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Christmas

What to get a 2 year old and 5 year old who don't actually need anything?

29 replies

Starduke · 19/09/2016 14:02

I have 2 DSes. I have no idea what to get them for Christmas because they seem to have everything they want/need (and we live in a flat and don't have a huge amount of spare space).

The 5 year old loves trains (but has more than enough) and Star wars (but got lots of star wars stuff for his birthday last week).

The 2 year old loves fire engines, cars and motorbikes, but again, has a large collection.

We already have lots of craft stuff, books and DVDs. They love their kitchen, scooters and bikes. They're not huge fans of cuddly toys or dolls.

Any ideas?

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CocoLoco87 · 19/09/2016 14:04

Would pyjamas / slippers with trains, star wars, fire engines etc be an idea? My DNs (6&4) would love things like that but I know not every child would appreciate clothes

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Hotlingbling · 19/09/2016 14:06

Lego seems to be the only thing my children don't get bored of. I also sit down with them and do it.

Shop keeper set with a till and fake fruit.

A kindle.

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Oly5 · 19/09/2016 14:09

I have the same age range and have gone for Playmobil, jigsaws, new books, Lego and Duplo.
Am thinking about a digital camera for the eldest

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SprogletsMum · 19/09/2016 14:11

My 5 year old is getting a tablet. I have no idea what to get for the 2 year old especially as she's 2 in November so will literally need nothing.

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Cuppaand2biscuits · 19/09/2016 14:14

A day out or vouchers for a day out. They won't miss one present on Christmas Day but they'll be able to appreciate that you paid for a treat even if you don't accompany them.
We have a local attraction that we get gifted annual passes to every year at Christmas instead of more toys. Also our local soft play do a card where you can pay for 10 sessions and they stamp one off every time you visit.
Or a breakfast with Santa type treat in the run up to Christmas? Often at pubs and priced about £5 each.

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Safyre · 19/09/2016 14:15

Similar age range here too (4 and 2). DS1 wants a Kindle Fire like his cousins have (which I am still debating furiously but will probably ultimately get him) and DS2 wants a scooter like DS1 got for his birthday. To go with that they will both get clothes, a Schleich animal and Toot-toot car to add to their collections, books, dvds etc. Maybe some lego/duplo depending on how the budget is holding out.

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Cuppaand2biscuits · 19/09/2016 14:16

Sorry misunderstood that they are actually your children, thought you were the aunt.

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Starduke · 19/09/2016 14:33

Digital camera is a good idea. DS1 always wants to use ours!

DS1 is into screens a lot (tv/ipad) - will look at a kindle fire

We have a lot of duplo already which they go through phases of using lots or not at all...

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drspouse · 19/09/2016 14:40

My DD is two and loves cars/trains but honestly will like unwrapping anything.

I have a feeling all of DS' wellies from her age were trashed and she loves wellies so she's getting a pair of monster wellies in the next size up and she will be charmed unwrapping them. Also books, she will love to unwrap individual books.

DS is getting proper Lego and a pedal bike (he has a birthday near Christmas). We let him use an old iPad so no point in getting a tablet.

Again they probably won't mind how many presents come in wrappers so if you are looking for things for relatives to buy, a day out or annual pass is good. Relatives have paid for swimming lessons for our two before, too.

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Jenni2legs · 19/09/2016 14:41

I wrap up stuff they need like toothbrushes, new school tops etc
Then I get them experience presents. We have so much stuff and I dread Christmas as our families buy them (3 kids) SO much.

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Starduke · 19/09/2016 14:56

Wellies might be good, DS2 loves them.

They don't even need anymore clothes. They've both had new trainers recently (and were thrilled - funny things) but in terms of PJs etc. we're well equipped.

It doesn't help that I'm in the middle of kondo-ing the flat so really don't want to buy more stuff! Grin

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SprogletsMum · 19/09/2016 14:58

Oh dc1 and 2 have the kiddi zoom cameras and they love them. I think they got them 2 or 3 years ago and they still get played with at least 4 or 5 days a week. I would recommend getting really good rechargeable batteries for them.

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Starduke · 19/09/2016 16:10

How old were DC when they got kiddi cameras?

Really tempted for DS1

DS2 will probably be jealous but 2 is a bit little I think....

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Solasum · 19/09/2016 16:38

How about a selection of ingredients to make brownies and/or cupcakes and decorate them, and maybe a Special wooden spoon or apron or something they can keep? My DS would love this. We are also in a very small flat and kondoing!

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cravingcake · 19/09/2016 16:44

My DS is about to turn 5 and so I asked him to show me which toys he really likes the most at the shop the other day and it was the big Lego boat and helicopter so we will be getting him that plus a Spiderman (he loves all things superhero).

Can you upgrade or replace anything that is getting worn out, we have a lot of £1 cars which end up broken or missing a wheel etc at the bottom of the toy box so did a big throw out of these (quite a lot went to charity shop also when the kids weren't looking Grin) and can replace with new ones for stocking fillers.

Regarding tablets he already has an iPad to use and his younger sister (3 in January) kept trying to use it and play on it so we ended up getting her one as well this summer to stop arguements.

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SprogletsMum · 19/09/2016 17:18

I think they were 5 and 2. Obviously ds got more use out of his at first but dd could take pictures with it straight away and then as she's got older she can play all the games and stuff now. Ds is almost 8 now and uses it to make videos of what he's playing on his ds.

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RenterNomad · 19/09/2016 18:17

Some really good ideas on this thread!

I'm progressively replacing my DC's drawer handles with fun handles. So far, there are: hearts, a football, "Hello" and "Bonjour" (M&S!), and various other "nice" handles which they've taken a shine to at B&Q.

These are all modifying quite ordinary Ikea drawers. Smile

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dancingsnowfairy · 19/09/2016 21:22

Our dd was 3 last Christmas and we got her the Kiddizoom camera - she has used loads since day 1 and still takes it out with her all the time / takes random photos of her playmobil. I would say your eldest is
certainly a good age for one. I'm like you in not wanting / needing more toys and trying to reduce what we have in the house clutter wise, I had a thread on here about it a couple of weeks ago and there were lots of good ideas. Thanks to those suggestions we are going down the route of new swimming stuff, watch, passes for days out etc. I would link to the thread but I'm fairly new to posting and have no idea how to on my phone, I'm sorry - it was on the Christmas board though.

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NapQueen · 19/09/2016 21:24

Mine are 5 and 2 and both of them love playmobil. It will keep them busy for an age.

Also wooden train track, animal figurines and books.

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pettyprudence · 20/09/2016 13:41

Mine are also 5 & 2. Ds (who is 5) is football crazy so I think I will get him the playmobil football set, plus the ikea football bedding. Dd is 2 and is pink/doll obsessed but already has a squillion dolls and accessories (cheers GP's) plus the two of them already have wendy house, play kitchen, bikes etc... I think what she really wants is a crying doll, an umbrella and some new wellies.

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Starduke · 20/09/2016 13:50

Still struggling for DS2 unless I get yet more fire engine stuff. I have found a good firemen book but for the rest... he already has Fireman Sam duvet set, towel and PJs. And T-shirt actually.

We will definitely get DS1 a camera. If we don't have any more ideas for DS2 we might get him one too.

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elQuintoConyo · 22/09/2016 08:21

Bedding
Other bedroom stuff (lamp, rug, lightshade, posters etc)
Umbrella
The Ikea wooden spice rack that people turn into a bookshelf ( v cool, google it, we are doing it this year for our 5yo).
Last year he got London bus and VW campervan toy boxes for storing his stuff (to upgrade from the ugly boxes we were using).
Fancy plates - DS loves his grown up plates, no more plastic. This year he has a lovely set of plate bowl and mug with a sledging polar bear on. We will set it up Christmas morning for him for breakfast.
I am also making him a bit set of finger puppets - they are surprisingly simple and can be of any design. I'm making them out of felt, they can be sewn or glued. He is getting woodland creatures, butterflies, a Minion and I might rustle up a couple of Paw Patrol characters. I have already made a little pop-up theatre thing out of card (absolutely nothing fancy! But good for staging plays with puppets. It is small, only comes up to his knee, you can pop it on a table and he loves putting on plays for us).
A torch: again, DS has some 2D figures on sticks to put on a ceiling show.

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moobeana · 22/09/2016 11:14

Playmags, or magnatiles they are amazing and every child who comes to our house plays with them.

My DDs are 1 and 4, they both play with them.

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LBOCS2 · 22/09/2016 11:17

A really big cardboard box full of balloons.

Seriously, that would be my DC's actual best ever present.

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Starduke · 23/09/2016 16:26

Playmags look good - have never heard of them!

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