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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Enough toys?

24 replies

MakinaBaby · 09/08/2017 13:52

So this may just be me being silly, but I've recently made up DS's Christmas list (will be 22 months) and I'm worried that not enough of it is toys. I think it's all things that he will enjoy throughout the year, but I'm worried he might be bored on Christmas Day, you know how toddler are only engaged with one activity for such a short time before they want to do something else...
Here's my list so far:
Big toy kitchen (Big Santa present),
Pots and pans, dishes, food etc for kitchen,
Books books books,
A craft box with all sorts of little bits for him,
A mask and cape,
A wooden train set,
A dressing gown and slippers,
A Disney dvd,
Maybe some sidewalk chalk for summer...

And that's it. I don't really put little cheap toys in the stocking because I kind of feel it's a waste and gets thrown out, so there won't be any additional toys in there. My family will get him a few things (some more food for the kitchen, some little people, more books, clothes), but he doesn't get a ton there. I'm considering getting the toot toot garage as well, but he already has the little people sit and stand skyway from last year, and I'm not sure how similar they are.
Anyway, what do you all think? Should I add in any more toys? And if so, what do you recommend?

Oh also, I have to figure this all out ASAP and we're moving internationally soon and it will be 2 months of staying in hotels/with family, so can't really be Christmas shopping during that time.

Thanks!

OP posts:

Frankswife87 · 09/08/2017 14:04

Sounds lovely! Lucky boy x

Changerofname987654321 · 09/08/2017 14:27

That seems like a lot of toys to me. Remember he will just want to play with the box anyway.

KC225 · 09/08/2017 14:31

That seems like more than enough to me.It seems like a great pile of gifts. He is only 22 months, there is no need to overwhelm him.

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 09/08/2017 15:05

Somebody said to me when DS was about that age to look at his toys against the prime areas of development (how very mumsnet) and make sure he has age appropriate things for each area.

Now, I can't actually remember the prime areas- they would be easy to look up if you google EYFS curriculum- but off the top of my head you have:

Social development (kitchen/ eating together/ mask-cape/ train set role play)
Literacy (books and chalk)
Fine motor skills (craft box)

Maybe add something for mathematical development- a sequencing game/ magnetic construction set/ more complex shape sorter?

Science- a growing kit for spring or a water play kit?

Gross motor skills- a ball game set/ skittles/ stacking activity?

I think there are online toyshops that categorise toys by area of development. Having the idea in mind helped me to make sure DS had an appropriate range of toys. Maybe doesn't help with the stuff to play with on Christmas day- but he's only going to want to eat the wrapping paper on that day anyway.

FrancesHaHa · 09/08/2017 19:16

You might find he'll be overwhelmed by it all on Christmas Day, rather than bored, that is quite often the case at that age. If he is you could always hold some bits back - eg the stuff hell use later in the year.

We used to take DD out to the park on Christmas Day when she was a toddler - found it broke up the overwhelming ness of it all.

Rhubarbginisnotasin · 09/08/2017 19:18

Based on having 5 children and 6 grandchildren I would say at 22 months your DS is too young for a toy kitchen.

MrsChopper · 09/08/2017 19:19

That actually sounds like a lot. Like pp suggested, he will probably be overwhelmed and emd up playing with something very simple instead like wrapping paper/box.

Penhacked · 09/08/2017 19:23

We got about that amount and ds didn't manage to open it all because he just wanted to play with toy 1 all day!! Stop now!!

Lowdoorinthewal1 · 09/08/2017 19:24

Rhubarb DC will grow into it before 34 months though so if OP is not going to do big presents 'just because DC is now ready' through the year then this might be the point to get it.

We bought DS stuff when it became appropriate rather than attach it as a gift to a celebration, but not everybody does this.

Itsjustaphase84 · 09/08/2017 19:29

I purposely didn't get dc much last year.he was similar age
he was overwhelmed and got bored unwrapping. don't put too much focus on present buying. maybe start family traditions like sprinkling 'reindeer' food on the lawn and a milky warm choc drink whilst watching the Bear Hunt

NoWordForFluffy · 09/08/2017 19:31

My DD was given her toy kitchen for her second birthday and loved it straight away, as did DS the following year when he turned 2. It's not exactly too soon by a long way to get it at 22 months.

NerrSnerr · 09/08/2017 19:33

That's more than mine got at that age and she was overwhelmed and it took about 3 days to open them.

Original poster

MakinaBaby · 09/08/2017 19:34

Thank you for the advice everyone! Last year we went totally overboard, and I thought I had cut back a bit for this coming year, but looks like I should probably shorten the list some more then! And I love the idea of taking him to a park or a walk on the day, we'll definitely have to do that one!

OP posts:

kel1234 · 09/08/2017 19:36

Sounds like a lot. We get our son a big present from Father Christmas, and a couple of bits from us. He also has things from the rest of the family. I don't see the need to go overboard with loads of things personally

ItsNotFairLois · 09/08/2017 19:38

We got similar for our DS last year and he was 21 months, he was overwhelmed and enjoyed a £5 motorbike the most . He still plays with the kitchen now, he loved it then and loves it now. Sounds like a very lucky boy whatever he gets :)

Brittbugs80 · 09/08/2017 19:51

Now, I can't actually remember the prime areas- they would be easy to look up if you google EYFS curriculum- but off the top of my head you have

Social development (kitchen/ eating together/ mask-cape/ train set role play)
Literacy (books and chalk)
Fine motor skills (craft box)

Maybe add something for mathematical development- a sequencing game magnetic construction set/ more complex shape sorter

Science- a growing kit for spring or a water play kit?

Gross motor skills- a ball game set/ skittles/ stacking activity

Areas of Development are:

Personal Social and Emotional
Communication and Language
Physical Development

These are the areas for all children. Depending on the ability of the child, they may also lap over into the following areas which runs alongside the prime areas for over two's:

Mathematics, Literacy, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

Equimum · 09/08/2017 20:36

That sounds like a lovely assortment and should keep your DS occupied for some time.

Just to reassure, it's a great age for a kitchen. DS1 received one for his second birthday and loved it straight away. DS2 is now 23 months and already loves bringing me cups of tea and attempting to slice the cutting cake we have. He may not go through all the motions, but it'll be lovely to see his understanding develop.

Equimum · 09/08/2017 20:36

That sounds like a lovely assortment and should keep your DS occupied for some time.

Wayfarersonbaby · 10/08/2017 00:14

All of those sound great! Just remember that small kids have no expectation of a huge pile of toys; they are thrilled with anything, and the whole experience of Christmas is exciting enough even without the presents. My DD (4) gets bored of opening things quite quickly and just wants to enjoy the day and the excitement! Last year I asked her what the best bit of Christmas was, and she made a list in descending order: the tree, the lights, leaving a mince pie out for father christmas and finding it gone in the morning, going to church, staying up "late" on new year's eve...the presents were very far down the list!

Plus, as someone wise said to me when DD was a baby; it's always good to set the bar quite low when they are young for numbers of presents, and then that means it can only ever get better! I think it's a great idea that each Christmas might seem a bit better than the last, so while they are very young and have no concept of it all being about "getting" presents, why not keep it reasonably low-key and then increase it a little each year?

And they do take a huge liking to the smallest toys rather than the big ones sometimes! You can get small but nice toys for the stocking, they don't have to be cheap or tat, so you could add a couple there - a wooden car or train, some kind of musical instrument, a little soft toy, a couple of animal or dinosaur figures, some bubbles, a bath toy?

christmasunicorn · 10/08/2017 10:27

That sounds plenty! Ds3 is 19months and he enjoyed playing with the toy kitchens in Ikea the other day. Sure it was more about opening and closing the doors and not about "cooking" but it gives room to grow. I currently have a small grimms rainbow, trainset and record player for ds. He'll prob get one more toy and then books and clothes.

Abrahamkin · 10/08/2017 10:48

I wouldn't worry about there not being enough. My DS was 22 months last Christmas (Feb birthday). On Christmas day he had maybe 6 gifts in total (cannot remember exactly but a play work bench, packet with socks and a t-shirt, box of duplo, and some other small stuff). And he only opened 4 as the 2 from us we didn't get round to opening! He seemed to enjoy opening one package and then playing a bit with it. This was in contrast to his older cousins, who wanted to speed through all the gift opening

WaxOnFeckOff · 14/08/2017 13:01

Just about the best play factor (aside from lego) that my DSs had was a game of Jenga. I don't know if they ever actually played jenga as it was much to advanced for them when they were gifted it, but they used the blocks for everything. They made up garages and roads for their cars, they made farrms/zoos with pens for little plastic animals, they made play parks for their little people figures, forts and castles, houses, boatss and harbours, you name it, they played it.

So, if you did want to add anything, some versatile blocks might be good?

SockEatingMonster · 14/08/2017 16:32

Another voice in favour of a toy kitchen. We have the IKEA one and it's the first thing that children seem to head for when they come here. DN was over last week and spent ages taking the pots and pans in and out, pretending to pour water and serve cups of tea. She'll be 2 in November.

1stTimeMama · 14/08/2017 21:37

They sound like a lovely, well thought out selection of activities! Stick with what you've got, and really, really don't but any Toot Toot. It is some of the worst tat I've ever wasted my money on!

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