for those with children just not into toys what did they get?

[yawningmonster]

ds (4) is just not a toy kid at all, some of our family get it and some don't he got
watch
pjs
clothing
flannel, bubbles, bath crayons
stickers and album
chocolate
pirate lego
magnetix
bubble machine
moon hopper
dvd
books
He will use pj's, clothing, bath stuff and will listen to books but was not excited by any of these. He watched the dvd once and said he loved it but that he knows how it goes now so once will be enough thanks. He cannot manage the moon hopper. The pirate lego and magnetix are in their boxes looking pristine and he refuses to look inside. The chocolate got very sweetly redistributed around everyone on xmas day (though he will eat it at times) He asked me to put stickers and album away please. He will look at the watch and attempt to tell the time from it but will not wear it (he does have some sensory issues but watch was bought with this in mind and has very soft strap which velcoes so can be adjusted as tightly or loosely as ds desires.
Would love just once to see his face light up and get it right for him. He was excited seeing all the presents and finding out what was in them but just not excited by the actual contents. So am appealing to parents with children similar what did they get and did they like it?

he's still young

put the lego/condtruction stuff away, in a year he might be mad on it

my ds only wants a football!

thanks ssd we will put lego etc away but just after ideas that he might enjoy in the meantime. I even put a little vial of rocks in his stocking in a desperate bid to interest him as everywhere we go he collects rocks and stones to put in his treasure box but even those were not a hit.

I have a9 year old who is far too bright for his own good...

he got magnetic rocks, a build-your-own telescope kit, a hologram thing from the science museum, meccano, a maze puzzle, etc.

thanks ilove prob a bit advanced for my ds though

yawning monster - your son saw the parcels and was excited. That was your job done for Christmas - he will remember it with excitement and pleasure not disappointment - I just wanted to say that because it seems to me that you are perhaps beating yourself up when you shouldn't.

For future ideas - my dd2 got a teepee type thing from Habitat and all the kids have loved playing in it. It has the potential to be a sort of secret den? If you get one - assemble it before Christmas morning as it did take a while! The other thing that comes to mind is a pet. That's obviously a massive commitment from all of you and I wouldn't normally suggest this as a good idea - but if you would like say a rabbit or a hamster anyway then I wonder if it's worth trying is as a present and see how he responds? Also for toy type things - get the letterbox catalogue and leave it lying around and see what he looks at.

dd got a book in th end. She cant have toys as she can't touch them so there's no point. But its getting harder each year.

northern thanks that helps alot that the excitement of the presents may have been enough for some nice memories. Ds has a pup tent thing which he does sleep in at times in his room. We already have a dog and don't want the commitment of another pet but otherwise a good idea. We went though catalogues with him before xmas as his birthday in September was the same...no interest at all. He just doesn't play with stuff. He will talk about the stuff in the catalogues but none of it genuinely interests him. His idea of playing is to ask me to play with him. I then am required to tell him what to play and then I am required to play in front of him with said thing without his participation...this is what he wants to do..watch me play???!!!

needmorecoffee books have been our failsafe for the last 2 birthdays and for last xmas so that I knew there was something he would actually enjoy as he does love to be read to.

He's a little young right now but in a couple of years he might like 'Club Penguin' - virtual world for children involving Penguins - don't ask! Anyway - it's free to join but you can do a lot more if you are a member and you can buy a month, six months or a years worth. Also if he doesn't like things - how about experiences - give him a trip to the Zoo? Also most zoos etc will do a years membership etc where he can sponsor an animal. Might be worth a go/ But whatever you do he knows you love him and want him to have a good time.

oooh and if he likes being read to - cd player and books on CD?

thanks northern some great ideas, he has a stereo in his room and some audio books but much prefers the parental snuggle session to these and so do I to be honest. The trips one sounds good if he comes out of his latest phase (has only started in the last few days) of not wanting to leave the house under any circumstances (becoming a little cabin bound)
Thank you for the reassurance, I need it at the moment.

My 5ds is exactly the same but loves presents even when they are toys. He puts them in a pile,strokes them just never plays with them

Last year he had a huge craft trunk which he adored all year(he thankfully loves crafts) and a CD player,some CDs and a CD case-huge hits.

This year he had the ELC MP3 player(huge hit),a watch in a tin,Tummy Ache game(fab) and Golden Coin maker(he loved it and it was the only thing he asked for but it is total crap)a pretend poo(huge hit) and books which he loves(books with CDs in always go down well with him,a long stick of jelly beans and a projecting torch from Hawkins all huge hits.

A friend of mine with a similar ds said a pile of paper,novelty Prit sticks and a long arm stapler were very popular.

To be honest he'd love a Nintendo thing or anything similar but he knows he'll need to be at least 8 before we even consider it so he doesn't bother asking.

He loves make believe games with his brother and sister. his sister had the ELC fold away sizzling kitchen thing last year and he loves playing cafes with the other 2. His brother had a RC train and he's just said he'd like something remote control next year