What do you buy your DC that don’t like toys?

[roomnightmare]

I know it’s early but we have a lot going on this year so want to start getting prepped, not buying yet though.

I have 2DC, 8&6 that have 0 interest in toys. My son(6) has unopened boxes of lego sets, Playmobil and hot wheels from his birthday. He used to love these things but doesn’t anymore. The only thing he will play with (with me or dh, not on his own) is animals; he has at least 500 animals from Playmobil, Schleich etc. Also has buildings for these and accessories to make zoos/farms/aquariums etc. my DD(8) does like crafts (again, when I do it with her) but that’s it, her dolls/teddies/other toys are just ornaments at this point. She did enjoy getting bedroom accessories for her birthday. Honestly, I think that they’d opt for their budget in Robux! We do have a PlayStation which they share. We don’t have a garden unfortunately. What do you buy your DC that don’t like toys? I think I can sort DD out with crafts, stationary, bag/clothes she likes but I’m utterly stumped for DS.

@roomnightmare it gets so difficult when they aren't into toys anymore . I am struggling with my two children who are 5 & 7. Are they into books, Colouring , stationary . How about board games , a bike or scooter ?

Day out/experience?
Farm Park membership, trip to the zoo?
If you asked him to make a list, what kind of things would he ask for?

@mysecretshamewe do have a zoo membership as he loves it there. He would ask for Playmobil, animals, Lego, teddies etc. Which he did for his birthday and hasn’t played with them at all

He and DD do play imaginary games but it’s just make believe stuff, not with toys. Maybe use teddies as ‘students’ etc.

Scooter or skateboard
Trampoline
Nintendo switch to share & a game each
Annual pass to local place
Football goals
Theatre trip
Nice stuff for bedroom - beanbag, nice blanket, oodie

I wouldn’t just keep buying stuff just because you feel you have to. You could put some money into premium bonds for them if you feel you want to spend more.

I would stop all screens and bore them into the toys they have got at that age. 8 and 6 is too early to ditch tactile playing. They should still be developing their grips for writing etc.

Perhaps think of other ways to play. I have one dc for example who just wants sets and instructions for LEGO. The other prefers to freewheel it and build all his own stuff. One prefers building machines, the other houses with people.

Zookeeper experience day where you get to feed the animals.
Switch to share with a bundle of Mario games (suddenly a lot cheaper now the Switch 2 has come out!)
Oodies
Books and/or book tokens (so that they can choose their own)
Fancier art stuff (my DS loved using acrylic paints and canvas from the Works at that age as it felt more 'grown up' than poster paint).

@BestZebbiehave been considering a switch so thanks. Of course we get books every time ☺️

Same age boys here. Theyre getting (between them for christmas and or birthday) Schleich eldrador bits, pictionary air, woodworx kits, yoto mini, make your own safe, a build it mechanical digger kit, and akedo.

When my son was six he loved footballs, football goal, stunt scooter, roller skates, books.

I bought my eldest 11 a feeding of an anteater! He loves animals and it was something unusual! It was very messy but he loved it all the same. We did a centre Parcs trip gift one Christmas that went really well too!

Yoto player, football kit, ice cream machine, keyboard

Books. My 9yo DD particularly likes nonfiction, and will happily spend a couple of hours at a time reading and/or drawing.

Open ended toys are also really good, they're less focussed so kids can make them be whatever they like. We have a couple of big cloths that can be the sky or the sea for their animals, or become part of a den, or a cloak, etc etc.

A ping pong set for the dining table if you have one suitable

A kids recipe book

Photo frames or other photo gifts eg for their rooms

Clothes they need for the next season

Tickets for the theatre or something else you wouldn’t routinely do

Absolutely agree with not buying stuff for the sake of it though. It’s great if they aren’t really into material stuff.

We do something you want / need / wear / read and have done since the kids were tiny. The want has frequently been an experience. Sometimes they’ve asked for money towards an extracurricular or cinema vouchers or similar or a subscription (the week junior, the phoenix etc) or something.

we have also bought decent things for hobbies, good art materials or the like.

My girl went through a phase of being obsessed with fleecy blanket and matching cushions.
She's 17 but young for her age and likes t-shirts with cool pictures on, jewellery (the type from Claire's) and Pokémon cards.

Gravitrax is good- like a marble run for older kids. There are some suggested track layouts, or you can freestyle. I have DS13 and DS11. The younger one likes lego for the sake of it- builds the set then just leaves it and is not overly creative with lego. But likes the gravitrax - is more of an engineering challenge. The older one does have some cool lego sets (ninjago mainly), but is also creative with the other lego he has. I would also say the younger ger one has got a bit more creative though as has got older, so sometimes it's a development phase. We have a switch - Minecraft is popular, as is Mario kart, and they go through phases of which games to play. Is great for taking on holiday too. Also now a bit older they have a shared ps5. Experiences can be good as a present too if they don't want "stuff", just depends what they are into.

My DD never liked toys or books. She liked interactive/physical type activities so I would get her games or take her places to do things. She loved her motorized toys, bikes, balls, hula hoops, etc.

A small tropical fish tank

Activities such as junior zookeeper.
Or for your DD a pottery session.
Print a voucher and wrap it up, arrange it for a day near the birthday.

Mine has now grown out of toys (8) and I have pre warned her that this year she will get just as much spent on her but the pile will look a lot smaller.

Big boxes of toys wrapped up make it look like you've bought loads but she doesn't want it either - she wants stuff from Claire's and it won't look much - but I think if you start managing their expectations earlier then you end up with a sensible kid, more money and less crap...plus less wrapping.

She will get - books, accessories, some fancy art stuff (agree with PP about this), a plushie and some fidget toys. We also love the Switch but have enough games for this. If you do get one I recommend Mario Kart and Mario Party plus some extra controllers as they are good family fun. She also loves her tablet but again, doesn't need a new one so no point.

None of mine (12 and 8 now) like “stuff”. so we go to the theatre a lot, do tours, experiences, zoo, ice skating, soft play, fun swimming pools etc
Their christmas/birthday present s easily fit in an envelope

How about a digital camera? DD is loves our ancient one, so we're going to get her one for Christmas.

One Christmas we got her a pass to the local farm and it was an absolute hit - definitely got our money's worth from the soft play alone.

Popcorn maker? Ours is an air popper type, so very easy for the children to use.

If they have tablets, Bluetooth Headsets?

Mine never cared much for toys, yet people still insisted on buying great piles of them. It all just sits there having been played with once, or totally ignored, whole they refuse to let me get rid. Things they have wanted in the past are minecraft merch, gemstone amd fossil sets, plants, sketch book and pencils, nonfiction books on their interests, clay, magic wand making set, science set, (empty) treasure chest for thier trinkets and gaming currency.

The thing that has always been played with the most is sticks. No one will ever gift one of those though!

ds doesn’t like toys. He likes-

switch games
books -fiction and non fiction
board games
puzzles
activities - day out etc
hes also happy to get clothes/trainers etc

Mine loved their dance mat and karaoke machine at that age. I think you can get karaoke on PlayStations now