what on earth do I get for my (2yr) son?!

[Mrswhiskerson]

We are having maybe the most broke Xmas we have ever had ever this year, We really are not bothered about presents for ourselveswe are having xmas with my family this year and we both cant wait. but we could not face ds (age2)not having at least a couple of little openers. I want to fill a box full of little activities and toys for him because he is in to everything at the moment and the only thing that has kept him occupied was a cbeebies magazine with a free stocking to decorate. he has played with it for hours (and I got to actually read a couple of chapters of a new book)
He is also really nosey curious and likes nothing more than delving into peoples handbags or emptying boxes.

I am really stuck for ideas, I just want to fill a box with fun little things for him, but my budget can only be twenty pounds.

I would love some ideas

There's an electric toothbrush in Morrisons for £2.99. I wasn't sure if DS was too young for it so I didn't get it but I know he would love it.

Craft stuff definitley dd is slightly younger and allthough we have a main present I know for sure the craft items will be played with more to start of with. We have crayons and pencils from elc 1.50 and £1 each. We have a really cheap jumbo colouring book for £1.50 from the local shop old style with lotd of pages. Just beed to get her some stickers and a pad of lined paper its cheaper than plain for more pages. You could get a large A5 drawing pad.
We use all our cardboard boxes for drawing before recycling them. Dd can use one for a week. Just having a scribble every now and then.
Check your local library for books if you don't mind second hand. Ours sell the withdrawn from use books for 20p. Some are still great quality and they even sell the huge A3 or bigger books at that price too.

These ideas are brilliant thank you, I have been so frazzled recently my brain has just clouded up ,

He loves mr maker and he does love surprises , I'm buzzing with ideas now

Thanks again and I hope you all have a lovely Christmas

Some brilliant ideas on this thread, we have got some really good bargains from our local charity shops but none lately really, It actually makes me quite stabby the prices they charge in the local children's barnardo's, honestly it's extortionate for some things, but inconsistent. £2.50 for one little car, £5 for a selection of pound shop dinosaurs in a plaggy bag tsk.

How about a little tea set? For some bizarre reason all of the 2/3 year olds I have ever known enjoy pouring water from one receptacle to another, I'm sure I have seen them in the pound shop actually. I wonder what people did before the poundshop . Have a lovely Christmas.

MrsWhiskers - check out Pinterest for cheap craft/gift ideas, there's tons of inspiration on there, linking to blogs and websites you'd never have come across otherwise.
If you see a Pin you like, look to see the rest of that persons board and you'll find tons of ideas!

I have a whole board for kids stuff, there's tons of Montessori and Steiner type projects, and loads of homeschooling ideas, the vast majority of which are cheap crafts using stuff from your recycling bin. The Wendy house I made DS out of a packing box has lasted him about 4 months now but is in serious need of reinforcement after he tried jumping up and down on it

Definitely another pre-school comic with loads of freebie toys on the front and at least 2 sticker sheets inside! This is what's packed for a certain little stocking. Also a giant bubble wand, can get those for about £1. One or 2 little mini cereal packets if his favourites are in those selections? DD will climb mountains for cheerios at the moment...

Try charity shops, I've got most of the little stocking fillers and stuff for my 1y/o from the charity shop as money is tight this year. I've managed to find some lovely painted wooden skittles, some mega blox, loads of books in good condition and some nice painted wooden 4 piece jigsaw things. If he likes craft stuff then maybe just get a few paints or some playdough and collect things like straws, tinfoil, cardboard tubes etc for him to make things out of and make him a craft kit. He won't notice what he's getting, just try to enjoy the day and spending time with him. It's horrible when money is tight, but he'll be happy and oblivious!!