Gift ideas for 2, 3 & 7 year old?

[Livblubep]

I’m taking part in a ‘be someone’s Santa’ where you buy a gift for children who may otherwise go without. I’ve been allocated a 2 year old girl, 3 year old boy and 7 year old boy. The budget is £20 per child.

I’d like to put together a few items rather than just getting one toy, in case they don’t get much else.

I have no idea what to get them! So far I’ve got a couple of books but that’s it. Please give me some ideas! Thanks

3 year old boy - cars and dinosaurs always do well
7 year old boy - lego,
2 year old girl - doll and some outfits, toy food etc

Jigsaws are always good

3 year old boy - monster trucks, pack of hot wheels cars (b&m and Asda usually the best price), Disney cars Cupcake kit £1-2, Paw patrol magic water pen book £4 (The Range), Sticker book, Toys for a pound website have little fun stocking fillers, Ebay for second hand books, projector torch usually £4/5 can get cars ones or dinosaurs, kinetic sand set

7 year old boy - agree with lego the 3 in 1 creator sets are quite good and argos often have lego sets in the 2 for £20 offer with other toys. Second hand books. Walkie talkies.

2 year old girl - sticker books, playdoh set, paint sticks, Orchard toys, doll, magic water pen book

So helpful, thanks for the ideas!

chocolate coins or advent calendar
books (10 for £10 from the works)
colouring book and pencils/crayons from home bargains
teddy bear/soft toy (the works usually on offer)
then something like play doh/or a game from orchard games/ toy from chad valley (usually on offer at argos)

This is a lovely idea! Is this through a charity or something local to you?

It’s through a local charity and the children are nominated by social work. https://besomeonessanta.org.uk
It’s only Glasgow but there may well be something local to you!

Both boys and girls like cars, playdoh, dinosaurs, dressing up, cooking. 2 and 3 years old seems so young to indoctrinate them into gender stereotypes.

PJs

Your post is not exactly in the spirit of Christmas is it @Parapaderapa. In my experience (having my own child and 8 nieces and nephews) is that yes kids will play with all sorts of toys but from day 1 the boys have gravitated towards cars, dinosaurs, monster trucks, space and the girls have gravitated towards barbie, dolls, arts and crafts, and these have been the most popular toys.

Apologies, I should have spoken about the birth of Christ more in my post. Many scientific studies have refuted this gender generalisation, it’s quite fascinating if you wanted to have a look. It was concluded that it’s people’s perceptions and pushing gendered toys on children that shapes this, not nature at all.

In the spirit of Jesus, I think the OP is doing a lovely thing and just thought it might be even more lovely if presents could be for children, not pink vs blue. Give peace/children a chance!!

Probably best to give the Christmas thread a miss @Parapaderapa you're coming across as a Grinch.

Totally get that - today I was with a friend and her 2 and 3 year old and both were fighting over who was going to play with the doll and the dolls pram.

Regardless of whether I buy a doll for the girl or boy, once the gifts are all at the warehouse and sorted in to age and sex, the social workers look through them and match bags to the the children on their caseload to make sure the child gets something they will like and is age appropriate for them (for example some toys for a newly turned 2 year old might be too ‘babyish’ for a child who is going to be turning 3 soon).

@Livblubep sounds perfect! I love Christmas, and what a lovely thing to do. I do a similar thing with schools in deprived areas. We give talks and set activities to solve engineering problems. We are an all-female team of civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers, and architects and give out STEM based presents at the end. It’s so joyous to see girls so proud of the cardboard bridges they make that supports their own weight, and see all the children’s stereotypes being broken down. We all have so much fun. It’s my favourite time of the year!!