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?

My son just turned three as well :) It's always tough splitting presents between his birthday and Christmas as they're only a month and a day apart! 🙄

He's getting:

A 'my first camera' from us as he loves messing with his dad's DSLR.
Snakes and ladders and other assorted puzzle games from his aunts and uncles.
A Duplo set from my parents.
A new Brio trainset from husband's parents.
Some jigsaws.

And... that's it I think!

how about asking for consumables?
that way they still get to see him open but they won’t be taking up space once done with.

gelli baff, crackle bath, foamy soap etc- my 3 year old loves all that stuff
a snack jar( personalised)
bag for nursery
shoes(bonus if they light up)
craft set

Books. No such thing as too many, and not too much of a pain for you to store. Are there any particular books or authors he likes? You could ask for other similar ones.

I think that the more Duplo/brio/k'nex you have, generally, the better it is to play with, so you could ask for extra bits of those, if you've got space!

At that age they just love opening stuff so just a token gift and money? He sounds like he has too much as it is!

-Duplo car wash (for building plus car washing)
-Some dress up clothes in a size bigger than what he is (animals/book characters etc) - useful when there are parties and once at school for world book day etc
-First science kit with basic experiments

• a craft kit or 2 from kiwico

Club together for a big trampoline?
Swimming lessons?

Books. And work on keeping the presents down, that sounds like a stressful amount of stuff to deal with. I'd be going to the charity shop once they opened up again. He surely can't enjoy all that, they are actually being selfish 'wanting to see him open something'. My MIL has got better over the years, it used to be the bigger the better but now more thoughtful.

Not an answer to your question but what do you think of the speed track?

Dressing up clothes and accessories ,
Will also help with getting ready for changing at school
New duvet, bedroom rug/car mat
Toys for outside, hopper, hula hoop, bubble machine

Things that need replacing -
Playdough
Boots
Rain coat
Sun hat and sunscreen
Tooth care kit
Ingredients for cake making and a recipe (and an Aunt who will assist)
Paper and paints.
Time doing an experience like a sport, a theatrical performance, volunteer work- visiting dog shelters.
A pet budgie in a cage.
Bush walking maps and an accompanying adult.
Swimming pool tickets.
A ride on a train.
A monthly magazine like Australian & New Zealand National Geographic Kids.
Baby sitting tickets.
Dance or singing experiences.
A vegetable gardening tool and pot and seeds.
Sunflower seeds.

I have similar family OP who think days out or money in the bank or even clothes doesn't count and they HAVE to buy toys! 🤷🏼‍♀️

At three dgs was all about dinosaurs so last Christmas he had lots of those. A tradition I started and maybe a grandparent might like is that I buy him a special bauble that features his interest that year and as he gets older likely something that illustrates a special holiday I think so that hopefully by the time he is eighteen he will have a set of baubles that documents his growing up. I also buy him his train trip with Santa because like your ds he is the only child in our family and has so much although d is happy with money in his savings account.

DD's building skills really developed between 3 and 4, so depending on how much you've got, it could be useful to expand your collections of things like duplo and magnatiles.

Otherwise, I'd go for consumables – craft stuff, finger paints or paint sticks might be popular even if he's not big into drawing/painting. New bath toys, they tend to go mouldy inside after awhile. Bath crayons, kit pas ones are great, really strong colours and last much longer than other ones we've tried. Play doh, the jelly/slime/colour bath stuff. And yes, books, if they'll go for those. Any favourite characters? Depending on how much character stuff you have, he might genuinely love wellies/water bottle/pyjamas/whatever he needs with his favourite character on.

Mine always had so much stuff and always ended up playing with the same items!

Personally i would try and find a collection family could add to each year. Maybe something like lego junior as that's designed for 4+ but still just normal bricks or a box of generic lego bricks. They could buy a set each year then and not too much hassle to store.

Or maybe a build a bear? That's a whole experience and endless possibilities buying new accessories/outfits each year!

Mine loved small world at that age - I used to get a figure set from disney store with a character tshirt/pyjamas, dvd and the book. All wrapped in a nice box. Could work with any theme or characters he might like.

I know you said days out are tricky but how about subscriptions like a magazine. The best one my dds had was a disney one where you got a book and figure every 2 weeks. Still have them in the loft!! They could get a small something to open related to it. As they got older beano, phoenix comics went down well!

Or along the same line as subscriptions, how about Spotify and a kids alexa? Mine loved playing music while playing or asking silly questions or just making it fart endlessly! 🤣

I agree with never having enough books - especially if you can get props to go with. We liked the puppet company ones and a fold up puppet theatre. Now you can get little figure sets too and wooden figures.

Have you considered a tuff tray with stand? We use them in nursery for all kinds of play - containing messy play but also you can get inserts to support small world play. Loads of ideas on pinterest and Facebook. We use them inside and outside.

Getting mine a yoto player, hoping it's a present that will last a few years and people can always get the cards as gifts in future

EDIT: sorry, just saw your update that he has one already!

@Plumful I did update in another post - Family won’t do money/days out etc. It must be something to open. He definitely does have too much already.

@YouNeverCanTellWithBees I’m glad mine aren’t the only ones! It’s crazy!

@user1492757084 A pet budgie in a cage?! 🫠 Heaven help any family member who ever turns up here with a live animal. I’d be furious 😳

@hiredandsqueak That’s a really lovely tradition 😊 I’d be more than happy with them just spending some time with him instead of gifts. Or adding to his savings account if they really wanted to do something but they don’t see these things as gifts unfortunately.

@Smurf123 DS loves it! Can be a little fiddly to set up in a decent position at first but you get the hang of it, it’s great. Really portable too. Do you have one? Or thinking of getting?

Thank you all for your ideas 😊 really appreciate it!

As a side question - how are so many kids into characters? 😅 posts on here and other threads that I’ve searched are all about characters at this age. I seen someone else post on another thread that “anything Spider-Man” is perfect at 3 because that’s usually the theme of every birthday party etc. Or Paw Patrol/marvel superheroes etc. My DS literally wouldn’t have a clue who they were 😅 He’s our oldest though - is it mainly from having older siblings? Or should I be actively teaching my child these characters etc 😅

Koolsand
Kepla
Nugget couch

@Gogojetter Yes! He hasn’t had it long. That’s what DH and I got him for his birthday last month. He loves the Julia Donaldson books so got him those stories.
He absolutely LOVES books and loves the fact he can put stories on while he’s playing with his magnatiles or whatever 😊 Has been great for car journeys too!

ELC do a garage with a lift https://www.elc.co.uk/shop-by-age/3-4-years/Early-Learning-Centre-Wooden-Garage-Playset/p/546405?queryId=45638d129d69736ff2edb361ef01457f
I’ve no idea where the superhero thing comes from as at that age they’re too young to be watching most of the films / cartoons. My eldest nephew had no interest in them but the youngest one seems to have picked it from nursery and school as he’s not been exposed to them at home.

Depends on what they watch on tv.

Younger siblings pick up on olders tastes, and probably watch more/earlier.

Lots of ideas on this thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/4945768-main-present-ideas-for-3-year-old-girl-please

I have a 3yo DD with an older sibling so she has lots already. I'm giving her an Elsa dress and shoes, washimals (recommended by friends with slightly older kids) and a new bath toy. Also thinking about getting a Teeter Popper which was a big hit with all the 3 yos (and older ones) and a recent birthday party.

If your DC doesn't already have them, a Vtech kiddizoom camera, easy remote control car, toy shop and/or till, shopping trolley... otherwise books, Yoto cards, new colouring stuff all goes down well.