Toddler gifts?

[spicysalmonroll]

Wanting to get a jump start on Christmas presents. My nephew is 6 and nieces are 3 & 1.5 and their house looks like Toys R Us exploded. They have everything! Tried asking the parents and they just said "um?" They aren't really old enough to enjoy or appreciate an outing gift like the zoo. So any tips or ideas?!?

[gratefulgirl]

Our house also looks like the toy store exploded. Our kids are mostly getting more of what we have. More wooden blocks, more Magnatiles, more pieces for the train set. That way we can build cooler stuff but aren't adding to the overwhelm.

[thelorax]

DD is 3 and loves Magnatiles we use them all the time. Lightwands, glow sticks, stickers, and a bubble gun are always a big hit. We generally get one small gift for our nieces and nephews and then give their parents a check for their college fund.

[thelorax]

Also my 3 year old loves the zoo we've gone frequently for a year or two. We've asked for a membership to the zoo and local museum of nature and science the last two years as a Christmas present. If they have a museum or zoo reasonably close to their house I wouldn't discount a membership as a gift idea. It's awesome to have something that is easy and free to do on a weekend day when you need to get out of the house for a few hours.

[elebishi]

Oct 11, 2016 8:03:29 GMT -5 gratefulgirl said:

Our house also looks like the toy store exploded. Our kids are mostly getting more of what we have. More wooden blocks, more Magnatiles, more pieces for the train set. That way we can build cooler stuff but aren't adding to the overwhelm.

This is a fantastic idea. 

[elebishi]

When giving gifts to other kids, I try to get something fun but also educational or useful - puzzles, activity books, etc. Seems small, but I've had lots of success giving Band-Aids as an adjunct to other things. All these things usually come in themes so you can pinpoint it to whatever they happen to be into at the time.

[elm1214]

Not sure about your nephew, but my girls love arts and craft supplies, puzzles, and lately they are into the Disney Fairies (Tinkerbell) movies.

These are also a huge hit with my girls.
smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007BSXZZG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476196783&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=build+a+flower&dpPl=1&dpID=51trLJqng5L&ref=plSrch

[meagpt22]

While the kinds may not understand a gift for a future date like the zoo. At 1.5 they also don't understand gifts..they are happy with the box. So basically don't discount the zoo idea.
I've asked my family for my DDs 2nd birthday to get only something small or tickets to a show or zoo.
Otherwise for girls I'd look into tea sets, kitchen pretend items, doll things, blocks, puzzles, or craft items.
The 6 year old may like building kits.

[spicysalmonroll]

elm1214 that's adorable!!

[blueinred]

spicysalmonroll , I think they are definitely old enough to enjoy a membership in a zoo or children''s museum. We are overrun with toys, dolls, stuffed animals, etc so I encourage experience gifts rather than more stuff. The 3 year old might enjoy a subscription to Ladybug magazine. My DD really enjoys receiving something in the mail just for her. You can also never go wrong with books.

[countrycotton]

I would think that if they are overrun by toys some sort of experience would be a better gift. Any new toy type thing will quickly get lost in the the mass of stuff. While a zoo trip may elicit a less than stellar response upon opening in the long run they will likely get more out of it. And mom won't have more stuff to contend with.

[coffeequeen14]

We really like subscription boxes. Perhaps something like a Koala Crate?

[spicysalmonroll]

thanks for the suggestions!!