garethEds Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 Evening, So what are people getting for their kids this year? I have a 5 year old boy and a 2 year old girl. Boy wanted Tracy Island Thunderbird Set - but at £80 with no vehicles it is a bit crap. So that's a no. I know we are getting him an MP3 player (he loves music) -but not sure which one yet. It won't be an Apple device - so any advice? I've seen a nice Nerf MP3 player but again it's pricey. I'm getting a bit tight in my middle age. Has anyone started their Christmas shopping? Gareth
elsiegee40 Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 (edited) Boy wanted Tracy Island Thunderbird Set - but at £80 with no vehicles it is a bit crap. Gareth I am sure the instructions for the Blue Peter Tracy Island can be found on the internet somewhere. All you need to do is populate it with vehicles . Edited November 1, 2015 by elsiegee40 1
ticker Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 My partner is one of them people who buys next year's Christmas presents at the boxing day/new year sales. My lad had seen the Thunderbird set as well but I thought it was expensive and esp without the vehicles,which are another 30 quid. 1
rich_tech Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 I have been stockpiling lego when its on offer since before our son was born and the sets given away on the dreaded DM offers, ready for when he's older (2 and a half at the moment and a little young) He's got a 12" buzz lightyear and emperor zerg toy as his main gifts for christmas after refusing to let them go repeatedly and having a subsequent meltdown in a disney store a while back, his sister if she is born before christmas (due date of Christmas Eve here) is going to have clothes
free780 Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 Got a 5 year old and a 3 year old. Disney infinity and a big hello kitty.
Iain.Faulkner Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 I've got a balance bike for my 2 year old at this point. For the 13 and 16 year olds we're looking at getting various people to combine to get them a laptop each
bladedanny Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 I am sure the instructions for the Blue Peter Tracy Island can be found on the internet somewhere. All you need to do is populate it with vehicles . My mum made me one of these when I was a kid. I wasn't disappointed with it. Could even stand on it it was that strong, can't do that with the plastic ones. 2
Garacesh Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 (edited) I know we are getting him an MP3 player (he loves music) -but not sure which one yet. It won't be an Apple device - so any advice? I always recommend these SanDisk MP3 players. I'm on my second one, now. My first lasted me seven years, which is by far the longest I've ever had any piece of electronic equipment. It got water in it plenty of times, I dropped it and kicked it a few times, etc. They're ridiculously durable. No proprietary software. And it even has expandable memory! For forty quid they're absolutely fantastic. Small enough to fit in any pocket, bag, etc, and as the name might suggest they come with a pretty decent clip on the back to attach to clothing/bag straps/etc Just get them loads of Lego Protip: This also works with 25-year-old blokes like me. I have a 6-month-old nephew to get something for and my Sister has basically shown me some light-up noisy ball-with-buttons on it for a tenner and said "That should be it." Any ideas on what else I could get for that stage of development? Edited November 2, 2015 by Garacesh
sonofsanta Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 ...the toys we packed away a few months ago because they didn't play with them. Wrap 'em up and good as new. They're 2 & 3, they won't know any better, and they've got bloomin' loads of stuff already. They get presents all through the year as it is... when the missus spots 'em going cheap on Facebook For Sale pages
Duranis Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 Got 18 & 10 year old boys. Pretty much both of them are getting computer games (older one is really into football as well so will be getting a couple of shirts). As much as I would love to get the younger one toys he just doesn't play with them that much. Will be getting the younger one board games as well (he loves these and its something that isn't electronic for a change). Youngster wants Lego dimensions which is another of these "buy the game and then buy ALL the add on toys to actually unlock the content". When we were in Game the other day I did a quick price up on everything they had on display for it and it come to over £400 (and I'm sure there is a much larger selection then they had). Really hate this new marketing move that is similar with Disney infinity, etc. I wouldn't mind but when you only get about 30 hours gameplay out of it anyway it just a big con. My Mrs is a nightmare at Christmas she spends way to much (which I don't really mind) on stuff that they will lose interest in quickly (which really bugs me). Few years back she bought a PS3 (before the 4 came out when it was still £300+) even though we already had an xbox 360. It has been used for less than 50 hours, the funniest thing is that she justifies it by saying "well we don't have another BluRay play", apprently the reply "we dont have any BlueRay disks either" doesnt compute Same happened for the NDS and later the 3DS. She also buys a bunch of "little" presents which might be funny or cute or whatever and "only cost a few pound" but when you add all of that up you could get them another big decent present rather than a bunch of carp that is just going to break/get thrown away/make a mess in their rooms for the next 12 months. Sorry that seems to have escalated into a rant quickly I love Christmas and love spoiling my boys, I would just prefer to get them stuff they are really going to use. 1
jmak Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 I always recommend these SanDisk MP3 players. I'm on my second one, now. My first lasted me seven years, which is by far the longest I've ever had any piece of electronic equipment. It got water in it plenty of times, I dropped it and kicked it a few times, etc. They're ridiculously durable. No proprietary software. And it even has expandable memory! For forty quid they're absolutely fantastic. Small enough to fit in any pocket, bag, etc, and as the name might suggest they come with a pretty decent clip on the back to attach to clothing/bag straps/etc Protip: This also works with 25-year-old blokes like me. I have a 6-month-old nephew to get something for and my Sister has basically shown me some light-up noisy ball-with-buttons on it for a tenner and said "That should be it." Any ideas on what else I could get for that stage of development? Buy her one. She'll never ask for anything noisy and battery powered again:D 2
witch Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 (edited) I have a 6-month-old nephew to get something for and my Sister has basically shown me some light-up noisy ball-with-buttons on it for a tenner and said "That should be it." Any ideas on what else I could get for that stage of development? A tenner sounds fine to me - you can get some cool bibs with batman etc on - a 6 month old can never have too many bibs - either the ones for eating or the ones for dribbling when teething: Dribble Bibs | Baby Bibs | Handmade Bandana Bibs | It’s A Bibble. They are cool Edited November 2, 2015 by elsiegee40 3
Garacesh Posted November 2, 2015 Posted November 2, 2015 A tenner sounds fine to me - you can get some cool bibs with batman etc on - a 6 month old can never have too many bibs - either the ones for eating or the ones for dribbling when teething: Dribble Bibs | Baby Bibs | Handmade Bandana Bibs | It’s A Bibble. They are cool It wasn't so much "I think that's cheap" or anything, it was more, "She's on maternity leave, I'm working. I can spare way more than a tenner. If I can get him more stuff that will help his development, that's less she has to shell out for"
witch Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 It wasn't so much "I think that's cheap" or anything, it was more, "She's on maternity leave, I'm working. I can spare way more than a tenner. If I can get him more stuff that will help his development, that's less she has to shell out for" Well, yes, but clothing and stuff is good too - trust me Also remember that you could get something suitable for a slightly older child - 9-12mths say, and she can put it away for a little bit. Little ones just want colour and noise! Bricks to knock down, things to bash, things that move, anything really 1
XiJ Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 Me and my 5 year old boy could pretty much share the same list. Star Wars, Lego, Lego Star Wars. He's started building on his own though - bad news for dad ! My 4 year old girl i tend so leave to the wife - but she does have Lego, dolls and loads of these shopkins things Girl is happy with clothes too - loves dresses. Boy wears all of his and picks favourites later in the year. But find them boring at Christmas ! (Probably might fault - early 'boring' joke backfired!) We've got most of our kids so just family adults, friends and niece and nephew to go. We have laid off the credit card so it's clear for November shopping now too. Just got the holiday to pay for in January *cries*
rich_tech Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 (edited) My 2 yo son has decided now its funny to climb up on the settee nearest the TV and occasionally whack the screen or push the display, despite telling him off repeatedly about it (I think he assumes its some sort of giant iPad at this point) Told my other half I may be buying a nice 50+" 4K "Family" present if he keeps that up. Edited November 3, 2015 by rich_tech 1
mthomas08 Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 My youngest nephew is getting a ton of Marvel stuff, one eing the hulks fists (he already has iron mans) and a few marvel clothes. My niece has some girly clothes and the eldest nephew will get money because I can't afford to buy him Taken King
garethEds Posted November 3, 2015 Author Posted November 3, 2015 After some chat at home - we are getting our daugher some dress up clothes. She loves dressing up in my boys superhero stuff - so she is getting some of her own. Not sure what else to get her. I'm trying to keep my boy away from technology as he isn't interested in anything other than the house iPad. However, he has recently started playing with my Dad's DSXL. He has offered that to me, with box, pristine condition for £35 so I might get him that and see how he gets on. Better than buying a full price one and he doesn't like it. We bought him a LeapTV last year when they came out - it's been on the shelf since Boxing day and not used. That is currently on FB for sale - with a load of games. The MP3 player is on the cards. We've seen the Lego one but I don't think they make it any more. There is also a Nerf MP3 player but it seems quite expensive. lego - Yes Dolls for daughter - Yes I'm sure there will be other stuff. I tend to spoil them and than baulk at how much I've spend. GJE
witch Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 I have a girl and two boys and they all had the same toys when they were little. She wasn't (and isn't) into girly things at all and hates pink! So it was difficult for me because as she was the youngest she inherited all their toys and was quite happy - and it is her birthday in November which complicates thngs. We never went over the top when they were little - quite often we got great presents - in pristine condition - from car boot sales or charity shops.
elsiegee40 Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 We have an excellent second hand toy shop not far from us that supplied many a Christmas and Birthday present in excellent condition. For those within a sensible distance of West Kent, it's Second Hand Toyshop | Toy Time
claireadams Posted November 3, 2015 Posted November 3, 2015 (edited) Well, yes, but clothing and stuff is good too - trust me Also remember that you could get something suitable for a slightly older child - 9-12mths say, and she can put it away for a little bit. Little ones just want colour and noise! Bricks to knock down, things to bash, things that move, anything really Def a +1 on the clothing. Even now little niece is 3. I buy one or two toys and lots of clothes. When they only fit into things/ destroy things after a month or two at most, its an expensive time. I'm still avoiding xmas shopping so far. Need to make a start on it soon though I guess Edited November 3, 2015 by claireadams
Iain.Faulkner Posted November 4, 2015 Posted November 4, 2015 We never went over the top when they were little - quite often we got great presents - in pristine condition - from car boot sales or charity shops. We've been doing this as well, my little boys balance bike is second hand (£55 off the retail price) and it looks brand new! - - - Updated - - - We never went over the top when they were little - quite often we got great presents - in pristine condition - from car boot sales or charity shops. We've been doing this as well, my little boys balance bike is second hand (£55 off the retail price) and it looks brand new!
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