I need your help. This year I want to avoid last minute Christmas rush, and I'm budgeting so that we can enjoy Christmas, but not go over the top. I'm trying to think of what I can put on lay away for my sons' major presents and what might be decent, but inexpensive stocking stuffers. They get a stocking with generally smaller gifts from Santa, and a larger, main present under the tree. I have three sons aged 3, 5 and 6. So far I've found some great bargains on books (you can never have too many!), and I'll pop some novelty bubble bath in. But what else? And what for the main gifts? The boys generally like most boy things, but I get unsure of myself, so don't get around to putting the gifts on lay away until it's too late! Please help me.
Thanks Everyone. Your help is greatly appreciated. You'd think that I'd have this down by now, but I just lose my imagination sometimes! You've given me some great ideas. Thanks again.
What about a train or race car set. I have a girl so this is hard for me. If I think of anything else I will post again.
Matchbox cars or Hot Wheels are only about $1 each. Board games are awesome -- Jenga, I-Spy, Kids Pictionary and other non-reading games would be fun for everyone. I got a wooden train set at IKEA for $10 or $15 and it interlocks with the more expensive kind. Duplo Legos, or other blocks are good too. Art supplies like crayons, markers, construction paper or coloring books -- if you roll the coloring book before you wrap it it fits nicely into a stocking. Play-doh too.
And, great job for thinking of this so early!!
My boys are 4, 6 and 8. I am just a touch ahead of you. :)
My boys love those dry erase boards. You can get them at Walmart. There are some that help them practice thier letters. I bought my older boy one with just lines so he can practice his cursive. Then the dry erase markers can go in the stocking. One thing I did last year that they LOVED was a craft box. I bought a plastic container and put crayons, paint, a sketch pad, paint brushes...that kind of stuff in there.
For the big gift......I would suggest a battery opperated car. One gift for all. Get a 2 seater. As long as you have a place to ride it.
Or maybe DS's. My boys love those too.
My boys are into fishing right now. I just got them a remote control boat that has a hook for fishing. I just bought that at Ocean State Job Lot. I don't know if you have those out there.
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:)
If I think of any other ideas I'll let you know.
Our family in general is crazy about small, bright flash lights.
They are perfect stocking stuffers and we use them every where year round.
Our son loves them if the power goes out and he also uses them to read at night if he can't sleep.
We've got flash lights and book lights that you can wear, or clamp on to things, and miner type lights that you can wear on your head (you don't have to hold with your hands) and LED flash lights that you can crank to recharge (comes in handy when you live in a hurricane zone).
As they get older, Legos are good.
One of the best Christmas presents I ever got for my son was a 5 lb bag of mixed random Legos from eBay. It was not expensive and he still plays with them.
I'm sure trucks and matchbox cars are great for the 3 year old. What about trains? Do they like those? We always got a toothbrush and toothpaste in our stockings, too. Coloring books are fun. A few treats like chocolate Santas or something are great. We used to get shampoo, too... boring, but it's what we got.
The 6 year old will probably give you a list... I'd bet that if he doesn't have a nintendo DS he'd like one with a couple of games... Ditto for the 5 year old. Do you have a Wii? That would be a fun family gift - we play ours a lot and the games are easy and fun.
How about board games and puzzles?? Start a family game night tradition that starts Christmas night. It's a blast! We still play games as a family...
YMMV
LBC
Do they have bikes? Scooters? Skateboards?
Would they like a slot car racing set?
Art supplies, art easel, board games, Legos....really it depends on what your kids are "into" most.
My son who is now nine, always loved to draw, therefore an easel was essential and still is as he uses it every day. Additionally, he likes maps and puzzles.. your six year old might enjoy a puzzle or two? Also, a kickball.. one of those red balls that they use specifically for it.. Gotta tell ya, we are pretty basic.. there was the video game phase, but that passed quickly and we were back to simple gifts with ones that required imagination and attention. An etcha sketch is always fun.. (especially for long road trips in the car)
Bubbles that you blow were and are always amusing for the kids. We also have a dart board (not the one with sharp points) this one has magnets and is made for smaller kids. We still use that at least once a day. But the thing used more than anything is that easel.
Oh do any of your kids show musical interests? there are always instruments. When my son was 7, of all things, he wanted an accordion ..at first we didn't buy him one, but sought out lessons that included a rental, then since he stuck with it, he eventually got his own. he's been playing ever since.. would something musical fit for your kids? even a tamboree can be fun.. again, we tend to keep it basic over here..
I wish you the best ! :)
Do your kids like legos? My oldest loves legos and it keeps him busy for hours of building and imaginative play. They are kind of expensive so we are waiting for some sales to start purchasing them.
Train table with tracks/trains ect.
Imaginext stuff for sure! We have the space shuttle set and all the kids love it.
Last Christmas one of our big presents was a police/fire station (like a dollhouse for boys). It came with lots of furniture/vehicles/guys/dogs ect. The boys play with it all the time.
Also, remote control flying things are a current hit in our house. With all the boys including dad! ;)
my son loves his playmobil toys, age appropriate for the 5 and 6 yr old.. they just came out with a secret agent set.. i already have it set aside for xmas :)
my 4 and 6 yo boys love legos, gi joe, dinosaurs, bugs, transformers, imaginext, star wars, super heroes, castles and knights. they also love games like battleship, stratego, starwars trouble, bop it. they also love riding bikes and scooters playing wiffle ball, soccer and football. for stockings we always get them lego minifigures, a gi joe, toothbrushes, flashlights, a small handheld game, an ornament that shows something they loved that year. many of their favorite things have large items that could be a big gift or small single items for stuffers. they also love t shirts with their fav characters on them. my 2yo boy loves anything vehicle. he loves matchbox cars and sending them down tracks and thomas and all things trains and tracks. he likes big vehicles (dump trucks, monster trucks pick ups) that are big enough fo him to run down the block. he also likes the bigger legos and vehicles and people that they have. maybe you could ask your boys their favorites now and then they'll still be surprised at christmas:) also $stores and the $ sectons of target and walmart are a great place to get stuffers and little extras. it'll be so nice to have all of this done when dec. rolls around and you can just relax.
Beyblades seem to be a hit with my boy 7, & girls 6 & 4
Banagrams
Legos
Operation
Rollerskates
Nerf guns
Movie
Leapster
Crafts
My vote is for a trampoline that they could use for YEARS!!! :)
Legos and just saw "makedo" sets for building all sorts of stuff from recycled stuff. Fairly inexpensive (~$25 for one reusable connector set) Makedo creations on the web. Haven't bought them yet myself but I think that's what I'll do for my boys this Christmas.
Bubble bath? What about little hot wheels? You can buy singles, sets of 5, 10, 20 etc--great stocking stuffers. How about a magnifying glass? (I bought one each for my guys as stocking stuffers--I think.) A cool yo-yo for your 6 year old, a bag of bugs for your 3 year old, marbles, stuff like that are inexpensive gifts but really, you have to, of course, think about each child's age and their interests.
We are considering skateboards, scooters and bicycles! For the "extras", you could get a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. I think bicycles look so wonderful under the tree. And a scooter for you 5 and 3 year old...maybe too.
match box cars, bubbles, slinky, beyblades, scissors,
Big race car track, My 10 yr old still plays with imaginex castle he rec'd when he was 4. mostly his younger brother and sister play with it, but, awesome! red 4 square balls, razor scooter, dvd's, fun clothes, not boring stuff-but my kids love "special tshirts". with a monster or whatever.
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My son is 4 and his favorites are MotorWorks, MarbleWorks, Block It, Zingo, Playful Patterns, and Zip Track.
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