DS age 5, a difficult to buy for man of the future.

[wouldthatbeworse]

I'd love some help with suggestions for my DS age 5. He's a sweet boy and receives everything gratefully but presents often end up unplayed with.

He likes numbers, maths, magnatiles and trains (especially tube trains). He spends all his time playing with a calculator, stopwatch, a favoured book about trains and our large stash of magnatiles. He already has an inherited bike and scooter.

He's the youngest so we have a house full of lovely toys already. Things he has available but has shown no interest in playing with: lego(!), playmobil, train sets (depite loving to talk about trains), hot wheels, marvel, action figures, vehicles, dolls, sylvanians. He sometimes plays with a coding toy we have and is starting to read books like Dogman. He does like his science kit but I'd love something he could do without a parent.

TBH he'd be happy with some chocolate buttons and the new numberblocks annual but his brother wants a switch and ALL the lego so that won't really cut it.

Thanks for your help.

One of those big horse shoe shaped magnets?
a watch?
tape measure?
a pencil case but those hard shell ones with the pop up bits like a pop up sharpener?
Spy pen?

How about an old fashioned typewriter?

Do you have a local steam railway or something nearby you could make him a "ticket" for a trip on?
Would he like a clock for his bedroom? or a lava lamp?
Binoculas
A camera
A Yoto
A museum shop might have some good ideas for him if he's scientific and mathematically inclined.

Marble run?

A metal detector.

Polydrons? Similar to magnatiles. Duplo compatible marble run? Spirograph? Geomags?

If he likes Dogman he might like Captain Underpants. My five year old loves them. He's also asked for a shoe horn for Christmas 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Get him what he'd be happy with, and then get him more expensive stuff when he's the age for a switch etc.

a chess set? Story time chess is a good present for a 5 year old

What about an iPad or Amazon fire so he can play educational games etc? Or maybe more practical hands on toys like:

• the Melissa and Doug bird house (makes it himself)
• apples to pears sets e.g. the insect house (makes it himself)
• educational sets eg Orchard maths game

A magnetic tile marble run?

Mine had this
https://www.learningresources.co.uk/stem-magnets-activity-set?srsltid=AfmBOor9s9LbWXUdQif70XTnqGDpK1mAJ4cWNGd4BeERRFUed9VWf1ty

it was brilliant. It had cards so parental input minimal, she’d spend hours with it just playing.

A kids electric circuit kit? My son plays with this endlessly and it only needs parental input to marvel at his creation!

Another huge hit here was a science experiments book and then a huge plastic tub full of the bits needed. This has needed more supervision. I’ve just bought him a potions kit for this year.

One of DS' friends has a magnet for fishing metal out of the canal or local dock. At least it would get him outside?

Honestly though I'd get him a couple of things he'd like and get him a day out in London so he can ride the tube.

Some winners in our house for a similar boy:

No Stress Chess
Marbles and marble runs
Books about flags
Books about countries
Books of charts and statistics
Brilliant Maps for Curious Minds (book)
Wheels or Doors (game -- maybe a bit advanced for 5yrs)
Collectable cars (Tomika)
Catan Junior
Uno
Monopoly Deal (card game)
Marcus Atkinson books (Diary of a...)
Wimpy Kid books

Wow. You're a helpful lot. Some great suggestions already. I've forgotten he needs a clock for his room and I think would enjoy some of the magnet toys as well. Will continue to work my way through but thank you all already.

I think they advise against this after a few guns and knives were found.

shame. It should be an interesting thing, like urban pond dipping.

Oh, how about a clock that shines the time on the ceiling (or maybe that shines the solar system on the ceiling)

If its what he enjoys then another magnates set. I'm not familiar but looks like you get 'sets' like lego? Even if he has loads then a shiny new complete set would still be fun.
What are magnates like to touch/handle? If he likes the building thing but not legos then I'm wondering if it's partly a sensory thing? They look satisfyingly smooth and shiny and have a nice click on the video I saw 😆.
Can you get accessories? Like a mat ro build on or something?
Maybe dominoes? (Numbers and tiles)

I’ve just got my 5yo dd the space one of these. Looks really good!

https://amzn.eu/d/7rTZJ2q

wickeduncle.co.uk are good for gifts too - they filter by age but a year or two either side could work too.

He seems to have a grown up, sensible head on him, get him some shares ready for the future Or a trip to London with the promise of lots of time travelling on the tube!

Hi OP

We got our DS aged 4 an electric tube train set. Was really cool will see if I can link it, he is also train mad.

amzn.eu/d/2GnLIzs

Xx

My five year old wants a telescope - a real one!

can I ask what coding game you have?

Luckily for him we live in London and he gets to go on the tube weekly. One of his favourite previous gifts was a Transport for London zip card with his photo on.

Oh so sorry OP I missed the bit where you said he doesn't like train sets as much! We got our DS bits for his room too tube bedding, rug, little signs. He sounds very sweet xx