Hama Beads - Christmas - which would you suggest please?

[chocolateshoes]

Ok, i'm a Hama bead novice but would like to get some large ones for 3yr old DS and some medium ? ones with some sort of pattern for my neice who is 7. I don't know much about them and don't really know where to start. Those of you with girls of a similar age what would you suggest please?

I wouldn't at this age. The desire to shove them up the nose and in the ear is way to strong, no matter what the size. They are a nightmare to clean up to.

LOL!! But for 7yr old niece should be ok?

I would get the ones which are shapes eg hearts which you can put the colours in any old how rather than the ones where you have to copy the pattern. Can get on by themselves without adult help then.

Yes. You can buy the little buggers everywhere, in bags of single colours or boxes with ideas and masses of the blighters. It depends on what you can get your mits on. I'm fairly sure there's a disney princess one.

Great for 7 year old. My DDs first kit had a few different shaped templates (star, heart, circle, square) and ideas which could be copied but you can do your own thing too.
[adult help is required for the ironing part though!]

"Can get on by themselves without adult help then"

You lie mum2!
Mums are needed to help pick them up after the darling child has kicked the box. Mum (or dad/carer) then has to fish out each colour for darling child, then has to iron it. Keep hold of the paper, don't use newspaper as it doesn't come off!

or bindeez for my niece? are they any good?

Better. Bigger pieces so less or poor mum to clean up.

what about aquabeads? thinkning of these for dd 5yo....are they any easier

Hmm. Lego? You can get girl stuff now.

I don't know about aquabeads. Same as bindeez I think. The early learning centre has a lot of making fairies/jewellery box etc. These are fab!

oh wow! disney princess!!!! That has to be the way forward!

One of the advantages of Hama beads is that, if kicked over and not picked up by the child, they can be hoovered up instead . 7 year old can pick out colours (wouldn't contemplate for 3yr old). If you lose the bit of paper, greaseproof works fine.

my ds had his 1st set for his 4th birthday, don't think I would get for a 3yo (although my 2yo likes playing with them occasionally I keep him out of their way as much as possible). We very rarely have spills with them and ds has had alot of pleasure with them over the last 2 years.
Bindeez and Aquabeads have the advantage of not needing ironing, and the disadvantage of being 4 times the price.

thank you all! So will not get for DS but have ordered Hama Disney stuff for my 2 nieces. Sorted!!

might depend on the 3 year old - dd2 at that age (and still does) loved making her own patterns up, was very good for manual dexterity. Have lots of multicoloured creations dotted around the house
your nieces will love the disney hamabeads