My daughter has been invited to a birthday party for a boy in her day care class. He is turning three and has been a classmate for about a year. The party is being held at a local bowling alley. Even though we don't know the family my husband and I thought this would be a good experience for our daughter. My problem is figuring out what gift to take for this child. The only thing I know about him is that he is very active and a real hand full in the classroom. He is being tested for ADHD. Any suggestions would be helpful.
After talking with this boys mom about what she felt would be appropriate I will be getting an interactive toy. Since my daughter also likes to help pick out presents I'm going to let her make the final decision after I narrow down the choices. A few of the responces were worried that I was being judgmental about the fact he is being tested for ADHD. That could not be farther from the truth, I happen to like this kid. He is very high energy and in a class of 10 toddlers it can be frustrating for the teachers and aids. However, when I have volunteered at parties I have enjoyed working with him. My daughter seems to enjoy playing with him and according to the teachers they are friends.
We have found that a plastic bowling set (I think little tikes or fisher price makes it) has been a hit for little ones that age. It would go along with his party theme too.
J.-
I just went through this myself. I went to the local book store bought one of childs favorite books and a gift card for the birthday child to pick out it's own book. the parents loved it. Good Luck S. P
You may want to consider playdoh, building toys, puzzles. A boy at this age is not too different than a girl. Just think of something you would get for your daughter to play. Don't think that because the child is being tested for ADHD that he is any different than any other child. Just buy him a toy that is fun.
Since spring is coming soon, maybe something to play with outside? SIde walk chalk, shovels for digging, or some bubbles and cool bubble wands? Or you can ask his parents what he's into :)
I have a son who turned 3 in January. He loves any kind of cars/trucks, books, learning toys (abc, counting, etc), and sport stuff/balls. I hope this helps!
My son turned 3 in January. He loves the train table that he got for his second birthday. We have all kinds of trains/planes/cars. Something that he loves to play by himself as well as with all of us.
T.
My daughter is 3 and loves anything to do with ABC's. I found a puzzle - ladybugs- half has the capital letter, the other half is small letters. Each ladybug is one set of letters. Once put together, turn it over and it is a picture that starts with the word. I think even just turning 3 parents could play that. Also, crayons and color books are always a big hit. And bathtub crayons are big too! Good luck and have fun!
How about some toy cars (matchbox cars).
Hello! My son has been diagnosed with ADHD. When he was that age, we bought him many big floor puzzles and duplo medium blocks. It seemed something that he could keep his mind on for longer periods of time without acting out. We have found that anything that can keep his hands and mind busy helps him alot. At six, he is now into all of the bionicles and leggos that can be made into things. He has always been a wiz at video games, but we limit the amount of playing time he (and all of our kids) is allowed. Good Luck with your searching. Enjoy the party. ~T.
Hi J.,
It's nice to see another mother my age! That being said.....I have always found a bright colorful book to be a good gift. Something that has activity type/pop-up type pages or that you have to lift flaps or something to see what is under them. This makes it something that requires interaction and might hold the attention of a rambunctious child....especially a boy! Hope this suggestion helps. Check some of the John Lithgow books....he does some really neat ones that might appeal to a boy also.
M.: 38 yr old mother of 2 boys....Garrett 15 years old and Grayson 17 months old.
Your best bet would be to call his parents and ask what kinds of things he is interested in. If you can't get ahold of them, age appropriate books are always a good route to take.
My 3yr old son LOVES trucks and trains. Even books or videos about trucks or trains. HTH!
how about puzzles, my kids like the wood ones with little knobs to pull. they have a cool one from target, it is farm animals and it makes the animal sound when you put the puzzle piece in it.
Hi J., I think Lego's are great. I have a child that has been diagnosed with ADHD since he was 5 he is 12 now. Anyways he would sit with lego's much longer than anything else. I hope this helps.
My recommendation would be a ball of some sort. My first suggestion is something called a "hair ball" (I know it sounds weird), but they have it at WalMart. It is a soft ball made out of stretchy rubber and has a lot of "hairs" coming out of it that are made of he same stretchy rubber. My son is almost two and Loves his. My second suggestion comes from the Parent/Teacher Tools Store. It is a rubber ball that is squishy, and when you put your warm hand on it the ball will change from pink/blue/green to white. These are both inexpensive (between $6-$10), are a lot of fun, and you can't do too much damage with them since they are soft.
Good luck,
J.
Hi J.,
I read your comment about talking to the boy's mother, which is what I was going to suggest, but also had another suggestion for you. I found a really great toy for a friends son who has ADHD and turned 3. It's a View Master Projecter. You can use any view master slides and it show's the picture on a wall. It has sounds with each picture and a very easy to use remote he could change the pictures himself. My friend says he loves it and plays with it for a long time, looking at the pictures and making the sounds with the picture. My son who is turning 3 loved it as well. I found it at Wal-Mart for $20.
Hi J.! I have a suggestion for you. Check out this website: www.drmy.net/rea. These toys have a ton of developmental benefits and they're fun :) If I had to pick one, I would say "Wheels on the move-driving with Andy" My 3 yr old nephew loves it!
Another idea is the Tub Tunes Basic set. It just depends on what your price range is. Hope this helps!
I believe a learning toy is a good gift. There are many out there and it gives them a chance to learn as they play. I don't believe his behavior should have anything to do with the gift you choose.
Whether or not this little boy has ADHD or not he is still a 3 year old little boy. Go to your local Walmart and in the toy section the toys have appropriate ages on them.Find something that a little boy would like. I have 4 daughters and I have 2 grandsons. They like cars and sports and instruments. I'm sure that whatever you pick will be fine. At 3 years old they aren't picky.
In my experience, all little boys can be a handful at that age and love to be active. My sons both love balls of any kind. Indoor activities that they enjoy include puzzles, play-dough, sticker books, cars, trains, blocks, legos and movies. Both of my kids love books of any kind. My oldest couldn't get enough books about trucks or any other kind of vehicle at that age. He also liked the classics like The Very Hungry Catepillar, Going on a Bear Hunt and Dr. Suess books. Have fun and don't be so hard on the little guy - he is still very young!
His diagnosis really doesn't have any bearing on your gift. His personality is the most important thing. Ask the daycare teachers what toys he plays with the most and find something like it provided that it's age appropriate.
Have fun at the bowling alley!!!
Maybe buy him some cars or something educational like a book about colors,numbers, the alphabet.
I think it is good you are allowing your child this experience. But it sounds as if you are going into this party a little bit judgemental, even if it is fact that this child is a handful. Being an early childhood professional, it makes me heartsick to hear of any child under 7 being "tested for ADHD". It is absolutley impossible to diagnose at three years old, or even four. Regarding the gift, anything that would give him any "hands-on", kinetic experience is great for over-active kids. Moulding clay. play-dough, Floam, stuff like that. Also puzzles with really bright colors & possibly some texture is great. Steer away from frustrating toys. But remember, kids like this are highly intellegent, usually. Your child having a variety of friends is great for her development. Also, don't hover at the party. Let her have fun!
My boys still and have always loves hot wheels anything. There are all different cars and race tracks that are not very expensive. At his age he may even like some boys coloring books or cool markers. That is something that may help to get him to sit down for a little while. There are all kinds of crafty things for boys out there. You can also never go wrong with balls, any and all kinds of balls. Every time I turn the corner in my house I am tripping over some kind of soccer, football, base ball, balls on a string....ect
I just thought of something else. Magnetics, they are little magnets with magnet balls, you can play with them for hours, I know they have some at Walmart. I have a 3yr old nephew that always layes with those when he comes over.
