What to get 3 y.o DD whose older siblings are getting bikes?

[dublinmom]

Our DD (7) and DS (5) desperately need new bikes so they are getting them for Christmas. But when we were at the bike shop 'looking at bike locks for Dad' (eyeing up prices and sizes for the kids) it was the 3 year old who was most excited about the bikes.

But...we have a perfectly good 12 inch (boys) bike we were planning to pass on to her from her brother. It's very boyish, which she probably would be okay with. It's the right size, in good shape, etc -- no need to spend money on a new bike for her.

It's just the Christmas morning thing -- Santa brought your sister and brother these big presents, and you get...what?

Any ideas for a suitable biggish present that would make her not mind the bike thing? We've got no garden so it can't be a playhouse or slide, we have a play tent, we have scooters (the mini micro scooter would be good, but it's so expensive we might as well get another bike).

Poor thing has hand me down everything.

| can't paint the bike now because then DS might figure out he's getting a new one!

I really don't want to spend 40 or 50 pounds on a bike or balance bike for her, since we have a bike she can use.

What I'm really looking for is something that will make her go Wow! on Christmas morning so she doesn't mind the others' getting bikes.

It's the elusive big/impressive/cheap present (that we don't already have).

pigley - thats the balance i got dd and mentioned above - i got it in sale last year 2! Its great

I would just tell ds you have sent his bike away to be repaired.
If you want something completely different how about dolls house , sylvanian house , Toy kitchen , doll and pram , dressing table , cleaning station , a trunki , wheelybug , mini trampoline , a rocking horse.

i went in TKmaxx last week and they had a full size wooden disney princess kitchen for £15!! Bargain - they've loads of big cheap things in there

Last year I got ds2 a load Of fisher price stuff from eBay. I was looking for the castle for him and then discovered it was discontinued. I was then lucky enough to find someone locally selling a job lot in pristine condition with the castle - and a zoo, house, building bits, cars and more which I think I paid a grand total of £15 for - less than lots of other people were selling the castle on it's own for that.

But start watching now and you might find a great bundle of stuff - be it little people, playmobil or whatever she is into. You can then stick it all into the biggest box you can find and wrap that up nicEly and she will think she's getting a big present too.

Alternatively would she like something like a leapfrog explorer? Ds2 loves the one he shares with his big brother. I've got them the camera to go with it for Xmas which is only £7.50 at amazon. And maybe someone could be detailed to get her an extra game if they ask for ideas. He's not allowed to play with it all the time but he'll sit and concentrate for ages so it's very handy when we go on journeys, or if you need to keep them occupied (eg waiting at the doctors) or to use as bribery (do xxx and you can play for 15 mins on your explorer) or threat (do that again and it's going away for a week).

If you do get her something small can you wrap it up in a series of boxes so it looks like she is getting a big present? Even throwing a few chocolate coins in as you go to make the whole thing exciting to open? And prep your other kids to be especially enthusiastic so she feels like she is getting something good.

Would you be able to wrestle the bike off your ds a couple of days before Xmas to give it a makeover without it being spotted?

ooo, great idea to send the bike to be repaired..I like the idea about the big box too, that could be the trick!

M

(Sorry)

Mini micro is a fab present. Lots of colour choices now from John Lewis. And it can be passed down to the younger one.

It'll be so great to get 3 dc out on Christmas morning whiz zing around on their sparkling new bikes/scooter

And once you have a micro scooter, life will be transformed :)

(evangelical moi?!)