3yo boy who has everything!

[Inyourwildestdreams]

Really struggling with gift ideas for DS. Just turned 3 (Nov birthday) and has everything. Literally. The next youngest “kid” in mine and DHs family is 18 😅 so he’s been well and truly spoiled by all!
I have my parents, DHs parents (separated), our grandparents and aunties/uncles etc all asking for ideas.

We don’t live close to any farm parks/soft plays etc (and I’m unable to drive for medical reasons) so season tickets etc aren’t really an option for us.

DH and I usually have a set budget for gifts. We have got him a few bits to open and the rest of the money will go into his bank until there’s something he wants or he can save it for when he’s older. No other family is happy doing money or vouchers - must be “something for him to open”.

Please me what you’re getting your 3yo boy? Or what they loved at that age. Or what is he likely to enjoy over the next year or so?

Light / stars projector? A tomorrow? A drawing / art / craft set? Jigsaw puzzles? New clothes/boots etc...

Our ds is 3 in January and is getting between bday and Xmas:
colour wonder set
play dough sets
bath toy munchkin colour changer
bigjigs freight train track set
peppa pig stuff (ice cream van, grandad dogs boat, cruise ship, playground and playgroup) I need to find a Gerald giraffe though
a kidkraft super hero house thing here it is
a snoring duggee
Melissa and doug cool scoop ice cream counter
subscription to peppa pig world on our iPad and a case/headphones so he can use it without me dying inside
A triple layered car lorry thing
puzzle
julia Donaldson book set
stickers
bath bombs (he’s obsessed)
paw patrol boats
lego suitcase
A pterodactyl
possibly some playmobil- not sure what my sister has got him!

Which seems loads but like you he is the baby of the family, and has 8 external family members that buy for both birthday and Xmas 🤷🏼‍♀️

Balance bike/scooter/helmet
Outdoor slide
Sports equipment (footballs, basketball hoop, cricket bat & wickets)
Giant beanbag
Wooden train set and Thomas Trains
Anything Paw Patrol - Paw Patroller and cars
Matchbox cars and drive around mat
Duplo box and sets
Yoto player, headphones and cards
Arts & crafts box, paints and paintbrushes, giant roll of paper - including tuff tray
Jigsaw puzzles, Orchard Toys games
Karaoke machine, drum kit, toy piano, guitar etc
Toy kitchen, indoor/outdoor with accessories
Magnatiles, Sticklebricks
LED drawing tablet
Dress up - superhero, Disney etc
New shoes/trainers

These are things my 3yo likes

All the brio train stuff
Yoto and cards
so many books
pickler triangle and slides/ladders
scooter and accessories and helmet
balance bike
mini trampoline
climbing frame
sand and water table
jellycat animals
games (orchard type)
puzzles

Books, clothes,
hotwheels,
Bath toys, biro trains (get each person to buy a bit),
kitchen and wooden food.
Playmobil.

I'd try and think of one theme that the family can all add to

Tonie box and stories to go with
The Amazon version of magnatiles ( great price )
Jigsaws and Games by orchard toys
Marble run
Duplo
Balance bike and helmet
Lanka kade animals/ people

An easel! I got one for DD when she was 2, she's now 9 and she and DS(5) use it nearly every day. It was from IKEA and is still the most used present either of them have ever had. The IKEA pens aren't so good but you can get packs online with loads of colours.

Other than that, when DS was 3 he was into Duplo and Hot Wheels!

@slipperypenguin a tomorrow? 😳😅 I hope that’s a typo.

Books

My DS also turned 3 in November. I'm introducing him to Sylvanian Families this year. I got the Oakwood Manor from eBay with a bundle of furniture (keeping the tiny accessories away until he is older), and the red family car and black cat family new. He likes small-world play so I know it's something he'll enjoy. He'll also get some books. More Schleich to add to his collection in his stocking.

Thank you all for your ideas. Definitely a few I can take 😊

He already has a Yoto box, Brio set (and got lots of additional bits for birthday), ikea easel/chalkboard, hotwheels, kitchen & food, skelextriks (sp?), marble run, speed track, magnatiles, k’nex, duplo, orchard toys games/jigsaws, doctor & dentist sets, games like pop up pirate & jenga, play doh, kinetic sand, hoover, lawnmower, balance bike, outdoor toys, playmobil, lots of Melissa & Doug (latches board, beads, cleaning set etc), sand & water table, mud kitchen, various cars/diggers/fire engines etc, loads of soft toys, a dolls house, and plenty more 😳

I already feel that he has far too much. I keep half the toys away and rotate them so that he doesn’t have everything at once or he doesn’t even know what to play with as there’s so much choice.

I did suggest to Grandparents etc that they could pay for a nice day out instead so they can spend time with DS but apparently that’s “not a Christmas present” and he needs lots to open 🙄

@Sonyo We have a Sylvanian House (Red Roof Tower I think it’s called). Big hit with DS last year 😊 Vinted is good for furniture bits too!

Op tell the family one small toy less than £10 and clothes, or bank the money.
That amount of toys is ridiculous and will do your head in trying to keep them tidy and store.

If they insist on filling your house with stuff be absolutely ruthless and charity shop or sell some of it.

Could they all go in together on one big present? It's not an option for everybody but we're installing an indoor climbing wall and Swedish gym for 4yo DD this year because she and all her friends are obsessed with superheroes and acting out all kinds of dramatic "rescues". A pikler triangle could be a similar option that costs enough to make it worth sharing between a few family members, but doesn't require you to damage your walls 😅

@Sugarfree23 I honestly can’t even tell you how many times I’ve had this discussion with them. I find it far more frustrating as they spoil him with stuff but barely spend any time with him. I’d far rather they just have him some of their time but that’s another issue entirely.

He has a small playroom thankfully so the toys mainly stay in there but I store half in an ottoman bed and rotate what is out so that he doesn’t have it all available at once. And it’s passed on to charity/friends/local toddler groups as soon as he’s finished with it.

Mine is turning 4 next week, and between birthday and Christmas he's getting from us/people who have asked what he wants:

Stars and planets projector
Toy cash register, more play food for his play kitchen, colour-in cardboard playhouse "shop" from Hobbycraft, and Orchard shopping list game
Lights, windmill and bell for his scooter and new helmet
More Magformers, bought off FB marketplace
Milk frother (he loves babycinos and hot chocolate when out and about)
Rainbow striped bobble hat and gloves
New coat (boring but necessary)
Duplo track adaptors for train set - so you can build Duplo towers and make the track go off the ground
Craft stuff, chocolate covered raisins, few sweeties in his stocking

Last year's big hits were a giant beanbag for his room, trainers with lights, big working crane toy (think this is from Janod), toy garage with wind-up lift, and some games - magnetic fishing, animal dominoes, Orchard rocket game have all been used a lot over the last year.

If he's at nursery or preschool, it can be helpful to ask what resources he likes playing with there.

Only about £8 but I've just bought 2 year old nephew a tub of dinosaur shaped wax Crayons from etsy

Books. I don't think they can ever have too many.

Clothes and PJs in the next size up as they're always useful.

Stuff that gets used up. So fun bubble bath, bath bombs, sticker books, felt tips and colouring books etc.

A reusable water bottle? Sho do some in lovely designs for children and you can get straw lids for them if you need.

Pictures for the wall of his bedroom?

New bedding or blankets. Mine have coverless duvets that are brilliant, Asda do some great designs or Night Lark and M&S also do some for children.

@89redballoons Thank you! Can I ask about the garage with wind up lift? What one did you get? A car garage is the only thing that he has asked for from Santa this year and I’m struggling to find a nice one!

@Wanttobeok @ThreeRingCircus Thank you!

Robbiebot robot
Sonic nerf gun
Sonic&tails spinner
Ben 10 bike toy
Ben 19 figure
Box of Lego men
Tnmt play sand
Tnmt figure
Small Play doh factory
Oodie
Art case

The garage we've got is a plasticky, probably Chinese-manufactured one MIL got it for him. It's still very well used. I've seen the Plan Toys one at a friend's house and it's very nice.

For my nearly 2 year old, I'm asking family members to only buy one small gift if they can, if they really want to see him open something. So if they spend £30, they can spend half on a gift, half to go in his bank account. Is that an option they'd go for maybe?
I guess doing it this way could possibly cause more tat though!

Can you not buy tickets for days out? Or a season ticket to a local attraction they'd like?