Nice gift for a 4 yo around $100 or less? Wooden playhouse?

[anamika]

My dad has very generously (considering the exchange rate with India!) offered to buy a gift for DD for her 4th b'day. I want to buy something nice that she can cherish for years and can be passed down to other kids.
Last year thanks to all the great recs here, he got her the HABA marble run and I can see her playing with it for years and being good enough to store for the next generation :) I love this toy! :yay:
Any great ideas like that?
We got her a Skuut for her b'day and she has a dollhouse already.
TIA,


eta - I just thought of this - a wooden playhouse! I know the Costco one was around $130 (we could chip in a bit too). But Costco doesn't have it anymore. Any ideas wher I could get one off-season?

[brittone2]

I have a DS, but I'll toss out some ideas:

Special doll (Kathe Kruse, Corolle, Gotz, AG Bitty Baby, Waldorf doll?). Depending on price could get some accessories to go with it (stroller, sling, doll diaper bag, doll high chair or cradle?). The doll may not last long enough to be passed down, but something like a doll high chair, cradle, etc. might.

Many 4 year olds seem to like building toys. Lego, Magnatiles, etc. (MIL
recently mailed DH's Lego down for DS).

Easel?

Dressup trunk filled w/ dressup clothes? Pettiskirt? http://www.pettiskirtplace.com/category_1/PETTISKIRTS.htm

Plasmacar? http://www.plasmacar.com/store/customer/index.php Flying Turtle? http://www.kazootoys.com/flyingturtle.html (You need the right kind of situation to make these worthwhile IMO...finished basement, low traffic cul-de-sac, etc.)

I've considered a used digital camera (better quality pics than ones intended for kids) from Craigslist for DS's 5th bday.

Jewelry box?

Special piece of jewelry? I like stuff from Chasingfireflies, but would probably look for something similar on Etsy.com. I like the Fairy bracelet, the one with the Goethe quote, etc. There are mamas on Etsy that will do similar projects and you could pick a custom, meaningful quote.

I'm blanking on stuff that would be worthwhile to hand down (I like those kinds of gift too, so I understand!). Starting around age 4 DS's favorite stuff became art supplies and vehicles of all types. We're introducing Playmobil for Christmas (castle, camper and a gas station).

Novanatural and Forsmallhands are always good for inspiration :)

eta: scooter? tea set? toy barn? nice quality musical instrument? I guess it really depends on what kinds of play she likes to engage in.

[ChunkyNicksChunkyMom]

Without a doubt, magnatiles.

[hollybloom24]

A special doll, like Bitty Baby (and there are others just as nice that are cheaper) if she is in to dolls.

Magnatiles are also a fabulous gift!

What about a nice dollhouse? Some are super-crazy expensive, but some are reasonable.

[zephyr]

Maybe a wooden kitchen? I love this one:
http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/WH706910/Educo-French-Kitchenette-Instantanee---FREE-SHIPPING.html?oompaItem=Educo_French%20Kitchenette %20Instantanee%20-%20FREE%20SHIPPING

OR this one:
http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/WH706920/WH-Swiss---Educo-French-Kitchen---FREE-SHIPPING-.html?oompaItem=WH%20Swiss%20-%20Educo_French%20Kitchen%20-%20FREE%20SHIPPING

Also this play market looks pretty fun:
http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/DJ6523/Djeco-Daisy%27s-Market.html?oompaItem=Djeco_Daisy%27s%20Market

Have fun deciding!

[anamika]

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies. DD has magnatiles - though that would have been a really great gift!
I was considering a toy kitchen - we have a CL-find plain wooden kitchen, so I always feel like DD got stiffed (totally my imagination - she really could care less!)
I really like the market - I might go for that.
I'm trying to get my dad to make playstands - he's very handy and DH is crazy busy this year.
I don't have any toys from my childhood and I'm always a teeny bit jealous of people who can pull out favorite books and toys from their childhood. So I'm hoping to save some for DD (though she'll probably be on these boards years from now complaining about how her mom wants her kids to play with antique toys! :hysterical:)