Holiday Gift Ideas 2013: Children Ages 2-4

[lizzywednesday]

OK, I'm back. I found these dolls today because I follow the Finding Ada Twitter account and today (15 October 2013) was Ada Lovelace Day:

http://www.lottie.com

I've put two on DD's list - the Pirate Queen doll and the Robot Girl doll, plus accessory packs (that the company says will be available on US Amazon by the end of the month, so I stuck the UK ones on her WishList as placeholders.)

I'm also going to get her a superhero cape/mask from this Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/6223885...ef=favs_view_2

And a pirate treasure map & "doubloons" from this Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1145091...ef=favs_view_1

And I found a Duplo set in our upstairs closet that I think she'll love ... we should probably give her a bigger box to put them in, though. The basic green box isn't quite big enough!

[NJ_Mom2011]

It's just that, well, she has SO MUCH stuff that I'm getting overwhelmed.

This is me too.

My husband and I were just saying the same thing about the holidays. Lols! I guess that for this age range, so many of the toys come in gazillion pieces.

I think that I am going to ask my relatives and myself to get clothes for the spring. I am always hoping for Magnatiles, but I and other relatives don't have that kind of money to buy them. Also, again it is another toy that comes with lots of pieces.

[fedoragirl]

Also, again it is another toy that comes with lots of pieces.

Yes, but this is a toy I would invest in. We only give our kids one gift each. They don't get multiple gifts no matter how small or big.
We got DD Magnatiles for her birthday. That's it--our big investment. I will be buying another set for DS when he turns 3 because he's obsessed with DD's Magnatiles. This is one toy that gets a lot of use in our house.

[mskitty]

We are trying to just add to our existing toy categories. I'm a bargain hunter so most of this has already been stashed as I see things on clearance or serious discount.

Four Year old Boy:
1. Thomas wooden trains: adding two more sets and a few single engines in the stocking.
2. Pirate: adding Imaginext Pirate Ship, a small set of pirate figures as the ship only has two, and a Melissa & Doug pirate puzzle.
3. Books: adding several Berenstein Bears books as we are getting sick of reading the same ones over and over and over that are his favorites.

Just turned Two Year Old Girl:
1. Dolls: Corelle Tidoo and inexpensive doll stroller.
2. Little People: Adding Stand n Play Rampway & extra cars as she loves wheels. Stuffing the stocking with extra animals for last year's zoo.
3. Books: adding several lap size big board books.

Joint gift:
Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Blocks and Architectural Unit Blocks.

[mikala]

Yes, but this is a toy I would invest in. We only give our kids one gift each. They don't get multiple gifts no matter how small or big.
We got DD Magnatiles for her birthday. That's it--our big investment. I will be buying another set for DS when he turns 3 because he's obsessed with DD's Magnatiles. This is one toy that gets a lot of use in our house.

Agreed. We have two sets and they are one of the few toys my 1 and 4 year olds regularly play together independently. The baby even helps with clean up because he likes to stick the pieces together.

[brittone2]

I held off on magnatiles for years, and bought them about 5 years ago. They had been popular on the BBB for years, and I finally gave in. My DD was immediately obsessed, and she had just turned 2 I think. We added a 2nd set eventually and could use a third. My kids all still play with them. They are one of the few toys the oldest still enjoys, and all 3 will play with the magnatiles together.

DS2 will be 3.5 at Christmas and is getting Magformers like this set: http://www.amazon.com/Magformers-XL-...ormers+vehicle If he likes those we will add more for his bday. I didn't really want a second magnetic system, but I know he'll enjoy making vehicles. He loves playing Lego and building cars, etc. with his siblings (third kid, so has been doing big kid stuff with his brother and sister from an earlier age). He still enjoys playmobil a lot and plays that with DD a good bit.

[georgiegirl]

Definitely magnatiles. We are getting a second set this year. We got out first set almost 2 years ago, and it gets constant play but the kids fight over them. With the addition of the new baby, I figure we can use another set.

I think DS's main toy present will be the imaginext pirate snip.

[YouAreTheFocus]

We also suffer from too many toys & too many incoming gifts. DS just had a birthday, now we have Hanukkah coming up and then Xmas. I had been debating between a scooter or a bike for Hanukkah, but that Micro deal made it an easy decision! At least that won't be another toy added to the house. Here are some 4 yo bday hits:

Playmobil Cargo & Passenger Aircraft & Tower: http://www.amazon.com/PLAYMOBIL%C2%A...ref=pd_sbs_t_1
2 in 1 Space Rocket : http://www.amazon.com/2-in-1-Space-R...2383579&sr=1-2

[alexsmommy]

DS3, almost 4, third boy.....
He needs nothing - we have it all!
But he is obsessed with Winnie the Pooh after DS1 played Eeyore in a play this summer, so a stuffed Pooh
Stuffed Piglet
Probably some Pixar characters (minions, Planes)
He's asking for another Buzz Lightyear. We have at least 10 in varying sizes, but I'm sure if the Grandparents catch wind of this he'll get one.
He'll get Ds2's old iphone 1 as his "new' iDevice. I'll put his songs on it
Pixar character pjs
Not sure if he'll get a "big" gift. He wants to learn how to play the wii, so some type of game that is age appropriate for the Wii U or xbox depending on which one we go for as Ds1/family gift.

[MommyAllison]

DD2 will be 2 at Christmas. We do the "something you want..." thing, so here is her list so far:

Want: Play kitchen and playfood http://www.amazon.com/Kidkraft-Retro.../dp/B001706BRI http://www.amazon.com/Green-Toys-551...n+toys+tea+set and various M&D wooden food and crochet food

Need: bibs - she is still messy and hers are trashed

Wear: pettiskirt w/headband (DD1 is getting a matching one)

Read: Bible http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/043...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 , and 2 Sandra Boynton books, Doggies http://www.amazon.com/Doggies-Boynto...sandra+boynton and Are You a Cow? http://www.amazon.com/Are-You-Cow-Sa...ef=pd_sim_b_10