To not be able to think of what to get son for 3rd birthday?

[roundligament]

He has everything he needs
He loves books. so I can get some more of those. I normally buy them in the charity shop but there are a few I know of that we haven't got that we would enjoy reading with him. However are they a present or a rite of passage ?

What shall I get him? Is it rubbish to give him a card some baloons and some books? He honestly has toys. He has a bike a scooter and a balance bike. He has a tipee thing which he may now be too old for. He has a train set. He has colouring gear. He has cars which is one of his favourites at the minute and a mat to drive them on.
What else does he possibly need?
Isn't a day out a better choice?

What about something like a paddling pool?
Aibu to not buy him gifts ?

Don't fall into the trap of spending money for the sake of spending money. Balloons, cake, softplay, burgers, running round, muddy puddles, tractors, buses, trains, laughter and love. If he doesn't need toys, don't get them! If you feel bad, pop the money aside for when there is something he wants and enjoy your 3 year old, it's a magical age.

My go to gift for 3 year olds is one metre of decent cotton fabric and a metre of ribbon to match. That's all that is needed. Their imagination runs wild. I have seen said metre years later still being used for this, that and the other.

At the age of 3, they are old enough not to strangle themselves with the ribbon.

We did Thomas Land (Drayton Manor) for a third birthday as well, was fantastic

Trip to your nearest zoo, aquarium or petting farm. Job done.

@roundligament moonsand is a kind of amalgamation between play dough and sand. And it’s got glitter in it.
My oldest daughter is 15, she had some when she was 4, we’ve moved 3 times and I’m still finding it everywhere. It’s slippery as fuck too. Ultimate passive aggressive present.

My parents said they would buy him a rabbit

God yeah, don't let them do that! Seriously tell them now that's not on, so they can't 'surprise' you. Rabbits are far more high maintenance than people realise, they need to be kept in pairs or groups, they need a lot of space, they need constant cleaning out, they're prone to health issues, they can easily escape or be broken into by predators unless kept in a properly secure enclosure (like a shed with an aviary attached) they tend to be nervous, jumpy and defensive, and are fragile (so not at all suitable to be picked up and carried by a small child), even neutered buns can act 'hormonally' with lots of humping etc, they can live for ten years or more so are a proper long term commitment, they may be intolerant of commercial rabbit pellets and need to be bought expensive salad and vegetables, they need vaccinations, flystrike prevention, nail clipping, teeth burring... just no, don't let your parents do it!!

I like the paddling pool idea too! Or (I'm not quite sure if this is age-appropriate) what about one of those little indoor childrens trampolines with the handle bar?

@FurrySlipperBoots

It sounds like a really easy pet!!
Of course a three year old can look after one.

Thankfully they are not in the UK so any rabbit purchasing would have to be done by me on their behalf (not happening)

We are going to take him out. I'll book a surprise so my husband gets the surprise element of it all too. We haven't been giving each other presents (husband and I) like we used to and we get a lot of joy out of seeing our son have fun with something or doing something with him.

I'm even thinking drusillas. We are in East Kent so everywhere is a bit of a drive to be entirely honest.

@TheVeryHungryTortoise
He will break it and drive me crazy jumping on it

I sound like such a bratty mom but honestly his constant shrieking will only be worse with a small trampoline and it will take up space and stub our toes.
I'm not adverse to him having toys in the house. Example we let him use his scooters and bikes in the house (don't ask) (yes he does crash into us and destroy furniture) it's just I can imagine the noise of that bloody trampoline over and over and over again and then his frustration when he can't leap ten foot into the air from it.
He is a daredevil already.

Caught him trying to wee out the cat flap last night. Told him that the cat would bite his willy. She will.
He also tries to jump down the stairs. He goes on the roof of his little tikes car. He climbs trees if you take an eye off him. He is really over confident.

I'm sure he will soon break something but it's a part of growing up I guess

rather that then an anxious child

@roundligament perfectly reasonable response- I'm sure when my Son is three years old I'll laugh at any suggestion of a mini trampoline! Paddling pool it is!

Sorry, didn't read your reply to PP - a day out sounds lovely too!

Books are definitely a present. I have no idea what you mean by them being a rite of passage, tbh.

I am completely the opposite, I would increase the amount of available toys - even if you do swap them around to keep them new and interesting - to make sure he's got plenty to occupy himself when the baby arrives!

Books are definitely a present.
yes and no - we still gift books to our kids at Christmas and birthdays, but we also buy them plenty during the year, to ensure they are as common as doing the food shop, because they are as essential.

Orchard games
Dress up/imaginative play stuff

Day Trips in kent:
Diggerland
Leeds/Dover castle
Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railway
Port Lympne
The steam railway from Tenterden to Bodium castle

You could always ask?

@Babuchak I am with you on the books being like grocery shop actually. They are so important for a child's imagination, bonding time with the parents and quiet time without a tv / toys to stimulate them. It's really really healthy. So I don't usually gift them because we get them all the time because we use them all the time.

We have loads of toys and I do rotate them it's just that aside from an electric car thing which I hate and an out door play den thing he really has everything. Babies , cooking stuff, buggies, bears, blocks, trains , puzzles, memory games, duplo stuff, art bits, helicopters , tools.

I have a few toy boxes and swop them around . I also take toys away he grows out of so that they don't clog up space.

Just not sure what else he could have. You see I get so much pleasure from seeing him happy that I have to admit to just buying something if he would like it. Which sounds a bit spoilt but he is so grateful honestly

My mum & dad bought DS a sand pit for his 3rd birthday, the lid had canals & roads with bridges for cars & boats. It got played with for years. What about a mud kitchen for messy play?

I am the same, my kids have been called spoilt because of the sheer amount of "stuff" they have. So what, they are only kids once, they have played (or still play) extensively with all their toys, they respect them and have barely ever damaged anything. I have seen the difference when some of their friends have been much less sensible.
They are good kids, have plenty of friends, so it hasn't hurt or damage them in any way to have so many toys.

I just made sure to refuse to buy toys every time we were near a shop selling them to keep them a bit special.

We love port lympne that's a good idea
I want to try drusillas but I'm worried being 8 months pregnant and ill it might be a bit much
I can't walk very well at the moment

@Nat6999 he has sand already 🙄
And he is allowed to dig all over the garden
Has a trough

@Babuchak I personally think if you can give your children stuff then why not? There's a level of anxiety surrounding wanting something and it's actually not very healthy to focus intently on a particular item hoping and hoping and hoping to get it for your birthday.
My son comes home and clothes are in his drawers etc or a new paw patrol pyjama set given at night before bed.
He loves being given things. Loves his toys. Has lots of second hand things. Also he is sentimental and minds his stuff so provided the kids aren't demanding toys and having huge strops I actually agree and like your parenting style.
We would be friends im sure!