Help me please! Christmas present idea for 4 year old who doesn't play with toys!

[0verth1inker]

My DD is almost 5 and doesn't really play with toys as such. She either loves doing roleplay (she has lots of dressing up clothes, nurse set, fireman set etc etc) or drawing/colouring. I want to get her something she will like for Christmas but also thats a 'gift' instead of just paper and pens which we replace regularly. She loves disney etc but we have given her playsets before and she just doesn't really play with them.

Does anyone have a craft/drawing based gift idea or perhaps any other ideas of kids who don't play with toys?! I was a real barbie/polly pocket fan but she just isnt interested (which is fine obviously!). I want to get her something which she will be excited to open! She's very active, loves being outdoors but quite independent in her play.

Thanks.

try www.happypuzzle.co.uk

they have fun craft stuff and lots of good games for her to play with you.

My two just love drawing and craft and will play for hours with play-doh. I’ll even put up with the mess for the peace 🙈
My eldest who is 4 absolutely loves scratch art and the Melissa and Doug mess free glitter art is also a hit. She’d love aqua beads but I feel she’s just not quite ready for them yet so I’m saving that one. I find The Works great for all these kind of things

Sequin art. The junior one is fab. Kept my little one busy for hours think it's made by halt

Galt I mean !

This week Lidl or maybe Aldi have a lovely veterinary set with little pets and places to put them plus vet etc. In their wooden range so looks great. Would she like a shop with money/ cash register etc? But be careful as you will have to play!!! Games like Kerplunk or a nice jigsaw for the floor.

There is a spirograph junior for younger kids - looks great.

[quote 0verth1inker]@FartNRoses that is PERFECT! I’m ordering one. Thank you thank you thank you![/quote]
You’re incredibly welcome 🤗

My 4 year old is having binoculars and walkie talkies for a similar reason- she is adamant that she wants to be a birdwatcher when she grows up (or a dinosaur explorer like Andy on CBeebies). Magnifying glass is a great idea so I'll be adding that to the list too!

Mine is getting a tennis racket, a vetch watch and a microphone.

Spirograph is a great idea, I used to love mine as a child. I just had a look at Amazon as thought I might get it for my niece but it's nearly £40!

A comment on Hamma beads.
If the 'regular' (ie the Mini) ones look too fiddly you can get them in larger size (Midi & maxi I think).

Thank you all so so much. Some amazing ideas that DD will love. Really appreciate it!

If she likes role play, then a big scale construction kit that can make different shapes of den might go down well. You can get cardboard panel ones or plastic frame nuts and bolts, or you could get a set of Makedo or similar and use whatever cardboard you can find. Or old sheets and den pegs. Just find an option that is as versatile as possible and easy to store for you.
My two have built houses, rockets, pirate ships, hot air balloons, doctor’s surgery etc over the years. So much great play.

My arty 5 year old loves:
Acrylic paints
Oil pastels
Good paper
Good paintbrushes
Learn to draw books
Sharpies
Mini white board
Spirograph
Air dry clay
Scratch art
Foam clay
Lego

@Ifionlyknewthenwhatiknownow3

Stapler, hole punch, good torch or headtorch, learn to knit or crochet?

Would you really wrap a stapler and hole punch up for Christmas?

Would you really wrap a stapler and hole punch up for Christmas?

Why not? DC find all sorts of weird stuff exciting (DS2 likes the salad spinner, DS1 likes the shredder).

When I was a little girl I used to have a spinning fashion plate thing I loved, might be a bit fiddly at 4 though.

Hole punch in your stocking 😂

I saw a group of 8 and 9 year olds get very excited about using a stapler earlier in the week. Its a rare treat...

Today I went and got:
The crayola light up tracing thing
Blo pens
Junior Spirograph

I’m so happy with them and DD will be thrilled. Amazing!