Author Topic: Gifts for Kids (Read 23691 times)

hellymedic · « **on:** 16 December, 2013, 01:49:19 pm »

Partner's brother has 2½ year old daughter.
I have an aversion to pink and sexist toys so got her a green Lego Duplo brick box.
We bought something musical last year.
What would you have chosen?

Kim · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 December, 2013, 01:53:25 pm »

Yeah, I'd have defaulted to Lego too. An age-appropriate set with enough generic bricks that it has some real scope for imaginative use - rather than being a brand-compliant vehicle or dolls house - is a pretty much universal present.

Vince · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 December, 2013, 02:00:03 pm »

I'm a bit out of touch with what is available for that age group. Duplo is always a good choice, perhaps something with animals.
The quantity of generic bricks is in my experience only a frustration for the aspirations adult assistant.

Woofage · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 December, 2013, 02:06:10 pm »

Brio (and compatible) toys are also a safe option IMO. Our 2 loved theirs. It lasts well and therefore can be kept/handed down/given/sold or whatever when needed.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 December, 2013, 02:06:59 pm »

Another vote for Lego, it's pretty much a universal present. Apart from that, maybe a suitably chunky jigsaw, toy animals (plastic or fluffy), miniature vehicles, colour crayons and paper to draw on.

Pedal Castro · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 December, 2013, 07:04:37 pm »

Is 2½ too young for a Chemistry Set

Fab Foodie · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 December, 2013, 09:47:03 pm »

Angle Grinder?

CrinklyLion · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 December, 2013, 10:00:55 pm »

2 year olds always got a copy of Each Peach Pear Plum whenever I was buying.

Other good things we got given for Cubs around that age - lego, brio, hobby horse, drums, dolls pushchair, funky wellies, big chalks for chalking on the pavement, cool duvet covers, wind up torches, inflatable ball pool and a billion plastic playballs to go in it....

One of their favourite presents every year is the Christmas PJs from Grandad. Last year's were glow in the dark Skellies. This year is, I suspect, the last year we can get away with matching ones though!

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 December, 2013, 08:58:26 am »

Quote from: CrinklyLion on 16 December, 2013, 10:00:55 pm

2 year olds always got a copy of Each Peach Pear Plum whenever I was buying.

I spy tom thumb
Tom thumb in the cupboard
I spy mother hubbard

You can't go wrong with each peach pear plumb

Fab Foodie · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 December, 2013, 12:10:11 pm »

Dr Seuss? Green eggs and ham, The cat in the hat etc?

Eccentrica Gallumbits · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 December, 2013, 06:11:48 pm »

Richard Scarry books.

pcolbeck · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 December, 2013, 06:18:56 pm »

A 1/2 scale Dyson upright vacuum cleaner.

Well it went down very well with my nephew for his birthday (2) last week. It was the only thing he wouldn't let any adults or his older brothers play with.

Mind you he is a bit obsessed with hoovers and brushes etc for some reason.

Kim · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 December, 2013, 06:26:52 pm »

It may be fun for now, but once it clogs with 1/2 scale hairballs and the 1/2 scale plastic snaps when you over-tighten the 1/2 scale self-untapping screws after taking it apart to unblock it, he'll wish he 'd got a 1/2 scale Henry instead

hellymedic · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 December, 2013, 07:26:09 pm »

Quote from: Woofage on 16 December, 2013, 02:06:10 pm

Brio (and compatible) toys are also a safe option IMO. Our 2 loved theirs. It lasts well and therefore can be kept/handed down/given/sold or whatever when needed.

I had a supply of Brio-compatible trains and rails in my childfree home for visiting smalls. I gave it to a yacfer when there were no more visiting smalls and yacfer had suitable progeny.

hellymedic · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 December, 2013, 07:30:26 pm »

Quote from: pcolbeck on 17 December, 2013, 06:18:56 pm

A 1/2 scale Dyson upright vacuum cleaner.

Well it went down very well with my nephew for his birthday (2) last week. It was the only thing he wouldn't let any adults or his older brothers play with.

Mind you he is a bit obsessed with hoovers and brushes etc for some reason.

Sounds fun but I did not want to get anything to put child into 'housewife' mode. That excluded vacuum cleaners, irons and cookers. Maybe I'm fussy...

Butterfly · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 December, 2013, 08:47:15 pm »

My sister's friend with 10 children once said that she could dump all the toys except the duplo/lego and the brio. I have similar views.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 December, 2013, 09:26:56 pm »

Quote from: hellymedic on 17 December, 2013, 07:30:26 pm

Quote from: pcolbeck on 17 December, 2013, 06:18:56 pm
A 1/2 scale Dyson upright vacuum cleaner.

Well it went down very well with my nephew for his birthday (2) last week. It was the only thing he wouldn't let any adults or his older brothers play with.

Mind you he is a bit obsessed with hoovers and brushes etc for some reason.

Sounds fun but I did not want to get anything to put child into 'housewife' mode. That excluded vacuum cleaners, irons and cookers. Maybe I'm fussy...

How about something 'boyish' like a toy tool set? When she visits you she could use it to 'help' David fettle his bike.

hellymedic · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 December, 2013, 12:19:46 am »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 17 December, 2013, 09:26:56 pm

Quote from: hellymedic on 17 December, 2013, 07:30:26 pm
Quote from: pcolbeck on 17 December, 2013, 06:18:56 pm
A 1/2 scale Dyson upright vacuum cleaner.

Well it went down very well with my nephew for his birthday (2) last week. It was the only thing he wouldn't let any adults or his older brothers play with.

Mind you he is a bit obsessed with hoovers and brushes etc for some reason.

Sounds fun but I did not want to get anything to put child into 'housewife' mode. That excluded vacuum cleaners, irons and cookers. Maybe I'm fussy...
How about something 'boyish' like a toy tool set? When she visits you she could use it to 'help' David fettle his bike.

The Lego has been bought.
David's brother seldom/never visits That London en famille.

tiermat · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 December, 2013, 08:11:50 am »

Quote from: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 17 December, 2013, 06:11:48 pm

Richard Scarry books.

EG Wins the thread!

Scarry books are brill!

Butterfly · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 December, 2013, 04:07:48 pm »

Quote from: tiermat on 18 December, 2013, 08:11:50 am

Quote from: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 17 December, 2013, 06:11:48 pm
Richard Scarry books.

EG Wins the thread! Scarry books are brill!

They got right up my nose. Still do, I discovered at my last job.

Vince · « **Reply #20 on:** 18 December, 2013, 04:30:27 pm »

Quote from: Butterfly on 18 December, 2013, 04:07:48 pm

Quote from: tiermat on 18 December, 2013, 08:11:50 am
Quote from: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 17 December, 2013, 06:11:48 pm
Richard Scarry books.

EG Wins the thread! Scarry books are brill!
They got right up my nose. Still do, I discovered at my last job.

Based on Richard Scarry's Busy Busy World, I wanted the job of fishing money out of the fountain when I was small.

Kim · « **Reply #21 on:** 18 December, 2013, 09:51:33 pm »

Quote from: tiermat on 18 December, 2013, 08:11:50 am

Quote from: Eccentrica Gallumbits on 17 December, 2013, 06:11:48 pm
Richard Scarry books.

EG Wins the thread! Scarry books are brill!

Scarry books *were* brill in the early 80s. The sterotypes haven't aged well.

clarion · « **Reply #22 on:** 19 December, 2013, 05:20:41 am »

I don't mind Richard Scarry. One of the delights of visiting my grandparents' house was their copy of Busy Busy World. But it's all a bit tired and stereotyped these days.

Dr Seuss, on the other, hand, still has plenty to say.

Eccentrica Gallumbits · « **Reply #23 on:** 19 December, 2013, 07:54:24 am »

But Mrs Farmer Alfalfa has earrings shaped like egg-whisks!

Jacomus · « **Reply #24 on:** 07 January, 2014, 06:51:51 pm »

We went for Lego Duplo this Xmas. An 'animal treehouse' and a really cool storybook pack, where you build the characters of the story as you read it.