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Christmas

DS 5 - main present with "wow" factor

28 replies

KiteyDelighty · 07/10/2013 13:21

DD2.5 will be getting a balance bike as her main present. DS is 5.5 and he already has a scooter and a pedal bike and I'm struggling to identify something with equivalent "wow" factor . So far we've generally avoided most character-based merchandise and have gone for presents with longevity for the children (play kitchen, train track, dolls house, books, lego, dressing up clothes). However, this year I am thinking I may have to relax a little and pick something that will be regarded as suitably "awesome" and will have some playground kudos. It doesn't have to be equivalent in price to a balance bike because thankfully the DC are fairly oblivious to the cost of presents still.

He has played a bit recently with a set of plastic Angry Birds and a catapult thingy for them (that teaches about physics of projectiles, right?!), and some plastic pirate figures (all given to him by his friends). He's not into Star Wars figures (although most of his friends arre, he finds the characters a bit scary). We are aiming to keep him away from electronic screen-based games for a bit longer, he gets to play occasional games on our phones as a treat and that seems addictive enough. I am sorry if I sound a bit worthy, I'm all for a bit of fun honest, but I prefer not to spend a load of money on a heap of plastic tat made by people in miserable conditions in factories that break after a couple of plays!

What is cool for 5 year olds at the moment? Would a furby or smilar be a good idea?

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 07/10/2013 13:24

How about a really good Lego kit?

Crutchlow35 · 07/10/2013 13:36

The best things we have bought for our DS also aged 5 are his bike, a flicker scooter and best of all a trampoline. How about a playhouse in the garden? DS likes his a lot.

For his birthday we bought him a DSi which he loves but we restrict time on that - I see you don't want electronics though.

How about some of the imaginext stuff like the castle? Or the playmobile castle and pirate ship seem to be recommended?

I am struggling with DS too. I wish mine would like lego!

KiteyDelighty · 07/10/2013 14:12

Thanks for the quick responses and ideas.

Yes lego is reliable.

Not sure our budget will stretch to playhouses but I could certainly investigate that as an option.

I may look again at a DSi, but fear I may cause too many arguments about time he would be allowed to use it.

Imaginext looks interesting -is it well made enough to stand up to regular use? DS is reasonably careful with things

OP posts:
5madthings · 07/10/2013 14:18

My five year old is getting the imaginext castle.

He already has the imaginext boat, submarine,helicopter and batcave and accessories, he loves the batman stuff and will be getting a few more of the super hero imaginext range, its very popular for his age group and last brilliantly.

We actually bought the boat, helicopter and submarine for his older siblings and its still going strong.

HappyAsEyeAm · 07/10/2013 14:23

Imaginext is fantastic. It says 3-8 years on it, and it is all mix and match. We don't have huge amounts of it, but we do have the castle and the dragon, both of which are fantastic. There is an infra red link between the two, so they sense each other iyswim, and they talk to each other. I think the castle is about £50. We have a catapault to go with ours too. Lots of play value.

The imaginext mega t rex looks good, as do the other dinosaurs.

Something which I have only just become aware of is Tomy Tomika. We don't have it, so I'm not in a position to recommend it, but what about something like this <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/Tomy-Tomica-85401-Mega-Station/dp/B003TSCR8S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3ASC17WQY5Q8F&coliid=I3NKCGM5PODWH6&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">mega station?

What about a wigwam style tent for indoor use? We have a fab one but I cannot find a link to it. It was a present for DS1 from my parents - blue and white stripe, excellent head height, and I think it was about £100. There are cheaper ones out there though.

OldBeanbagz · 07/10/2013 14:34

Both my DC love their teepee even though they're now 11 and 8.

DS play a lot with his wooden castle and family have bought him loads of knights/dragons to go in it. It's a bit like this.

When he was younger he also played a lot with his pirate ship and we have a whole heap of Plan City road/train track & buildings.

5madthings · 07/10/2013 14:37

The to my tomica stuff is a pita to set up and it comes apart easily,'we have a massivebox of it and it never gets played with,'they prefer the wooden train track! I keep meaning to take it to the charity shop.

The imaginext is great.

Also my five year old likes the marble run (Galt) and schleich toys, we have lots of animals, knights, pirates, safari stuff, vehicles, building etc. It's expensive but we have built up the collection over years and it has been played with by all five.

Sirzy · 07/10/2013 14:41

I have just otdered a remote control fire engine from toys r us reduced from £60 to £30

Whereisegg · 07/10/2013 14:42

What about a pedal go-kart so he has something new to play on outside when his sis is out and about on her balance bike?

kiwidreamer · 07/10/2013 14:45

Im making DS, 5.5yrs at Xmas, a Lego table... Gloss white lack table from IKEA £10 and 4 base plates £20, am going to put minifig stickers on table legs and sel them with clear varnish.

fuzzpig · 07/10/2013 15:27

Last year we (well, Santa) got my DCs the playmobil castle. All set up by the tree with little knights and horses all round it. Definitely had the wow factor!

fuzzpig · 07/10/2013 15:28

OMG I am in love with that teepee. Wow.

MortifiedAdams · 07/10/2013 15:32

Scaletrix?

Marble/Domino Rally?

Playmobil?

HappyAsEyeAm · 07/10/2013 15:33

The imaginext castle is currently £39.99 in Toys R Us.

Stillhopingstillhere · 07/10/2013 15:38

I was going to say Imaginext castle!

Stillhopingstillhere · 07/10/2013 15:39

Oh we have the mega station tomy tomica and really like it!

5madthings · 07/10/2013 15:43

Omg I LOVE that teepee and very good price! Def on my list for dd who will be three in December.

ziggiestardust · 07/10/2013 15:44

happy thank you A MILLION TIMES OVER! That is £20 cheaper than Amazon uk. Thanks Cake

DTisMYdoctor · 07/10/2013 15:53

DS (5) is getting the imaginext castle - picked it up from toysrus today Grin

He got Lego for his birthday which he loved. The playmobil pirate ship is very popular here too. Re: angry birds - I picked up some very cheap sets from BM bargains.

HappyAsEyeAm · 07/10/2013 16:18

You're welcome ziggie - happy to help! Ds1 really enjoys playing with his. I bought it when it was about £50 on Amazon and thought that was a good price. The dragon is fab too, as is the catapault. Not that I want to tempt you to spend what you've saved!

ziggiestardust · 07/10/2013 16:28

Not at all happy, I wanted to buy the dragon and catapult anyway. For him to play with. Obviously. Oh no, I don't want to play with it AT ALL. No no.

Methe · 07/10/2013 16:28

I've just ordered the imaginext castle.. Fantastic that its £20 off!

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BeaLola · 07/10/2013 16:54

My Ds was 5 last christmas and had the playmobile castle - loves it ascdid the adults !

This year am thinking along lines of a tepee but not sure if that is just me liking that idea So I can hide away in it !

A neighbour recently gave us an old racing track - not quite a scalectrix and both he and DH love playing with it.

ziggiestardust · 07/10/2013 17:45

Oh no, now I like the playmobil castle Blush

It's much more expensive, about £40 once you've bought the accessories.

Eeek.

fuzzpig · 07/10/2013 18:01

Just wanted to say OP I really wouldn't worry about the "what's cool" or playground kudos etc at this age - IME children that young really don't give a monkeys and so often the fad toys actually have very limited play value. There's a few threads on here about that very issue (search "shit toys" :o) so you will do much better choosing something based on his likes. You know your DS better than the adverts do. :)

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