There are very few things in life that I am anal retentive about, but buying early for Christmas is possibly the number one thing on a very short list. I hate crowds.
I have everything else for my children (as well as the four other kids I shop for), the smaller gifts, but for each of them, I would like to get one really cool “big” gift.
All the smaller gifts total possibly $25 total, each. I do not beleive in going over the top and smothering a child in a one day event. I am willing to go to $100 per child or if I can find a cool gift that can be utilized by both of them, $250 total, possibly.
My son will be 4.5 and my daughter almost 3 this Xmas. They both already have trikes/bikes/and a scooter. He loves Thomas the train and has the table and accessories. She is very much into babies. They both love books ( dear Goddesses, I have a large library for them already.)
We also do not have pavement here, except in front of the garage, so roller blades and the like are ixnayed.
So’s, if you were a four year old boy or a two year old girl, what would you go ape nuts over?
Well, I guess my Plaskool Flashlight idea is no good, since it costs $12.00.
As for something for two of them, how about some sort of indoor tent-type thing? They could play with it inside during these shitty Michigan winters, and kids love that sort of fort/tent thing.
Otherwise, for the little one (or either one) a fantabulous art easel. One that stands up, loaded with cool art supplies.
Whatever you buy, make sure it comes in a big, big box. Every kid knows that there is nothing cooler to play in all day on Christmas Day than the big ol’ box the good present came in.
You might consider a kid karaoke machine or even a simple tape recorder. Little kids don’t care as much about bells and whistles as grown-ups sometimes think they do…and I have yet to meet the kid who can’t be entertained for HOURS by recording and listening to themselves. If you insist on spending a lot of money, they sell (“they” = some retail electornics outfits :D) kid-friendly video recorders as well.
**Domo-Kun ** whilst vastly amusing, is more than slightly scary. It is aok to be uber trendy in the toys department ( *MY * kids knew about Bob the Builder *eons * before the rest of yank kids did due to a UK friend bombarding us with its propaganda.)
The kids flashlight is a great idea, as are the indoor tent, and have been done as 1) we camp 2) mommy and daddy have lost the adult sized flash lights and have had to raid the kids stash during power outtages. 3) both said flash lights were $1 at a garage sale and more durable than adult stuff. ( Also, I made my own indoor fortress/tent out of PVC that doubles as a drying rack for clothes in the summer.) What, Michigan winters are crappy, no…?
It is not so much the monetary cost, but the cool factor involved. And with International and savvy dopers here, my horizons are broadened.
Magnets. That’s a UK site but many of these same toys are available in the U.S. (we have at least one of them). Let the Mrs. know that I want the floating magnets for Christmas!
Kaleidescope.
Bubble kits. Then wait until a REALLY cold Michigan day (at least minus 10 degrees F) and show the kids how they’ll freeze in mid-air.
Play Doh. Always popular here. However, you may be well-equipped already.
Hot Wheels. Those little cars on plastic tracks would work for the four-year-old already.
Cardboard blocks. These are the kind that you fold into red/green/blue blocks and can be used to build anything in the family room.
Little Tykes kitchen. I know that we’re getting up there in price, but my teenager would still admit that the ability to pour water around in the little sink made her early days.
I worked in toy stores for about 5 years, so I’ll see what I can do.
Have you looked into Duplo/Legos yet? They’re compatible with each other, and lots of other building toys (and things like Rokenbok cars) are made to work with them, so you can easily expand as they get older.
Also check out Playmobil. It’s usually a little more expensive than your typical plastic toys, but they have such cool, really high quality stuff. For the girl I’d get anything that has animals in it - the younger kids always go straight for the animals, and for the boy maybe some of the cars or more elaborate set-ups. Any specialty toy store should have 'em - I think even Target (grr) has started carrying the stuff. Again, this is really expandable and fits in easily with your Thomas and Legos. I’m 21 and I still love my Playmobil advent calendars. Be sure to check out the Playmobil add-on section in the middle of the catalogue. You can buy individual pieces fairly cheaply there.
I’ll let you know if I can come up with any other ideas. Good luck!
I recently discovered this site, and the “Thinking Putty” seems very cool to me. You can get it in 1 lb bags for $20 - $25 USD, so $100 would buy a lot of putty! It’s a lot like Silly Putty, but comes in neat colours, and can stretch, bounce or shatter depending on how you handle it. I’d think your kids were cool if they had some (especially if they’d let me play with it too).
Shirley, do you have room for a 9’ tall inflatable Tyrannosaur? If not, how about a 7’ rhino (example here)? I know a guy who was able to get them wholesale from the manufacturer, I don’t know if he still does or not. He may even still have a few in storage. I got one of the T-rexes from him and blew it up early one Christmas morning so the teeth would be the first thing my nephews saw when coming downstairs. Scared the hell out of my sister too, even though I tried to warn her.
Well when my sister and I were younger, we were entertained by big cardboard boxes from big apliances. So my advice buy that new fridge/whatever you always wanted and give the kids the box to play with. The foam peanuts were always fun to play with too…bubble wrap was a favorite of ours as well. I also second the notion on the playskool stuff.
**EvilHomer ** that putty page is miiiiiighty intriguing!
UWMite Thanks for the great ideas. I, too, like playmobile, and the bonus is that the kids can both play ( and fight) over it
**Mooney ** Magnets are very popular with the Ujest Offspring. I have them ( magnets) all over the house.
As for the wonderful cardboard box suggestion, I manage to appropriate large cardboard boxes from Mr. Ujests office from time to time. Boy-o-Boy am I the most popular mother on the planet when I bring those home.
Kids love taking pictures, but spending $10 on film and processing for 22 blurry photos of the cat’s nose and two off-centered pictures of the Christmas tree leads most of us to restrain their creativity (so that we can afford to feed them).
With a digital, you can save the one shot in 48 that is truly good, then wipe the diskette and send them out to do it again.
The foam peanuts were always fun to play with too…bubble wrap was a favorite of ours as well. I also second the notion on the playskool stuff.