Suggestions for gifts for the boys

[misfit]

Every year for the boys' birthdays people ask us what they would like or in the case of my dad I need to put my foot down and tell him what to get or he gets something that ends up being a nightmare. I already got him to get Sam an O3 backpack that was listed on one of the daily deal websites. We usually get over run with toys and then I end up like trying to keep their room organized. I plan to suggest puzzles for Sam as he loves the 40 or so piece Spiderman ones he has (has three different ones) among others.

Just not sure what some good gift suggestions would be. Elliott is getting a water table and wagon from us while Sam is getting a bike helmet and his first bike. MIL said she was getting them power wheels/four wheeler. Not sure if she plans to get them one each or one to share.

And it doesn't have to be toys. It can be crafts or educational or something that will last a few years.

[misfit]

No one? :/

[Jai]

Jayden goes through phases. He's into Transformers and Thomas the train. I rotate his stuff. I have a big box full of his trains and a bag full of his TFs. When he's getting bored with one I pack it up and bring out the other. He's loved Thomas for a long time so he has a long of tracks and pretty much every train. Thomas might be fun for your boys because they could do it together. They are pretty durable, too. He's rough on his toys and has had them for a long time and they're still working great! Transformers are big here because Peyton likes them and Rob has always loved them so it's something he plays with them and they love that.

Another thing that he got into about 6 months ago is Legos. The Lego Duplo or Mega Bloks. The bigger ones but not the really big ones. We've been collecting those for a while now too and he's got a huge rubber maid container full. That's also something your boys can do together and it's fun to join in with them. We have a lot of fun with them. I've learned the Mega Blok brand is cheaper plus they have character ones. He's got some Cars ones and some Thomas.

He loves puzzles but right now can only do the 24 piece ones. He also loves painting. He loves construction stuff so he's got some "diggers" (yellow construction trucks). He likes playing with those outside.

[misfit]

Thanks! We rehomed our megablocks recently because they weren't getting much play, but I was thinking the Duplos might be better for them. We have a lot of Transformer stuff here too as Sam *loves* them. I might browse the Thomas the train stuff and see what pops out.

[sunkiss]

My son also loves his Thomas train stuff. Some other small gift ideas with summer coming...

Sidewalk chalk
Fun water sprinkler thingies
Waterguns
Outdoor games
Sandbox/bucket and shovel sets
Bubble blowers
Kites
Skateboards/roller skates

[misfit]

My son also loves his Thomas train stuff. Some other small gift ideas with summer coming...

Sidewalk chalk
Fun water sprinkler thingies
Waterguns
Outdoor games
Sandbox/bucket and shovel sets
Bubble blowers
Kites
Skateboards/roller skates

Thanks!

[Jai]

Just to add, these are the mega bloks I'm talking about http://www.megabloks.com/Shop/MEGA_B...s_and_Friends/ , not these http://www.megabloks.com/Shop/MEGA_B...dium_Bag_8196/ . I wish they had a different name like Lego does. They have Legos and Lego Duplo.

[macksmom]

I know it's not "boyish" but what about dress up stuff and/or a kitchen set with food? That keeps my kids busy for a long time. We very often play "store" with the food and their shopping carts (another idea) or picnic or restaurant. Now that DD1 is writing she drew up a whole menu with prices and drawings and words of the different foods. It's so cute! And it's easy for a preggo to play because you can just sit there and let them cook you food

My kids also have a play tent that keeps them busy but sometimes they get too wild in it....

[misfit]

Just to add, these are the mega bloks I'm talking about http://www.megabloks.com/Shop/MEGA_B...s_and_Friends/ , not these http://www.megabloks.com/Shop/MEGA_B...dium_Bag_8196/ . I wish they had a different name like Lego does. They have Legos and Lego Duplo.

Ohhhhhh- gotcha! Thanks!

I know it's not "boyish" but what about dress up stuff and/or a kitchen set with food? That keeps my kids busy for a long time. We very often play "store" with the food and their shopping carts (another idea) or picnic or restaurant. Now that DD1 is writing she drew up a whole menu with prices and drawings and words of the different foods. It's so cute! And it's easy for a preggo to play because you can just sit there and let them cook you food

My kids also have a play tent that keeps them busy but sometimes they get too wild in it....

We have a small kitchen with some play plates, etc. We could always add on to it. We actually have no dress up clothes yet, but I am sure both would love it.

[Jai]

Just to add, these are the mega bloks I'm talking about http://www.megabloks.com/Shop/MEGA_B...s_and_Friends/ , not these http://www.megabloks.com/Shop/MEGA_B...dium_Bag_8196/ . I wish they had a different name like Lego does. They have Legos and Lego Duplo.

Ohhhhhh- gotcha! Thanks!

Yea, I thought you might have been thinking I was talking about those. We've had those too but for some reason the kids never really liked those. They seem so awesome, but I played with them more trying to get them to than anything!

[dc25]

Legos have been a big favorite in our house lately - well since before Christmas. Not the individual kits, just a bit container of them. And this is the medium size - not the mega blocks and not the teeny ones.

Also outdoor toys... for the water table, or just outdoor in general like bubble blowers, water guns, sprinkler, sidewalk chalk, outdoor games.

[raspberry]

Trying to think of what G plays with a lot. he is totally into cars and trucks and trains. He loves his Tonka dump truck, Tonka fire truck, monster trucks, Thomas trains, Chuggington trains, cars-Cars, hot wheels, matchbox cars, automoblox. If you don't have any automoblox, I would recommend them. G loves them, he has four, I want to get him more. You can find them on ebay too.

http://www.amazon.com/Automoblox-Min...5975807&sr=8-1

[hayleybot]

ds is so into trains right now since a family member handed down their train table to him and hes been obsessed. he carries the wooden trains everywhere with him. we got him a small circo train set at target for $20 and they had a bunch of trains that you can add to it. we like the thomas ones too but they tend to get a bit pricey. we plan on getting him the couzy coupe for his birthday and im thinking of doing up a big sand bucket and filling it with sidewalk chalk some, new sand shovels and some new water toys.

[lindsay1981]

I just got my nephew, he'll be 6 at the end of the month, some crocs and a few jibbitz to put in them. Spiderman, a football, baseball...
As a parent I would really appreciate a gift like this, and I'm hoping the jibbitz will make it "cool" for him too, rather than just a new pair of shoes.

[mommabert]

I'm hoping to talk DH into getting a trampoline for G's birthday.

[babykenny]

I like memberships to stuff...aquarium, zoo, etc.

[misfit]

I like memberships to stuff...aquarium, zoo, etc.

I brought this up as an idea to DH just now and he said that we wouldn't travel out of town enough to make it a worth while gift. It's $219 for two adults and all children for the Zoo, the Science Center, and Living History Farms in Des Moines. Just at least an hour away. He said it would be worth it if we lived there.

[ibisgirldc]

a globe, rockets/space shuttle, a solar system set? (Stuff that my son will likely get for his next bday) if they're into dinosaurs or cars or whatever, the same idea: dinos, books, dvds that match. A subscription to natl geographic kids (for appropriate ages) or highlights? annual membership in a local museum or zoo? or a set of classes at one of the music/playgym/pool/language/etc camps/clubs? (gazillions of those in my area) Kid-sized chairs (like the arm chairs from pottery barn kids or the bean bag chairs from other companies).

[misfit]

Thanks for the chair reminder! We were going to do that at Christmas and I totally spaced it!