Any great ideas for my 7 year old?

[clairedunphy]

Sorry, another plea for ideas. DS has just turned 7 and is being very vague about what he'd like for Christmas. Probably because he has so much already of course, but I'm under pressure from DM and other relatives for ideas.

He loves Lego, playmobil and any imaginative play, but I'm trying to avoid more of the same. He's also very into star wars, likes sports, especially football, and loves nature programmes, from classic David Attenborough to Deadly 60.

He also still plays really nicely with his little sister, so will happily get involved in 'younger' activities than you might associate with a 7 year old. And he really loves his teddies.

He's interested in geography and different cultures, and is generally very curious. I've been looking at science/electronics kits which I think would be good as long as the quality is decent, but it's hard to tell with a lot of them.

So if anything springs to mind that your children have loved I'd be very grateful. Budget is anything up to about £40.

Thanks

[APlaceOnTheCouch]

I think you could get a subscription to National Geographic Kids within that budget or you could adopt a snow leopard/tiger then he'd get a cuddly toy and info sheets about the animal.

If he has a Build A Bear, you could get a new costume or accessories.

There are also some great new Lego Star Wars kits where you can build large figures of the main characters, or there are Lego adventure books, where as you read through the story, you have to build a certain model.

Double that budget (eg if some of them could put together), you can get a Kano computer.

[Miloarmadillo1]

Snap circuits electronics kits
National Geographic Junior subscription
Ozobot
Mini microscope - natural history museum do one for about £10 which is v good for the money.

[nilbyname]

What about

Pen knife
Circuit making kit
Science kit
Practical jokes
Guinness book of world records annual
Info graphic poster or book
Lego bedding
Lego wall stickers
Walkie talkies
Bear grylls stuff
Proper world globe
Maglight torch

[SitsOnFence]

Marble run
This awesome den building kit comes in 3 different 'sizes'. I should be on commission for the number of times I have recommended them!
Disco light
Cable car kit

[ShesAStar]

My DS is 7 too with similar interests to your DS. I've bought home some of the camping range by Playmobile - it's half price on Amazon at the moment. I've bought him and his sister a few sets each so they can build a big campsite scene. I've also got a geomag set and a really big nerf gun (I might regret this!)

[ShesAStar]

Also a Hotwires set might be fun

[madmotherof2]

Ooh my 7 year old would love that den building kit!!

[kiwidreamer]

I was just coming over to ask almost the same thing :) I need a WOW present for my 7.5yr old, his main pressies are magic set from Melissa and Doug (plus hat, gloves, cape, wand from ebay), Scooby doo Lego and a nerf bow... which I was happy with until I twitched and got DD the MLP castle... Now I need to even up ... DD is going to WOW over the castle and I really want DS to have something he loves... But don't know what

DD and DS are sharing a few playmobil sets camp ground/pool/car and caravan.

DS is also getting marvel / DC encyclopaedia's, star wars top trumps, R2D2 pop up laundry hamper and something else smallish I cant recall right now.

[SummerHouse]

Amazing ideas. Op your son is my son a year in the future.

Asda have some really good looking star wars outfits inc. Cewbacca.

Also nerf do a storm trooper blaster pistol.

Otherwise I am just here to steal ideas. National geographic junior is brilliant one!

[SummerHouse]

Oh I also have some glowing stars and planets to stick on wall/ ceiling.

[GreenSand]

Snap circuits are going under our tree, after a suggestion on here.

[MistressMerryWeather]

Have you seen the new build your own light saber?

DS1 is very into starwars and hasn't stopped going on about it.

[Nearlyadoctor]

We bought DD National Geographic kids subscription on Amazon local last year - £10 for 6 months and she loved it. The offer is on again this year. She also loved Frozen planet DVD and accompanying book. Animalium book and Animalium activity book?

[LaughingHyena]

Google Earth kids puzzle book

Walki talkis have been fun here, as well as out in the garden the kids use them when they are playing computer games together. Much better on my ears than them shouting up the stairs . The kids set we had had terrible reception so has been replaced with a "real" set.

Pop up tent is used lots too, a cheep camping one rather than a kids one so they can both fit.

[clairedunphy]

Thank you all, so many brilliant ideas, might have trouble with stopping myself overspending now!

I actually bought him a similar small den building kit the other day from one of those book people type companies that had products at DD's nursery, quite cheap so hope it's OK. Love the subscription idea, I think he'd feel really grown up as me and DH get subscriptions too.

Just heard about the lightsaber blade builder thing from a friend tonight, sounds great but not sure I want to blow the whole budget on a weapon type of toy.

Lots of other links and ideas for me to google, I've got a busy evening ahead. Thank you!

[nocutsnobuttsnococonuts]

i got this for dd the other day for £7 but has gone up now and it is fantastic. i would even pay the full price for it, it really is a beautiful book. me and dd have enjoyed reading through it and she loved learning about the different countries. big maps book

and if he is into minions and you want the ultimate fun present go for a fart blaster... essentially a £20 piece of gun shaped plastic that makes various fart noises. dd loves hers and was over the moon when grandad bought it for her i wasnt spending my budget on it i think it is top of lots of childrens lists this year

busy books are a massive hit here - basically a book with playmat and 12 figures. there are loads of characters to choose from - we have most of the ones that are out. they retail for around £5 each and best places to buy are supermarkets, TKmaxx, WHSmiths. i have bought the good dinosaur, a christmas one and paw patrol for christmas :)

my dd who loves her teddies is getting a new pillow pet (she got a pretend version a few years ago but is on its last legs now!) theres good discounts on their website or they are available in lots of places. a massive bullseye teddy from disney store (currently half price at £20) and some tsum tsum teddies.

[CoffeeChocolateWine]

He sounds so much like my DS who is 7 in a few days...apart from the bit about being vague about what he wants for Christmas! On my DS's list are:
Ninjago lego
Lego watch
Personalised football shirt
Other football bits
Star Wars mashers
Nerf gun
Roller blades
Deadly 60 book/annual/dvd
Books

Stuff he's also getting from family:
Globe/star map
Usbourne See Inside books - How things work and Science
A more complex puzzle than he's used to
Science set
Hexbugs
One Direction CD
Board games

He got Hot Wires electronics set last year for Christmas and I highly recommend it. It's been used to death and he still loves it.

[clairedunphy]

Well I've just shown DH the Kano computer and he's decided that's what we must get (computer geek himself of course), so big thanks to APlaceOnTheCouch. I've also ordered the National Geographic subscription and am now really torn between lots of things to ask Dsis and the in-laws to get. You need to stop with the brilliant ideas now!

[CoffeeChocolateWine]

Wow, that Kano computer looks great. It's going on next year's list!

[APlaceOnTheCouch]

Claire Santa is bringing my 7-yr-old a Kano computer too. Hopefully we'll both have very happy boys on Christmas morning although on past experience my DS' favourite present will end up being a £2 stocking filler

[Sleepyfergus]

A Diablo? They seem to be all the rage at dds school this year and dd1 ages 6 will be getting one for Xmas!

[thequickbrownfox]

I'm also going to get the Kano for my DD- it looks great!

[clairedunphy]

You may have caused a Kano craze APlace. But yes, so true about the stocking fillers, maybe we need to get real rubbish for them!

Diablo looks great too, although I think I might have to calm down a bit now.

Oh, for anyone else looking, I've also found some lovely book collections on the book people website, some reduced even more for Black Friday, including a Roald Dahl audio book collection.

[Sleepyfergus]

Ha! Was coming back to suggest the Roald Dahl audio/cd collection. They're fab. Also the larger version of his books - they have more colourful pictures which makes them all the more interesting. My dd 6yo has really got into RD the lead last few months which has been great.

[clairedunphy]

Great minds Sleepy!