Christmas gifts for kids - I am not going through what I did last year :) - Ideas anyone?

AprilShowers04

Every year it is very stressful ordering gifts for the kids.  I always do it online, but I got caught in that delivery mess last year.  I am not going to wait too long this time.

Any gift ideas for boys and girls ages 4 - 9?  Thanks a million!!!

AprilShowers04

As everyone cringes that I just mentioned Christmas the day after Halloween

Luckystar2

I've already been buying for my dd so I am not cringing!

Dd is 6 and still very into Frozen. I've been picking up little frozen things for stocking stuffers. Target has had stuff in the $1 spot. I picked up an Anna coronation dress when target was doing a good pre Halloween sale. Other than that dd really wants a baby doll like her friends (American girl bitty baby) and American girl 18 inch doll. I ordered the baby a couple weeks ago during a today show special. I found an18 inch doll for cheap on craigslist that I'm fixing up. Getting some clothes and accessories from target and some of the AG books.

sundaygirl

Check out these "Toys that get played with" lists.  They are awesome.
http://www.babycheapskate.com/category/toys_played_with/

denalea

I'm a fan of longer term toys...things that can grow with them and/or be added on to, so Legos, K'nex, someone mentioned a magnetix thing a while back that I may save 'til next year.  I also found a science set on Zuliily a while back that I got for DS.  It will also be a little old for him, but DH has ventured into the world of salt water fish tanks (I refer to ours as Disaster Reef...but I digress)  and is constantly testing chemicals, etc.  DS loves to "help" and does so with water and food coloring, so I think he'll have fun with that. 

Also, consumables....art supplies, play dough replacements, etc.  A lot of times this time of year you can get some neat craft kits - make your own soaps, make your own friendship bracelets, etc.  Is the rainbow loom still a thing?

Not sure if any movies are coming out on DVD by then, but a movie themed gift could work.  For the older, you could even include a movie gc for a movie of choice down the road. 

Is 9 year old a girl?  At that age there seems to be a "transition" to older girl stuff, even though they are still little girls, so maybe some (age appropriate) nail polish, hair accessories, even a lip gloss or something (also age appropriate.)  Costume jewelry that isn't "little kid" stuff.  (Check out TJ Maxx.  They usually have some nice Stirling stuff for not that much $$.  ( I would only do the makeup stuff if it is your kid, though.  Some parents may be all crazy about stuff like that.)  A diary or journal? 

csuave

Games.  Guess Who, UNO and Memory are classics that I think every kid enjoys.

egpitt22

Liam (3.5) is way into Paw Patrol these days, so I'm going to pick him up a few figures/toys.  Jake is almost 7 and I'm going to get him some K'NEX because he's super into building stuff. Are your kids into dress up?  Now is a great time to stock up since all of the Halloween stuff is clearanced!

Other than that, I'm sending this list to the grandparents (who always ask for ideas, and I never have many good ones) that is all non-toy gift ideas: http://www.raisingmemories.com/2013/12/ultimate-list-100-non-toy-gift-ideas.html

egpitt22

How about a magazine subscription for each of them?

egpitt22

Ok, now you have me looking for ideas for my own kids.  I'm on a mission to not clutter up the house with a bunch of toys this year, so posting this idea may seem counter intuitive since it's so big, but I do feel like it would get a lot of use (from both of them!)  We have a simple basketball hoop that hangs on the back of the door in the playroom and they use it almost every day.  would your kids enjoy a joint gift like this that could be for both of them?


that one is from walmart, though it's currently sold out. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Medal-Sports-48-4-in-1-Combo-Table/28941363

I remember seeing similar sets in black friday ads last year, so I plan on stalking to see if there are any good deals this year....

kris356

egpitt22 said:

Ok, now you have me looking for ideas for my own kids.  I'm on a mission to not clutter up the house with a bunch of toys this year, so posting this idea may seem counter intuitive since it's so big, but I do feel like it would get a lot of use (from both of them!)  We have a simple basketball hoop that hangs on the back of the door in the playroom and they use it almost every day.  would your kids enjoy a joint gift like this that could be for both of them?


that one is from walmart, though it's currently sold out. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Medal-Sports-48-4-in-1-Combo-Table/28941363

I remember seeing similar sets in black friday ads last year, so I plan on stalking to see if there are any good deals this year....

We got a family gift every year, it was usually something big for all of us. One year, wait for it, it was an Atari, we also got a computer, nitendo, a pool table. 

So I think it would be great.

lishie

I hadn't been thinking of Christmas, but I happened to see that Amazon's deal of the day was Kinex, so I bought two sets for my 6 year old yesterday. Between that and the 90% off Halloween costumes that I picked up at Target for dress up (Last year both boys wore their costumes all year), I'm almost done shopping for my kids.

lishie

egpitt22 said:

Ok, now you have me looking for ideas for my own kids.  I'm on a mission to not clutter up the house with a bunch of toys this year, so posting this idea may seem counter intuitive since it's so big, but I do feel like it would get a lot of use (from both of them!)  We have a simple basketball hoop that hangs on the back of the door in the playroom and they use it almost every day.  would your kids enjoy a joint gift like this that could be for both of them?


that one is from walmart, though it's currently sold out. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Medal-Sports-48-4-in-1-Combo-Table/28941363

I remember seeing similar sets in black friday ads last year, so I plan on stalking to see if there are any good deals this year....

Emmy, we have a foosball table in our basement. Now that the boys are a little older, they're really into it. They're also starting to get into playing bumper pool on our table. I think that set could get a lot of love.

bride2003

love that list Emmy although my inlaws would probably say - well we do those things with them anyway, we still want to get them stuff!

egpitt22

bride2003 said:

love that list Emmy although my inlaws would probably say - well we do those things with them anyway, we still want to get them stuff!

haha, don't worry....they will still haul a mountain of gifts through my door christmas morning.  I'm just hoping maybe they will replace just a few of the toys with some items off of this list instead!! 

MrsAmers

I'm guessing we will mostly get the kids lego this year. Though I need to look online to see what kind of Harry Potter stuff is still available and I'll browse Learning Express since they always have interesting stuff.

Honestly, I'm already dreading the influx of new stuff. I'm going to look for some shows that relatives could buy us tickets to...but I know there will still be toys...

AprilShowers04

The 9 year old girl is a difficult one.  Not into make-up.  They also have no interest in Legos.  It make shopping difficult!  I'm going to look at some of your ideas.  I'm thinking basketball hoop.  I agree on the new influx of stuff.  The oldest isn't all that interested in electronics either.

bride2003

My 9 yr old is going to be hard too.  And we have no big items this year like bikes, train sets (aka = waste!), play kitchen etc.. it may be just little stuff.