Elementary Age-Christmas Gifts

[ssmjlm]

Help!

My kid (age 5.5) has asked for a hula hoop, playdoh, and her own echo.

DH and I are stumped on what to get her besides that.  We bought her a new camera that's waterproof (although we're testing it out on our cruise first, #flameful).

I'm tempted to do the echo dot kids since she loves to have Alexa play music.  We also thought about maybe a trampoline, but I'm wondering if that plus the swing set is just too much outdoor stuff.

Memberships to places don't go over well.  We've tried for years with the ILs to no avail.  My parents are more open, but we don't have a ton of places locally.  The one museum we have she's sort of "over" at this age.  The zoo, aquarium, and children's museums are at least a hour either east or west for us.

[lilac05]

Check into subscription boxes. My 7 year old has been getting Little Passports this year. He loves it, but many times, only cares about the toy. There are science and art boxes, too. Magazine subscriptions are a big hit, too. They LOVE getting mail!

[abs]

Books
Board games
Craft sets

When DD was 5 we got her a camera, an AG doll and bed, monopoly jr, legos, and a bigger bike. All are still used and played with 3 years later.

[Deleted]

What camera did you get?

My daughter really wants the one that prints photos immediately but the film is so expensive I’m hoping to find something different.

[tennisgal]

.

[pooh8402]

I've been wondering the same, for my 6 almost 7 yo niece, and my nephew who turns 9 right before Christmas.

Nephew is get some Hank the Cowdog books from me for his birthday (he loves reading) but other than that, I'm kind of stumped.

I did go through the Amazon catalog this morning, and my best ideas are board games like Mouse Trap and Sorry.

[mbcdefg]

Years ago we got Stomp Rockets for some young cousins, and they were a big hit.

[twilightmv]

Amazon has a kit to help kids make a book, and then you send in what they make and they make it into a hardcover book. I’m so excited to give that to DS1 (6.5). Nobody tell me it sucks. He’s also getting a bunch of Harry Potter stuff and a laptop.
DS2 (almost 5) is getting a ninja costume and accessories, some video games, and some fake food.
They both want LOL dolls but I’m not sure if I will get those. They look like such junk to me. Last year I told them no fingerlings and the year before I said no hatchimals, so I’ve had a good track record of shutting down the trendy overpriced overhyped stuff.

[ssmjlm]

Nov 5, 2018 9:17:26 GMT -5 @lindy said:

What camera did you get?

My daughter really wants the one that prints photos immediately but the film is so expensive I’m hoping to find something different.

Nikon Coolpix which came highly recommended on here.  It's waterproof so she can take it to the beach this summer.

[pugz]

Mine loves subscription boxes. She gets the Little Feminist one right now. Comes with a book and activities.

[redheadk]

My DD is obsessed with Raddish Kids (cooking subscription box) and Perler Beads.

[JRo]

DS is getting a kid's smartwatch.

[jinkies]

My daughter is about a year older than yours. She got her own echo this spring and LOVES it. Basically just to play music.

I just looked back and last year from aunts/uncles/grandparents she asked for/got:

A ton of art supplies, including one of those big buckets of assorted art supplies
shrinky dinks
Pie Face game
Family Charades (one set of clue cards is all pictures for kids who aren't strong readers yet)
Barbie horses set
a pedicure set
clothes
a cool picture for her room (picked out by grandparents, but I think she had admired it when they were out together once)
Doh Vinci set

She is really into arts and crafts, so she gets a ton of that kind of thing.

[nicolewi]

At 5.5 you can get them like anything! That's a super great age for gifts.

My 5.5 year old turns 6 in December. She is really into art stuff, American Girl (her big sister has dolls, too, so they play together), and the AG Wellie Wishers. She also wants some Lego Friends sets. She loves deer, and I have some cute deer stuff I picked up already. She also really likes Playmobil sets.

Magnatiles, Books, Play Doh, games, like any toys. Can you take her to Target or other place with toys and see what else she shows interest in? My kids find PLENTY of stuff they like.

Sports stuff? Bike, scooter, helmet, soccer ball, jump rope, etc?

Sleeping bag? Little suitcase? Jewelry box? Dress-up clothes?

Fun bedding?

Even my bigger kids still like some of the Melissa & Doug food sets.

I usually do a clothes box for each kid, too, although they typically don't care much about it. I try to get a few things they need but that are extra cute--like a really cute outfit, princess PJs, Star Wars shirts, really cute winter hat, etc etc.

[arch01]

DS will turn 7 on 12/22. His list includes:

Basically every LEGO set that currently exists
Play Doh
Art supplies
Magazines (Highlights, Nat Geo Kids)
Nerf guns
Osmo
A LEGO watch

What he's actually getting:

A bunch of LEGO sets (some thanks to Nextdoor that I picked up ridiculously cheap)
Colored pencils, How to Draw sheets
Highlights subscription extension
Osmo

I am basically done buying for him. My mom got him more Magformers and I am pushing for a membership to the science museum. He went there last week and absolutely loved it.

DS got his own Echo last year and it was the best purchase I have made in a long time. He can listen to his audio books on repeat upstairs so I don't go insane listening to Toy Story for the 127th time.

[lolo]

Nov 5, 2018 8:57:28 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Check into subscription boxes. My 7 year old has been getting Little Passports this year. He loves it, but many times, only cares about the toy. There are science and art boxes, too. Magazine subscriptions are a big hit, too. They LOVE getting mail!

Kiwi crate is a fabulous subscription box!

[farmvillelover]

My son and his friends (they are 6/7) are obsessed with legos and they especially like these Brickheadz

[redpenmama]

I have a 7-year-old who is impossible to buy for. I got her an Echo Dot last year, and she still uses it daily. Highly recommend it. We also got her a balance beam last year, and all 3 of my kids love it. It folds in half and stores easily.

This year, my list for her (because she has given me NOTHING to work with) includes:
- Digital camera
- Karaoke microphone (there are some on Amazon that pair with the Dot)
- Gymnastics mat
- Rainbow loom bracelet making kit
- Kinetic sand
- Timer bookmark
- New DogMan books

[ssmjlm]

Nov 5, 2018 13:56:50 GMT -5 redpenmama said:

I have a 7-year-old who is impossible to buy for. I got her an Echo Dot last year, and she still uses it daily. Highly recommend it. We also got her a balance beam last year, and all 3 of my kids love it. It folds in half and stores easily.

This year, my list for her (because she has given me NOTHING to work with) includes:
- Digital camera
- Karaoke microphone (there are some on Amazon that pair with the Dot)
- Gymnastics mat
- Rainbow loom bracelet making kit
- Kinetic sand
- Timer bookmark
- New DogMan books

I kind of love and hate this, lol.  Looking on amazon now.

[aspentosh]

At that age we did bike, scooter, books, kids smart watch (she still loves it, too).

She also loved LEGOs and art stuff. Kiwi Crate is another great option.

[ktw]

Nov 5, 2018 13:56:50 GMT -5 redpenmama said:

I have a 7-year-old who is impossible to buy for. I got her an Echo Dot last year, and she still uses it daily. Highly recommend it. We also got her a balance beam last year, and all 3 of my kids love it. It folds in half and stores easily.

This year, my list for her (because she has given me NOTHING to work with) includes:
- Digital camera
- Karaoke microphone (there are some on Amazon that pair with the Dot)
- Gymnastics mat
- Rainbow loom bracelet making kit
- Kinetic sand
- Timer bookmark
- New DogMan books

Do you have a link? I think my DD would love this!

[redpenmama]

Nov 6, 2018 12:07:12 GMT -5 ktw said:

Nov 5, 2018 13:56:50 GMT -5 redpenmama said:

I have a 7-year-old who is impossible to buy for. I got her an Echo Dot last year, and she still uses it daily. Highly recommend it. We also got her a balance beam last year, and all 3 of my kids love it. It folds in half and stores easily.

This year, my list for her (because she has given me NOTHING to work with) includes:
- Digital camera
- Karaoke microphone (there are some on Amazon that pair with the Dot)
- Gymnastics mat
- Rainbow loom bracelet making kit
- Kinetic sand
- Timer bookmark
- New DogMan books

Do you have a link? I think my DD would love this!

This isn't the exact one we have, but it's similar to this. It folds in half, so it's easy to store. Check eBay too -- that's where I found ours last year, and the prices were less than Amazon.


www.amazon.com/We-Sell-Mats-Folding-Balance/dp/B019220GKA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541529090&sr=8-3&keywords=folding+balance+beam

[ktw]

Nov 6, 2018 13:32:29 GMT -5 redpenmama said:

Nov 6, 2018 12:07:12 GMT -5 ktw said:

Do you have a link? I think my DD would love this!

This isn't the exact one we have, but it's similar to this. It folds in half, so it's easy to store. Check eBay too -- that's where I found ours last year, and the prices were less than Amazon.


www.amazon.com/We-Sell-Mats-Folding-Balance/dp/B019220GKA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541529090&sr=8-3&keywords=folding+balance+beam

Thank you!!

[madringal]

My 6 year old has asked for:

Lol Doll stuff
JoJo bows
Wellie Wisher
slime kit
Justice clothes
new books
gymnastics mat