Thread for non-toy ideas for presents

[GrapefruitMoon]

I think it was last year that we had a thread along these lines - basically ideas for gifts for children who don't really play with toys (rather than teenagers who are too old for them!)

Ds1 is 7 and the things I am thinking about at the moment are:

Night spy goggle things
Metal detector
Popcorn maker

(He will probably get books, annuals, game for his ds as well/instead)

Bright Minds also has some sciency things (microscopes etc).

www.happypuzzlecompany.com

great games puzzles and books

Hmm yes the Science Museum does have some of the things I was thinking about - but think I am also looking for ideas for things which will actually be used regularly rather than "gadgets" which might have a short lifespan or science kits which might require too much parental help! I'd like stuff which is fun and not too much like school stuff though he would probably love some maths workbooks!

name a star
shares in football club
stadium tour
adopt an animal
magazine subscription

large magnifying glass?
proper stethescope?

I'm using my tesco vouchers to pay for a few days at Eurodisney may half term so am gonna give them disney day passes as birthday presents!

big magnet

(if you find one can you tell me where lol)

novelty mug?

I'm trying to think of the same sort of thing for DS (7), not because he doesn't like toys, but we've got plenty, and he hates to ever throw any out. Also his birthday is in February, and we usually get another lot of STUFF.
So far I've come up with:

Tickets for the cinema or pantomime (My sister took him to IMAX last year, was a great success)

Football kit in favourite team strip (too bl*dy expensive normally)

Fancy new shelving for his bedroom.

A safe reading light for a bunk bed as well.

DS dad got him a Legoland pass last birthday, and one for me. I HATE the place.

granny gave DD (and us) subscription to zoo - that was great!

subscription to Beano/DFC or suchlike.

magazine subsription
pyjamas
new duvet covers/lamp for room
clock
season ticket for somewhere local?

I'm gettin my niece and nephew tickets for the snowman ballet cos my sister doesn't want anymore clutter.

My sister has bought my ds&dd tickets to see Cbeebies live just before xmas.

Magazine subscriptions would be a good one

Membership to a local zoo/ themepark. A merlin annual pass that gets you into:
legoland, thorpe park, chessington world of adventures, sealife centers, london eye, london aquarium, warwick castle, madame tussauds, london dungeon costs £125 for over 3's

We have one and after visiting legoland twice, chessington, thorpe park, london eye and london aquarium since june has now more than paid for itself infact so far i have saved about £25 and i still have 8mths left

cool rug for his room?

RSPB subscription?
You get a magazine every few months, with facts about birds and wildlife.

National Geographic Kids magazine subscription.

Grow your own butterflies kit.

Fishing rod.

Binoculars.

Proper toolkit.

Torch.

Solar panel kit.

Some sort of pet (rat/mouse)

Cheap or disposable camera + developing + album
or - if someone can show him how + photo paper & let him print his own from computer.

a poster - if you put it in a huge clip frame you just put a new one in in a couple of years when they're into something new or fancy a change.

I gave a friend's DSs a set of good walkie-talkies and she said they've been the most-used presents they've ever received.

ds1 is probably getting a new rug/duvet/clock/curtains for his bedroom as he wants to re-theme it.

Or how about a basic digital camera?

choccy - have you found a good reading light for a top bunk? That would be a good pressie for my ds as well...

We have previously done some of the things suggested like magazine subscriptions, days out. etc - for his last birthday he got one present to open and the others were things like Beanotown and Club Penguin membership....

Might get him a Beano subscription as well as he loves that....

He already has lots of the more "practical" things suggested so keep coming with your suggestions - especially for things that can be wrapped and used on the day (rather than promises for the future iysim). He hhas a younger brother who loves toys and an older sister who is easy to buy girly things for - don't want him to be the onky one without "proper" presents!

Some non-toys I've got for my nearly 4 yr old DS this year and last year:

A fan (paper fan - don't ask me why, but he loves them!)
Mister Men mini bubble baths
A kid's digital camera
A mini telescope
Socks
PJs
'Magic' gloves
An Xmas themed plate / cup / cutlery set
A bell/bag/water bottle for his bike
A watch

for ds's birthday (soon) and xmas we're going with:

dressing up costumes
crafty stuff to put in crafty box
DVDs
books
drawing stuff and paper
umm...
and lego, actually. piles of it. I know it's a toy but it's educational