3rd Birthday Gifts

[MissMusic]

I can't believe I'm thinking about this already!

Some family members have asked what to get Lillian for her 3rd birthday.  We're having the party early (last weekend of June) so I guess they are planning ahead.

Whats on the list of hot gifts for 3 yr olds?  I am totally clueless.  My aunt was going to get her a little art easel from Crayola, with the white board/chalk board/magnets--is that worth it?  I don't even know if she can paint on it.  I know she's getting a "latch board" with the locks on it, and a little Daniel Tiger trolley.  Maybe an art smock.  We don't need anything huge...

What else are these kids into?

[xanthepants]

I'm thinking abut asking for a scooter and I totally saw the old school roller skates that go over your shoes and I totally want them....for her. Yeah for her. I haven't figured anything out really. I'm trying to decide if we will do a bike this year or not.

[starfishy]

I'm so done with toys!! He has so many. My mom is going to get him swim gear and summer pjs.
Right now on our list is a pair of binoculars and if he's still into legos will get him a more expensive set (he's pointed out the construction set at the store). We are also going to take him out for a fun day and a trip to the zoo near his birthday (that's 3 hour trip one way for us)
Closer to his birthday I'll see if he says he's wants something or is interested. We aren't doing a big party this year so we won't be asked about gifts so much.
As for the easel- I still say that easel was my favorite gift ever. I think I got it when I was five. I used it forever. So if you get a really nice one I think she would get a lot of use out of it.

I was thinking the other day that 3 is hard. I wish he would come out and say "I really want xyz"

[somethingcleverer]

I think she might get a scooter (with the wide base for little kids) otherwise more of the glitter glider dolls because she is obsessed with the ones she got for easter.

[sarasansh]

I'm looking at one of those marble runs where you can put the pieces together and roll the marbles down. Maybe some Curious George stuff since that's his fav right now. Books, of course.

...and probably a (refurbished) ipad. Judge away but my old one, which has since become "his" broke while we were on vacation. Knowing I'll be home alone with two come September, one which will be attached to my boob, I need a reliable and easy to use source of entertainment.

[origamimommy]

I am thinking magnatiles. He is obsessed with the ones at daycare and they are pricey, so definitely not a "here you go" type of gift. My in laws are getting him a trike. If we don't do magnatiles, we will do water park passes. It attached to our zoo and we already have zoo passes so they are discounted. It's only a 20-30 minute drive away and we go almost every weekend that it's nice out, so that could definitely be worth the money.

Tyler has an easel and he loves it. He colors there, he works on letters and counting, and I see a lot of use out of in the future. We do use the desk option, easel option, and the magnetic board. It's a really good "activity" versus just playing with toys.

Also, he loves play doh, legos, and learning letters. Is she into any of that? Tons of stuff you can do with that.

[junkytrunk]

We were probably planning on getting him a bike. We will see if that happens though.

[starfishy]

Another thing I thought of- the basic beginner board games - candy land, shoots and ladders, memory, ants in the pants ...
My sister will probably ask what to get him and I'll tell her that. We are big into puzzles and board games in our house though.

[mrsdonati]

Most likely we'll get her a bike, and probably more little people since she's still obsessed with them. We're going to take her camping with my whole family so if one of them asks I'll tell them to get her a sleeping bag and headlamp.

[britbratjf]

I'm thinking a dollhouse. I really like this one: www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006WZO5AI/ref=pd_aw_sbs_t_8?refRID=1D90V2D1H9C3CZ935B5K

We may buy the house then have grandparents buy furniture sets.

A small bike could be good. Legos/bristle blocks are popular here and those certainly aren't cheap. I think my mom may get her a doll high chair. What about an outdoor basketball hoop/tee ball/golf set? Does L have a sandbox?

[barefoot84]

We're getting her a parachute. There's a Green Toy gardening building set I absolutely love, so I'll probably mention it as a gift idea.

[MissMusic]

Oooh I love the board games idea! We have the ducks-in-a-pond game where you pick out a duck out of the pond and have to match the color on the bottom to the color on your game card. We don't play by the rules because she just loves the matching, so she'll do all the cards herself.



I'm done with toys, too!! One good idea I had was to ask for a pass to the local puppet shows (which she looooves), a zoo pass and a science museum pass. Maybe a new bathing suit.

We also do this charity drive in the winter where you fill a shoe box with small gifts for a child of a specific age. I thought maybe we could ask for people to fill shoe boxes in lieu of a gift, especially my immediate family who tend to go a little nuts with presents. I'd just have to store the boxes until the drive starts, which isn't an issue.

[heatherbee]

Apr 9, 2015 21:16:50 GMT -5 MissMusic said:

Oooh I love the board games idea! We have the ducks-in-a-pond game where you pick out a duck out of the pond and have to match the color on the bottom to the color on your game card. We don't play by the rules because she just loves the matching, so she'll do all the cards herself.



I'm done with toys, too!! One good idea I had was to ask for a pass to the local puppet shows (which she looooves), a zoo pass and a science museum pass. Maybe a new bathing suit.

We also do this charity drive in the winter where you fill a shoe box with small gifts for a child of a specific age. I thought maybe we could ask for people to fill shoe boxes in lieu of a gift, especially my immediate family who tend to go a little nuts with presents. I'd just have to store the boxes until the drive starts, which isn't an issue.

We have family members who plan to renew the zoo membership yearly for our kids, and it's an awesome gift. Saves us a ton of money throughout the year and DS is at the perfect age for the zoo - he loves it!

You guys are making me feel like a slacker mom because I have zero ideas

[aimeefarrahfowler]

We're a couple years behind and grandparents are getting the PB anywhere chair. He loves the one at his cousin's house.

[roo1582]

We are getting her a bike. If other people ask us for what to get her, we plan on telling them games and puzzles. She's also really into superheros here lately (she loves The Incredibles movie), so maybe something like that.

[britbratjf]

Apr 9, 2015 21:27:45 GMT -5 aimeefarrahfowler said:

We're a couple years behind and grandparents are getting the PB anywhere chair. He loves the one at his cousin's house.

This is a good idea. I want her to have a chair to sit in in her new big girl room.

[babywinks]

Ugh no idea yet. We are moving in May so I will figure it out after that. But there are some good ideas here.

[roo1582]

BTW, we're definitely asking for this:

www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Magnetic-Pattern/dp/B000IE4B44/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1428664761&sr=8-3&keywords=melissa+and+doug+pattern+blocks

It will be great for traveling (we tend to have long car rides/trips), so it would be great for those times.

[jennmm]

Apr 9, 2015 18:56:04 GMT -5 MissMusic said:

I can't believe I'm thinking about this already!

Some family members have asked what to get Lillian for her 3rd birthday.  We're having the party early (last weekend of June) so I guess they are planning ahead.

Whats on the list of hot gifts for 3 yr olds?  I am totally clueless.  My aunt was going to get her a little art easel from Crayola, with the white board/chalk board/magnets--is that worth it?  I don't even know if she can paint on it.  I know she's getting a "latch board" with the locks on it, and a little Daniel Tiger trolley.  Maybe an art smock.  We don't need anything huge...

What else are these kids into?

My kids have a whiteboard/chalkboard and they love it. I was thinking a tricycle or wagon maybe. Haven't decided but it's closer than we think.

[starfishy]

Apr 10, 2015 6:20:52 GMT -5 roo1582 said:

BTW, we're definitely asking for this:

www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Magnetic-Pattern/dp/B000IE4B44/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1428664761&sr=8-3&keywords=melissa+and+doug+pattern+blocks

It will be great for traveling (we tend to have long car rides/trips), so it would be great for those times.

I just sold that for like $3 yesterday because Tommy didn't want to play with it. Puzzles only!!! haha.  Wish I had known.  I would have just sent it to you. 

[roo1582]

Apr 10, 2015 7:00:53 GMT -5 starfishy said:

Apr 10, 2015 6:20:52 GMT -5 roo1582 said:

BTW, we're definitely asking for this:

www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Magnetic-Pattern/dp/B000IE4B44/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1428664761&sr=8-3&keywords=melissa+and+doug+pattern+blocks

It will be great for traveling (we tend to have long car rides/trips), so it would be great for those times.

I just sold that for like $3 yesterday because Tommy didn't want to play with it. Puzzles only!!! haha.  Wish I had known.  I would have just sent it to you. 

Haha, well timing sucks! Knowing my kid, she'll probably hate it to. She's so hit or miss with things anymore. I should probably look to see if I can find it used. But then again, if someone wants to buy it for her, why not.

[summergirl1211]

Riley really doesn't need much since she got a wagon and trike for Christmas. I'll probably ask for a latch board and maybe magnetic letters for the frig. Otherwise she's been big into playdoh so a playdoh set or something would be fun.

[bliz1712]

i found this for the fridge to help her with letters and recognizing it. V had one when she was little and she loved it. It sings a song for each letter and pronounces it. summergirl1211, this would be great for magnetic letters like you mentioned.

www.walmart.com/ip/36610856

Not sure what I'll ask from the grandparents. We have a bike for her that H got from a coworker. I'm thinking more outdoor toys or pool/lake toys, chairs, or maybe a kids picnic table. We will need a life jacket for her for boating.

Also, the easle is a great idea.  V has one that has a paper roll and a chalkboard on one side and then a white board on the other.  She still uses it and she's 11.  She writes down her chores and what she does for school.

[tribute17]

A wagon is a good idea. What kinds do you guys have? Collapsible or not?

[aimeefarrahfowler]

Apr 10, 2015 10:24:47 GMT -5 tribute17 said:

A wagon is a good idea. What kinds do you guys have? Collapsible or not?

We have this one, IL's got it for A's birthday last year.


www.step2.com/p/Whisper-Ride-Touring-Wagon?gclid=CJfK1ZeJ7MQCFUNo7AodZ38AJw

it seems really nice, but we've never actually taken it out of the house...

[paddyb]

Is it wrong that I really don't want to get anything? We don't really have room for more crap. Maybe I will get us passes to the children's museum or something.

[tribute17]

Apr 10, 2015 10:48:15 GMT -5 paddyb said:

Is it wrong that I really don't want to get anything? We don't really have room for more crap. Maybe I will get us passes to the children's museum or something.

No, I was thinking this too.  I'm really debating an easel because I really do think he would love it but I don't know if I have room.  I also would like to condense some of his other toys because he really just doesn't play with all that many.  But then he will pull some random toy out and it is his favorite.  We always have a zoo pass an aquarium/legoland pass so money for that is an option.  Also, maybe swim lessons or something like that?  There are plenty of activity type things that don't require you to have more clutter.  

[USCgirl]

We got an easel, some bath toys (cause little miss loves her baths!) and pool toys. I am not a big fan of Playdoh I like Silly Putty so much more! It is so much less messy and they have all kinds of colors. We will be investing in some. Like many of you, we have WAY too many toys and "things" already.

My LO is WAY luckier than I was as a kid and literally has everything and then some! For those thinking about a scooter or balance bike...go for it! LO loves both equally and it keeps her busy for a good period of time.

[sarahandeddie]

We will be getting Avery her own leap pad ultra. She loves playing with DD#1's on yucky days. Other items on our list are clothes, Barbie (they'll finally be old enough), more kinetic sand, doll accessories, books, art supplies and puzzles.

We have 2 easels and they love them!

[summergirl1211]

Apr 10, 2015 10:48:15 GMT -5 paddyb said:

Is it wrong that I really don't want to get anything? We don't really have room for more crap. Maybe I will get us passes to the children's museum or something.

paddyb, I'm right there with you. I always see fun toys when we go to Target (we let Riley play in the toy aisle for a few minutes every Sunday) but then I realize that I don't want more stuff in our house. I really need to get going on some toy storage around here because her things are taking over!