Birthday Gifts for your J12er

[laurski81]

I'm sure we've discussed this to death but it's slow here and I have no idea what to tell people to get Henry for his birthday.

He just got hand-me-down bike that was practically brand-new from my cousin, he has a swing set, my ILs bought him this huge obnoxious pickup truck power wheels thing, and he already has a whole bunch of other crap that he doesn't really need already. We have a million Disney movies and I picked him up Zootopia because I felt like I need to give him one present from us...but after that, I can't even think of one thing.  There is an aquarium that I guess we could put money towards getting him a season pass but it is such a far drive and I'm not sure how much use we would get out of it. 

What are you giving as suggestions when people ask?

[origamimommy]

We're doing one year of swim lessons. He has enough shit and needs them anyway, so we prepaid for them and then got his birthday party at the swim place for free. Can you do some kind of lessons or team sport like soccer or tball?

[laurski81]

origamimommy, that's a good idea. I know that sports through our town won't take him yet because they all start at 5 but maybe the local Y or something.

[britbratjf]

We are doing an outdoor playhouse (although I'm trying to hand that idea off to my mom...)

Also going to ask for a nice cash register toy. In laws are getting her a nice little suitcase. She has requested Puppy Surprise and a plush Tiana doll from the Disney store. She also wants a couple more princess Lego sets.

[roo1582]

laurski81 - Have you looked at neighboring towns? SW has a soccer program starting at 3yo (We just signed Kayleigh up for fall soccer). I'm pretty sure they take out of town kids since some other towns close by don't do it.

I know you also do Lake Compounce. Money towards a season pass? Membership to the children's museum in Middletown? Beardsly Zoo? What about some outdoor toys, like a pool or sprinkler?

[xanthepants]

Cosette loves playing Frisbee. A soccer net and ball? (we got her a net). We were going to do a pool but decided against it with the move now and will just wait. We are doing a backpack for Disney, Monster High dolls, Scooby Doo play set/castle, and Aladin movie. Telling others to get her Dress up Clothes for Disney, Ballet clothes, Scooby movies, Books, Art supplies, Science experiments(she loves this kind of stuff now), Monster high stuff, or American Girl Accessories (target stuff). I know that doesn't really help you For him. Any books to build up your library? The science stuff is starting to be fun to do with them and there are all sorts of kits. Games are starting to be more fun for family game night too - twister, candyland, hi-ho cherry-o.

[junkytrunk]

I had a hard time telling people ideas too but I came up with: sand toys, kid board games, iTunes gift card for games on the iPad, anything for outdoors.

We didn't get him an actual gift, his party was expensive enough and he already has tons of stuff he doesn't play with. I told family just money, so that went into his bank account.

[laurski81]

Jun 8, 2016 11:01:38 GMT -5 roo1582 said:

laurski81 - Have you looked at neighboring towns? SW has a soccer program starting at 3yo (We just signed Kayleigh up for fall soccer). I'm pretty sure they take out of town kids since some other towns close by don't do it.

I know you also do Lake Compounce. Money towards a season pass? Membership to the children's museum in Middletown? Beardsly Zoo? What about some outdoor toys, like a pool or sprinkler?

I was thinking about the Lake Compounce membership.  I did it last year and we got a lot of use out of it. 

[starfishy]

I just went through his toys and our house and I'm just on a huge decluttering kick. So I wanted to people to get him other things so it doesn't take up space.
We got him 2 Lego sets, some books and I'll probably bring him to the Lego center in Westchester for a day trip.
I'm going to get hungry hungry hippos from Josie.

My mom asked and she decided to get him a play mobile toy, a plate that has start/finish line so he knows how much to eat, a mets gift card so he can pick out a hat or something when we go to the game and money for his college fund.

As for everyone else I'm telling them:
Gift card to the trampoline place
Gift card to the pottery place
Gift card to a favorite restaurant (Johnny Rockets)
Movie tickets
iTunes gift card
Even target Gift cards. He likes to pick out his own clothes and stuff now.

I'll start getting these types of things for people too. No one needs more stuff.

[traceyt07]

Jun 8, 2016 12:12:51 GMT -5 starfishy said:

I just went through his toys and our house and I'm just on a huge decluttering kick. So I wanted to people to get him other things so it doesn't take up space.
We got him 2 Lego sets, some books and I'll probably bring him to the Lego center in Westchester for a day trip.
I'm going to get hungry hungry hippos from Josie.

My mom asked and she decided to get him a play mobile toy, a plate that has start/finish line so he knows how much to eat, a mets gift card so he can pick out a hat or something when we go to the game and money for his college fund.

As for everyone else I'm telling them:
Gift card to the trampoline place
Gift card to the pottery place
Gift card to a favorite restaurant (Johnny Rockets)
Movie tickets
iTunes gift card
Even target Gift cards. He likes to pick out his own clothes and stuff now.

I'll start getting these types of things for people too. No one needs more stuff.

If you do the lego thing in Westchester please let me know. It's about 10 minutes from my house!

[starfishy]

Jun 8, 2016 13:26:08 GMT -5 traceyt07 said:

Jun 8, 2016 12:12:51 GMT -5 starfishy said:

I just went through his toys and our house and I'm just on a huge decluttering kick. So I wanted to people to get him other things so it doesn't take up space.
We got him 2 Lego sets, some books and I'll probably bring him to the Lego center in Westchester for a day trip.
I'm going to get hungry hungry hippos from Josie.

My mom asked and she decided to get him a play mobile toy, a plate that has start/finish line so he knows how much to eat, a mets gift card so he can pick out a hat or something when we go to the game and money for his college fund.

As for everyone else I'm telling them:
Gift card to the trampoline place
Gift card to the pottery place
Gift card to a favorite restaurant (Johnny Rockets)
Movie tickets
iTunes gift card
Even target Gift cards. He likes to pick out his own clothes and stuff now.

I'll start getting these types of things for people too. No one needs more stuff.

If you do the lego thing in Westchester please let me know. It's about 10 minutes from my house!

Awesome!! I totally will

[nursedesi]

Well I just bought him a plastic teeter totter thing at aldis today. H is working on a playground thing for the back yard. Probably a lego set and some sort of imaginext from us. No one really asks but if they do I'll ask for movie tickets or for legos.

[somethingcleverer]

So far she is getting a baby alive doll from us, an American girl accessory and matching outfit from my parents and I'm not sure what else. If anyone asks I would probably tell them some outdoor items like chalk/bubbles or maybe some games. She really only needs summer clothes and I'm sure between me and my mom she'll have more than she needs after her birthday.

[barefoot84]

She's getting a game from us. I'll be suggesting puzzles and books from others, but I'm sure we'll also get many new toys.

xanthepants,The science stuff is starting to be fun to do with them and there are all sorts of kits.

Any recommendations?? Tumaini would love to do things like that with her father, and I haven't seen any for her age. I did a quick search on Amazon, but I'm not sure what key words to use to start my search.

[bantyrooster]

Legos, ghost busters, new cowboy hat, rescue bot DVD for the car. Mymom gets him a new pool every year.

[babywinks]

We are getting Abby baby doll stuff - the target 18inch doll RV/camper that I got used and a triplet stroller. And a couple paw patrol toys.

If people ask what to get get I will suggest - paw patrol stuff, shopkins, MLP stuff, a little red riding hood cape, Lion Guard or Disney Princess figures.

[starfishy]

Tonight was my nieces birthday. Tommy was freaking obsessed with her shopkins. He kept asking her to open them up and play with her. Like carried the box around all night. Hugging it. So I guess he's getting shopkins too. Le sigh. More crap. Haha. Kids.

[xanthepants]

barefoot84, Ha - I picked up 3 Dollar store science thing. One was these dots that grow when you soak them into marble sized balls, one was exploding goo, I can't remember the other. Then I got her a bug collecting kit at Michaels and a crab that grows when you soak it. I thought about hitting the Science Museum here and seeing what they had on-hand as well. Often Michaels has a couple things along with a 40% off coupon every week.

[sarasansh]

Robin has been saying for months he wants a big blue airplane with a propeller, so I'm trying to track one of those down. Other than that, a few new train table pieces, a new backpack for camp, and maybe one other thing. I've reached my maximum ability to handle the amount of crap in our house so I'm going small and hopefully getting rid of a ton of toys this summer. He only really loves about 15% of the stuff we have anyway.

[MissMusic]

Lake Compounce! You CT girls are making me nostalgic!

This year is hard, I have no idea what she wants. I know she's getting a scooter. I might try to get tickets for the Polar Express-type train tour (only its not xmas themed this time of year). She's getting a few things to enjoy at the pool, like new sunglasses. I thought about new rain boots because she likes to splash around in puddles in the rain.

I toyed with the idea of making her a coupon book and she can "redeem" them for treats: 1 night of eating ice cream before dinner; 1 night of staying up past bedtime to watch a movie, 1 trip to Target to pick anything she wants from the dollar bin, etc. I don't know how fun that would be for her though.