What are you getting your 4 - 5 yr old boys?

[713abc]

I'm struggling to think of a few great toys to get DS who is 4 1/2. I'm getting him a marble run and not sure what else. I need to give some guidance to the grandparents too. Please share your ideas!!

Robin

Mom to Max 05/28/03 & Jake 03/07/07

[SnuggleBuggles]

He won't get all of these things but these are my ideas so far:

-Digital camera (probably a real one, not a kiddie one)
-Board games/ card games (thinking of Jam Pack Jam by Cranium and Triple Triumph by Cranium so far)
-Geotrax clock tower
-Legos! I think this will be where most of the focus is b/c they are his favorite toy
-art table or a lamp for his little table that he already has
-bike
-he wants Rescue Heroes but they are so big and I don't want anymore big toys!
-I want to buy him a terry cloth bathrobe but I know he will not be excited by that :)
-I was thinking a Lite Brite could be fun
-art supplies
-Magnetix (or similar)
-I'm sure we'll get some chapter books for him
-a utility belt (like a spy or superhero would have)

Those are my ideas for now.

Beth

[August Mom]

I'm not coming up with anything great so far.

I bought:

Cranium Jam Pack Jam
Operation
Lauri Peel & Stick Mosaics http://www.lauritoys.com/products/groupview.php?grp=PEEL

I'm thinking about:

More Playmobil
Some sort of tabletop game that has air hockey, etc.
Lite Brite

Things he likes but we already have:

Cranium Balloon Lagoon (really fun game)
Uno
Guess Who
Clue Jr.
Monopoly Jr.
Ravensburger Puzzles
Perler Beads
Soccer goal and ball
Baseball tee
Golf clubs

[MelissaTC]

My DS has asked for a NHL team jersey so he will get that. I am also thinking of Star Wars legos, a board game or two, a game for the Wii, perler beads, maybe a Webkinz and a Razor scooter.

[new_mommy25]

DS is convinced Santa is bringing him a monster truck (the Ford F150 power wheels). Holy sh*t that thing is $$!! I am anti but DH really wants to get it for him so I will probably cave (only because I always wanted one when I was a kid!). I have a 15% coupon to TRU so I am hoping the Power wheels will go on sale and then I can use the coupon on top of it. This will be from Santa.

Noah from mom and dad
Lite Brite
Smart Kids body IQ (from Costco)
Trouble

Stocking
Tooth tunes toothbrush
Cranium grab and go marbles
Little Tikes Pop Top Playset

Want to buy: A few more stocking stuffers. I'm thinking a Pink Panther DVD, a new puzzle, and the Thomas game for his Leapster. Plus a candy cane of course :) .

I also got the Parents Magazine Animal Hospital but that will be from Santa for DS and DD to share. I was going to get the kids capes from Etsy for their stockings. I don't know if I'll get around to ordering those. I was also going to get the new x9x Automoblox for Noah through a co-op but canceled since they won't be here in time for Christmas.

[nicknack]

Funny, I have the Haba marble run for my son (will be 4 next weekend) but I'm thinking of holding on to it until next xmas. I just don't think he'll be that into it now, plus DD is 19 months old and I can just see her completely demolishing his set-ups and whatnot.

Here are some that we already have/thinking about/suggesting for relatives/heard are good for this age:

Haba Dingalingaling fireman game
Haba sock matching game
Some Cars guys
A few Thomas Battery Engines
Buzz/Woody stickers
Buzz/Woody figures
Leapster w/games
More Playmobil (kid LOVES these)
Clics
Dress-up stuff
Geotrax stuff
Guitar
Magnatiles
Fireman sam stuff

Here are some things he got today at his kid's party:
Zingo (game)
Pirates Cove (game)
Bristle block set (we already have these)
Puzzles

[kitmama]

Littleman will be 2 yrs, 2 months at Christmas.

We (and Santa) are getting him:
- rainbow step blocks (he'll enjoy them, plus I will use them as a math manipulative)
http://www.finewoodentoys.com/pro540649.html
- a set of dominoes
- a couple books
- a beeswax candlemaking kit
http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1968
- something with a little "wow" factor, probably a scooter- he really wants one.

His stocking will have:
pirate band-aids, rainbow crayons, animal crackers, beginner chopsticks, stickers, underwear, a little wooden build-your-own bird feeder kit, and a Namits game. http://tinyurl.com/3bpxyp


For both he and his brother (2 1/2), Santa will bring:
- a set of foam knight's swords/shields, and an Usborne book on knights
http://www.toystogrowon.com/sku268
- a cloth diaper and pint-size baby carrier for their doll (actually, this will be to the doll himself) :)

* * *

Some things I have recommended to relatives who wish to give Littleman a gift:
- donation to his savings account
- art supplies
- books, CDs ("Philadelphia Chickens" and "No!")
- board games like Cariboo and Zingo
- a subscription to Crickett's "Ladybug" magazine
- dress-up stuff
- puzzles
- Leapfrog "100 Hoops" basketball toy
- more Magna Tiles
- "Worm Vue Wonder" or "Root Vue Wonder"

[megulis]

Plastic tinkertoys are awesome! My 4 yo and my 21 mo like making things with them although I don't always take it out because it gets everywhere.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267022

[C99]

- digicam
- Plan Toys deluxe road set
- books
- Magna-Tiles
- Duplo blocks (would be Lego, but he has younger siblings)
- bicycle
- wagon
- Electric Company DVD set
- car design tracer set from Hearthsong
- Superflykidz cape
- Haba domino set

[zoestargrove]

I have a 4.5 ds and a 3 yo ds. Some of these gifts are shared

I bought a treehouse dollhouse last year (and I'm buying a set of gnomes from magic cabin and some woodland animals and accessories. This will be the big present that Santa sets up. I think I'll wrap the accessories in small boxes and set them up as if the gnomes were celebrating christmas morning too. :)

A bunch of folkmanis puppets.

Thomas wooden railway, smelters yard

Tinkertoys

Games, I have rivers, roads and railways from Ravensburger for my 4 year old and I'll get one for my 3yo.

The 5 layer wooden puzzle blocks from a toygarden http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1297

They are each getting a totoro bento box, a few books, hats and mittens



Stocking Stuffers
folkmanis finger puppets
Stockmar beeswax
thomas battery engines
small game, like uno or namits
special toothbrush
underwear
socks
watercolors and paintbrushes
something tasty


Things we have, that I would buy all over again because they are still getting played with a year later.

Magnatiles (lots of them!!!)

The extra large nesting rainbow http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=291

wooden unit blocks

Trains and track

[brittone2]

DS will be almost 4 at Christmastime. This list includes bday and Christmas...not sure exactly how it will be split up yet.

He's getting:
Elves and Angels play kitchen and fridge (shared gift w/ DD, to replace curbside kitchen find he's been playing with for the past 2 years)

Some pieces of Haba marble track to go w/ existing stuff. He's getting the whirlwind and the skyscraper, and a piece of ringing track (stocking stuffer maybe).

Some games. Haba Block on Block. My parents got him Cranium Cariboo.

My parents also got him a play doh extruder thingie (he's got a really small one right now, but this is the bigger one).

Some new playfood to replace some of the MIC stuff. I'm making some, and bought ice cream cones (too cute!) from the chenillechef on etsy. I might make a little handpainted sign for his playstands that says "Logan's Ice Cream Shoppe" or similar to go w/ them.

Other things he has right now that he plays with a lot:

-Lots of board games. He likes Zingo, Hi Ho Cherry O, Haba's Crafty Badger, Haba Grab \
Bag, Don't Spill the Beans, etc.
-Playstands
-Trains and traintable
-Unit blocks
-Play doh/art supplies/easel
-Trike and Balance Bike (Puky)

Stocking stuffers (he's done in this dept, but DD needs some stuff).

set of various rocks/minerals and magnifying glass
Prism
some Haba tin games
the icecream cones and ringing track mentioned above
Balsa wood airplane (family tradition from when I was a kid)
some new art supplies
mints (his one request for this year ;) )
maybe socks and or undies
ornament
I know I'm forgetting a bunch of stuff I have stashed away

[o_mom]

DS1 was 4 in September.

Already bought:

Bank (with four compartments, spend, save, donate and invest - actually free from our insurance company)
Personalized apron (WS - from the bargin a few months ago)
Small christmas aquadoodle
Small christmas doodle pro
Piccolo Book (like Leap pad)

Still to get:

Mini Trampoline (for both kids)
Lite Brite
Flashlight
Pretend Soup book

On the fence:

Some sort of building toy (lincoln logs, tinker toys, etc)

Some sort of plastic, MIC, Cars or Hotwheels set - He is so wanting one of these and I really want him to have that "excited, Santa got me just what I wanted" Christmas moments that I may break down and get him one.