Toys for 5 year old boys

[TheHouseofMirth]

DS1's 5th birthday is coming up soon and I have no idea what to give him for a present. He already has a bike, scooter, wooden castle. If I ask him, he will ask for some awful Power Rangers or Transformer rubbish which will then moulder in a toy box somewhere. He is very imaginative and likes making things but we are already over-run with Lego.

I did wonder about a marble run but wonder if that's a bit of a one-trick pony? Any bright ideas please?

Outdoor toys for the summer - football goals, short tennis set, basketball hoop + ball, paddling pool, trampoline etc?

We recently got our five year old a little stereo + headphones with a collection of story and music CDs, which he adores (although he is quite a geek ).

Meccano, if he likes lego?

Does he like Playmobil stuff?

marble runs are great! also like jigsaw puzzles

I would say also say a stereo and childrens CD (chipmunks or something like that if you can handle it . Outdoor toys again.

Maybe you could just take him out for the day to Legoland or something similar.

I'm not sure about the stereo. He's more into doing stuff, though I guess it might calm him down... garden stuff is a good idea though I'd also like something wth a bit of longevity to it. Meccano's a good idea too and might teach him some patience! I'm thinking about a game like this. We got him The Orchard for Christmas and it's nice to play a co-operative game knowing it won't end in tears!

ben5 does your marble run get played with lots?

gegs73 a day out is a good idea but Legoland is sooooo expensive and for what we would spend I'd hope we could buy him something he'd still be playing with next year. It just seems so much harder when all the toys aimed at his age seem so faddy and disposable.