Presents for 4 year old boys?

[CareBearWithFangs]

I have two nephews, both 4. My sisters are very picky and always seem to be disappointed with the gifts I buy.
What are you buying your 4 year olds?

How rude that they are outwardly disappointed! Have you asked if there's anything particularly they'd like?

Ds is 4.4 and his most treasures possessions include:

A set of fossils (on amazon, you can get sets of 10 or 16 I think) and it comes with an activity book and infotnati

Argh!
Information leaflet.

A gorgeous dinosaur pop up book by Robert sabuda. It is truly phenomanol and exceptional value. On amazon. (Sorry phone won't link)

Anything to do with knights, swords or battles - but your sister may not thank you for this.

He's recently got into drawing so would appreciate felt tips, big pad of paper, craft things. But this is a recent development. He'd have hated it a few months back.

He used to very into cars and trains but I would say he seems to have come out of this phase now. He still likes them but likes other things more.

For christmas he's having some of the Imaginext dinosaurs, a couple of games, some books, some craft stuff and a furreal cat (asked for by ds even though it will be shit). So quite a mix of things really!

DS is 4.2 and was last night going through Amazon with daddy to see what father Christmas could be asked to provide .

Spiderman on a motorbike was a winner, as was a big book on dinosaurs plus dinosaur figures. Picture books are also good if you know what they've already got.

As a mother, I'd love clothes - jogging bottoms, tops etc. but DS would be a bit non-plussed.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0744586909/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1382440879&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

Dinosaur book

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00500HWCO/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1382440956&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

Large fossil kit (smaller ones also available)

In fact, sorry to post again, but ALL of sabuda's books are fantastic and look like they cost a lot if money! The dinosaur one has entranced my ds, we also have the wizard of oz too. Might get him the dragons one for christmas. They have a main pop up and then loads of small pop ups in little booklets on each page. Ds is very very careful with his, it's true they won't stand up to boisterous play, but they are entirely gorgeous and certainly a bit 'special.'

In what way are they disappointed? What have you given them in the past?

If it helps I'm giving my 4yo mostly playmobil and lego this year, also maybe a plane or two (die cast ones from he Pixar movie)

What's your budget?

His other favourite things are cars, wooden train set, marble run

Lego.

Jigsaws.

Science kit/baking kit/gardening kit - anything where they can get messy.

Hot Wheels.

DS is having dressing up clothes (Spiderman/Thor) , Lego, and some books.

We've been debating getting him something like an innotab as his sisters (8 & 9) are both getting electronics this year too.

DS3 is just 5. He loves lego, dinosaurs (Books or playable ones), bakugan (your Sisters may not be impressed by them but big hit in my house and I'd love anyone who bought my kids them even if they do look like plastic tat!) and hexbugs.

Octonauts stuff. The amount he already has is embarrassing.

Is it a case of the boys loving the gift but your sisters being unimpressed (eg. drum kit, moon sand, pet rat) or are they rude and impossible to please?
Depends on your budget but my children liked Lego, Playmobil (Dragons and pirates) , remote controlled toys and superhero stuff like Imaginext. As a parent I'm not a fan of crafty stuff (because I have to help/tidy up and my kids would want to do it at the most inconvenient time ever)

I guarantee they'd love these (can get others such as diggers too) but your sisters maybe not! Perfect gift id say...

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000TA8MKG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1382458512&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

My sisters can be awkward in general to be honest. My younger sister is generally annoyed if I've not bought him something useful such as clothes (which I don't really want to do) and my older sister is usually unimpressed because I don't spend more than £15-20.

Am taking on board all the tips though, thank you!

That's plenty to spend IMO! You can get something nice for that. I think I would maybe go with books then. My ds is generally unimpressed with clothes but he would like something character themed - maybe some nice pyjamas? Or a dressing gown? He would not be thrilled with jeans or a jumper.

My ds also adores these.
www.amazon.co.uk/The-Bean-People-FM-BP-BBSP-Sprudel/dp/B00A5V5Z1I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382462935&sr=8-1&keywords=Sprudels

They've been very popular with other children we've bought them for too.

Might I suggest this for your older sister

Mittens, thanks for the Sabuda recommendation, they look wonderful - DS may well find one under the tree this year!

Ha ha at fuzz I think you should do it!

theseboots they are lovely, I'm getting the oz one for my goddaughter this year and possibly beauty and the beast for my other goddaughter. They look really impressive. Ds is enchanted by both the ones we have and I think they're nice things to keep as they're equally impressive, if not more so, from an adult's perspective.

I quite fancy a dinosaur one

Mittens - all the things you suggested are brilliant- and really original! Any other gems to offer? I've put all of it so far on my wish list.

OP- my boys love playmobil and dinosaurs more than anything.

Trying to think now - apart from playmobil and duplo which we've also enjoyed (oh and the imaginext castle which ds adores) we've liked these:

www.amazon.co.uk/Wedgits-Deluxe-Set-2-Stands/dp/B000068E3J/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382465188&sr=8-1&keywords=Wedgits

And this:

www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Resources-Design-Activity-Centre/dp/B00012O42W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382465259&sr=8-1&keywords=Drill+learning+resources

And this (although it's loud but does have a volume button, ds uses it for "cutting" down trees)

www.amazon.co.uk/Stihl-Childrens-Battery-Operated-Chainsaw/dp/B001L2WMS4/ref=sr_1_4?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1382465322&sr=1-4&keywords=Chain+saw

He likes to play this and it's good when friends come over as it is a collaborative game with no winner! Stops the rows...

www.amazon.co.uk/Peaceable-Kingdom-Pre-School-Game/dp/B006S8EWA2/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1382465376&sr=1-1&keywords=Feed+the+woozle

Hours of fun with this:

www.amazon.co.uk/Melissa-Doug-10511-Birthday-Party/dp/B000RW3HCO/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1382465458&sr=1-1&keywords=Melissa+and+doug+birthday+cake

And this, although I get bossed around a lot:

www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Resources-Pretend-Play-School/dp/B000E8S8XO/ref=sr_1_1?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1382465502&sr=1-1&keywords=Learning+resources+school

Enjoys this, particularly in the summer when he sets himself up with his paddling pool and goes fishing:

www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Resources-Pretend-Play-Fishing/dp/B001TJ8ITQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1382465541&sr=1-2&keywords=Learning+resources+fishing

We've also had a lot of use out of one similar to this - can't find ours but basically the same. We've used it outside and indoors. I just stuck it on a towel on the kitchen table and it was fine.
www.amazon.co.uk/Playlearning-Int-AB-516-Aquaplay/dp/B004QOT57U/ref=sr_1_160?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1382465999&sr=1-160&keywords=Water+play

I think we appear to have too many toys!

Haha at fuzz. My sister would not get the hint though, not at all.
I love some of these suggestions, going to look into them all. Will let you know what I go for

If they don't have any track for cars, this is nice, my DS adores making different 'maps' and driving his many many many cars over it :)

So I'm getting one of those little sandbox toys and an imaginext dinosaur toy.

And one of those amazing sabuda books for my DD :D

thank you!