My parents want to get a large gift for my daughters to share. The girls are 5 and 2.5. My mom likes to get her shopping done early so she has asked that I try to come up with something. I, of course, can't think of a thing. Any suggestions?
If you go this way - Maybe membership to the Iowa Children's Museum, membership at IC/CV or NL indoor pools, skating lessons at the Coral Ridge Ice Arena, gymnastics lessons at GymNest (or anywhere similar closer to home!)
Seconding swing set, playhouse and the like already listed.
A family membership to the nearest zoo or kid-friendly museum.
A playhouse or kids' picnic table for the backyard.
A swingset. Just a classic A-frame is a pretty good Christmas present, and really, a swing is a swing - it doesn't matter what it's hanging off of.
A play kitchen. (Bonus: If anyone ELSE asks for ideas on what to give them, you can mention that they'll need play food and whatnot!)
A play table and chairs.
An easel, with paper, markers etc. The girls use theirs ALL THE TIME - it has a dry-erase board on one side, and a chalk board on the other, and a roll of paper that you can pull down for when the kids want a more "permanent" surface.
An event or a membership, not more stuff. The zoo membership idea is terrific! Other options: Grandma takes both girls out (with or without you, depends on the girls) to a kids' play and a meal somewhere kid-friendly that is a treat to them. Or tickets to whatever they would like-- theatre, ice skating show (whatever "on ice"), festival or fair, etc. Or even a museum membership if you have any good local museums with things of interest to the kids.
Build memories!
One thing to discuss with your mom: When she gives the girls this at Christmas, they may be cool to the idea. For children this age it doesn't mean a lot to hear "You are members of the zoo!" but the idea of "We are GOING to the zoo" is more effective. I don't want your mom to feel let down if the kids aren't jumping up and down and yelling with glee when they get tickets to some future event --but she needs to know they likely won't be doing that. They're too young to "get" that they will do something nice in a few weeks or months and to be excited now about that future prospect. She could package up the tickets or membership in some fun way with small inexpensive gifts for "right now" like toy animals for the zoo membership, a little stage set with dolls to dance or act on the stage with the theatre tickets, etc. They WILL be thrilled when she takes them to the actual event later, or when you do. Be sure to emphasize that this is grandma's wonderful and kind idea!
Karaoke Set
Huge Dollhouse
Giftcard to American Girl
Pool ( you know, like the $300 pools you can easily set up)
Water table for outside (these are FUN! Check out leaps and bounds...they have a ton of fun "big" toys like what you are looking for)
A trip with Grandma someplace
Love the idea of a year long zoo or childrens museum ( if you have them in your area).
Kitchen set.
Play house.
Ball pit.
Small trampoline.
Outside things may be met with disappointment in December, but a pool or other outside item will be appreciated come spring!
Not sure how much room you have, and not trying to sound sexist, but what about a play kitchen. My kids (boy & girl) absolutely loved ours - they were always "cooking" something and having tea parties, picnics, etc. Not sure if this had anything to do with it but my kids are teenagers now and both love to cook!
What about:
A wagon - Radio Flyer - one of them with the wooden sides you can put on or take off. My parents got my kids one and they used it all the time and loved being able to put the sides on/off.
Something musical - we had the standing microphone and a couple guitars. Of course we had concerts all the time. That was fun!
A Vanity - there are a few styles now that run from plain to extravagant! Drawers, etc. to keep all kinds of hair stuff, etc.
Then of course the typical doll house!!
Good luck and Merry Christmas!!
Play kitchen, train table (girls love train tables too!), Wii or other gaming system, Barbie house or doll house. Memberships to a zoo, magic house, science center, or other fun places to go.
Gifts are tough especially if you already have what you feel your children truly need.
Best of luck :)
New dress up clothes! With accessories like hats, sparkly gloves, oversized jewelry, wands, even foam swords. Last year's costumes are going on sale to make room for this year's Halloween costumes, so she should find some great deals.
If they don't already have this, a nice table and chair set that they can have for a few years. In their favorite colors or to match their room. A nice, durable quality one can be a great spot for activities, snacks, playtime with company. Four chairs are best. My daughter had one and it was great to have as opposed to some toy that she would only be interested in for a short time. And no little toy pieces. That's the best thing!!!
small table and chairs
kitchen set w/play food
small slide with place to play under or on top
mini trampoline
EZ fort (will need some help to build forts)
My kids love their Magnatiles. They are expensive, so I'm so glad we have received them as gifts. I think they have 3 or 4 of the big 100-piece sets now. They are great toys for a wide age range, and because they are magnetic, they are easy to clean up. My kids build all sorts of creations -- great for the imagination!
I've already started some of my shopping.
Here are some thoughts...
a play kitchen
a vanity
something for the backyard, like a play house
membership to a local actraction (zoo, amusment park, science museum)
I like the membership idea. My mother-in-law buys us a family zoo membership every year, and we get a lot of use out of it, and we already have way too much stuff. A membership for a children's museum or the YMCA would be good ones too. Whenever someone asks what the kids would like I tell them gift passes for some type of entertainment, museum, movies, plays, sporting events, water parks...
