A game or toy for ages 6 and up is still appropriate for a 7-8 year old, but one designed for children 7 and up may not be the best choice for younger child, especially one not even in Kindergarten yet. In general, you should always make sure your recipient is at the younger age of a provided range when choosing a gift.

Moving Too Fast?
Another common conundrum gift givers face is buying for tweens (10-12 years old). This is a tough age to buy for, because while some tweens might be more eager to leave their adolescent years behind, you also have to be careful not to go beyond their maturity levels. While this mainly affects girls, think twice before purchasing cosmetics, perfume, hoop earrings, hair accessories, etc. without getting her parent’s permission.

When a PG-13 or T-rating is applied to a movie or video game, is it okay to buy it for a tween or teen? The moral answer is to leave that decision up to the parent’s discretion. Although some parents may be willing to ignore the guidelines, it is not your call to make for someone else’s child, and you don’t want your gift to provoke an argument or be withheld from its’ recipient. Even if a child is old enough by movie or video game standards, it might not be a subject matter that all parents would agree is appropriate for their teen.

Solo Play
Purchasing toys and games for only children should also be handled delicately. Most games and toys are designed to complement the multi-player audience, but does that mean the you should search of something strictly designed to accommodate party of one? It’s healthy for kids to be interactive and social, so if you are gifting a toy or game that is for more than one player, it could be the perfect companion for the next sleepover or play date, especially for kids in grade school (yet the age that kids start having sleepovers varies as well). On the other hand, there are plenty of fun and stimulating games and toys suited for individuals, especially games that are more educationally-oriented.

The most important rules to remember when buying any child, big or small, a gift, is to use your own discretion, knowledge of the child’s skills and abilities, and to follow the age ranges because that will lead you toward something that will be indicative of the child’s capability and enjoyment. After all, it’s really about putting a smile on the child’s face–and the parents!