Completely disillusioned with toys!!! (Or, what can I give my 5yo ds2 for Christmas?)

[TooTickyDoves]

I can't help thinking that the majority of toys undermine children's intelligence and natural curiosity. Children so often get bored of their toys, and who can blame them?
So what can I give my ds2? Although he ogles plastic toys(especially batman, etc), the ones he has had have not held his interest for long.
What will be a joy and not just something else to be picked up off the floor? What is the equivalent of a wnaky basket for this age group?

my ds who is also 5 is just starting to make up long and interesting adventure tales (involving machine guns usually, I'm afraid). I made him a puppet theatre from a cardboard box and we now have performances involving puppets, robots, zoo animals and socks.

Bikes, climbing frames, swings, trampolines, balls, scooters etc all go down well.

I know my ds would really like a plastic machine gun but he is not getting one.

I bought my daughter a big bucket of lego . It's nice to be able to get some that she can use her imagination with.

I need inspiration too. DS1 is not really a boys boy and is happiest writing stories on the pc but I would like to get him something that is a bit more sociable. Superheros, guns etc are all lost on him, he is not really interested in vehicles like his brother. I seem not really to have any ideas for him this year.

Have a look at the Play section (under the Rainbow at the top) on this site . Expensive but very different. I really like the silk playcloths but personally I'd need to split the cost with rellies.

mm I am struggling with ds (also 5)

haven't thought of much except a play ATM (with a card and a pin number) - but I don't want it if it is huge (it's here - in fact, the science museum had some good stuff)
or more sports stuff

good question. all the relatives obviously want to buy presents for ds (nearly 6) and he has already gopt too many toys. I also would like some non-toy suggestions.

I've suggested a football t-shirt
He already has roller blades and a bike

We live right next to a playground

i go for outside/physical ideas, but not sure what

Right, at the risk of lowering the tone, I have to tell you that my ds2 (then 5)'s favourite present last year - and probably of all time - was a 'worm ball' (a kind of squidgy ball with holes on the outside and an inner membrane containing 'worms'; when you squeeze the ball, the worms pop out of the holes).
Doesn't have to be worthy to be a winner!

Why not make his present a trip somewhere?

There was a thread on non- toy presents a while back -

here

I don't mean this in an offensive way, but I really can't imagine a child - well, certainly not a boy - who is not interested and inspired by Lego. Am I right or wrong?

I'm getting my ds (4.5) a swingball - so he can slam to his heart's content and I don't have to run around or bend down to pick up the ball .

Is ds2 interested in learning music - is there an instrument that you could give him, maybe with lessons to go with the present?

I thought that too DG (as I loved lego as a child) but ds is not interested

We bought ds1 his first lego set for his 4th birthday and we have been buying it ever since, for birthdays and Christmas for all 4 of ours now (even ds3 who is only 3 gets little models for his big brother to make for him or Duplo). I could open a shop with all the Lego we have!

But thinking about it, all of my children are very good at model making and puzzles and the like, yet have no interest at all in sport, and other things other children like. So I suppose it is just a question of finding what turns them on. I think 5 is a difficult age to buy for in some respects as their interests are undergoing radical change at that time.

the elc planet protectors
as road tested by ds3

lakeland are selling miniature baking sets so that kids can do home baking with appropriate sized equipment. I think it comes with some recipes as well. We make cookies/biscuits/a cake every weekend and ds loves doing it plus he is so proud to offer grandma and grandad something the he has made, to go with their cup of tea.

A pet ?

Only it it fits in with your lifestyle obviously.

Im seconding Myriad too- I bought every single thing for the kids from there this year.
DS wanted a glockenspiel, and some Tree blocks- which are fantastic for imaginary play.Also ordered 3 playcloths a while ago, and the children find so many uses from them.

Glad to hear that Wisp, thinking about getting a set of playcloths for my DD's 4th birthday next year and going halves with grandparents. I would have LOVED these as a child

Hmm, lots of excellent ideas here. I DO like that Myriad site, I hadn't explored it thoroughly before. Still a lot of thinking to do, because it has to balance in some way with what dd1, ds1 and dd2 are getting. Christmas is so tricky!

bump....'cos you can never have too many good ideas

My ds had a playmobil rescue boat and submarine bought for his 5th birthday, almost 3 months ago. He loves playing with them, especially in the bath, where exciting 'rescue missions' regularly take place! It's a great way of encouraging him to have a bath, too!!!

my ds has a playmobil aeroplane which he loves also the wooden road set that the ELC has. great value for money as plays with it most days. For christmas he is getting a NINTENDO DS and Magnetix set. Ds is 5 on sunday.

I second Magnetix. Fab toy. Obviously my DS would agree .

And we have had lots of rescue missions as well, but with Playmobil rescue trucks. Go on eBay for better prices as they are quite expensive new. Worth it though, good quality (therefore it's safe to buy 2nd hand, you see)

Cd player with story and music cds ...?