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Parenting

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Original poster

4yo boy - birthday present suggestions

23 replies

LadyBiscuit · 08/02/2011 22:34

My family are asking and it feels so very close after Xmas I always struggle. Budget around £20 and he likes most 'boy' stuff (in addition to the traditional things, he was quite keen on a cash register when we were going through the Argos catalogue earlier - do they get much play in your house?).

I'm really struggling to come up with ideas of things which aren't big and plastic and which I really, really don't want cluttering up the house.

I was wondering about games but we have a matching game which he gets bored of very quickly so am a bit reluctant to ask them to spend cash on something he barely uses.

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MarionCole · 08/02/2011 22:38

Lego? DS is nearly 4 and is addicted to it at the moment. Doesn't take up much room.

LemonDifficult · 08/02/2011 22:39

Lego, Lego!

We are Lego'd out here though and so my DS will be getting one of those HM Forces soldiers which he really wants.

trixymalixy · 08/02/2011 22:41

My 4th DS loves dressing up stuff. What about DVDs?

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MrsKitty · 08/02/2011 22:45

DS (4 this week) loves his cash register.

Also likes the small playmobil sets, and anything to do with making/craft etc.

bitzermaloney · 08/02/2011 22:54

Lego.

And, this is a lot cheaper than your budget but was such a massive hit with my 4yo ds I think it's worth sharing... bath beans

They are little beans that gradually turn into sponge animals when dropped in the bath. Ds had all sorts of fantastic presents from relatives this year but that was his absolute favourite - desperate to get in the bath every day to see what he would get!

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LadyBiscuit · 08/02/2011 23:10

Thank you - some great ideas.

I've thought about Lego but have no idea how to buy it - do you get a 'set' to make a particular thing or just a random box of bits? I used to love Lego when I was a kid and I'd imagine it's something he will hopefully carry on playing with.

He hates dressing up (no idea why) and not that interested in crafty stuff sadly.

Those bath beans things look great - he would love them.

Any game ideas? I'd like something we could do together

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vicbar · 08/02/2011 23:15

My 4 yo DS loves his cash register (plus we set up a shop with prices on tins etc for him to use proper money in - his teacher couldnt beleive his understanding when they started this at school)
He also got a few games for Xmas twister, hungry hippos, buckaroo and an old gameboy (really cheap on ebay) which he loves.

MegBusset · 08/02/2011 23:26

DS1 is four in a couple of weeks and we're getting him some Lego Duplo (he had the basic brick box at Xmas which was a huge hit so am supplementing with the supermarket), Playmobil (pirate ship), telescope, and giant snakes & ladders.

LemonDifficult · 08/02/2011 23:30

This has been a huge hit with DS

blowninonabreeze · 08/02/2011 23:35

My DD1 is 4 (tomboy) and adores Kerplunk and her marble run.

She'll also play with duplo for hours (she has duplo as she got it when she was 2 - but if you're buying it for the first time at 4, I'd go straight for Lego) I'd get him the basic brick box, she's not really interested in building sets but prefers to assemble her own creations.

She also like Cranium Hullabaloo if you can get hold of it (its been recently discontinued)

blowninonabreeze · 08/02/2011 23:35

Oh yes to pop up pirates

chuckeyegg · 08/02/2011 23:38

Pop up pirate is great.
Elefun is a big hit here.

piprabbit · 08/02/2011 23:42

Orchard games are good for little one - my DCs like the Shopping trolley game especially.

Or how about buying a cheap CD player for his room - and then asking for some audio books to play on it. This is a good set, but you could try Roahl Dahl, Dr Seuss or similar.

Original poster

LadyBiscuit · 08/02/2011 23:57

Thank you - Pop up pirate looks great. We have the shopping trolley game but there was one advertised around Xmas which he didn't get. Something about a laughing octopus (may have been another creature?). Anyone remember that? I can't for the life of me remember what it was called

Loads of great ideas here - yay for MN :)

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Original poster

LadyBiscuit · 08/02/2011 23:59

and kerplunk/marble run are also good ideas. I'd much rather he had games than plastic tat that gets broken/he gets bored of it within six months. He got a load of Toy Story stuff at Xmas which he's barely looked at and it's such a horrible waste of money :(

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BlueChampagne · 09/02/2011 13:19

Hee hee - in the BC (before children) days, Pop up Pirate became a drinking game!

Till is very popular in our house.

You can get a starter box of lego for about £12 which comes with a booklet of ideas of things to make. It's great because it can always be added to.

DS (3.5) was given Geomag magnets at Christmas. Like lego, something he still needs a bit of adult help with, but lots of fun for both. Basically magnetic sticks and balls with which to (try to) build structures.

OR - magnetic fishing game? puzzles?

Flowergarden1 · 11/02/2011 13:22

Marble run a big hit here. Also Lego (we've had Duplo for years but at 4 I'd go straight for the smaller lego). Also magnetic fishing game very popular with DS and his friends.

NormanTheForeman · 11/02/2011 13:24

I would recommend Playmobil (but small sets if you don't want big stuff cluttering up your house).

BornToFolk · 11/02/2011 13:33

DS got a cash register for his 2nd birthday (he's 3 now) and it's had loads of play from him, his cousin, and any visiting kids. We have loads of play food to go with it.

He got Hungry Hippos for Christmas which is incredibly popular too. The Orchard Games are good too - DS has got Crazy Chefs and Incey Wincey Spider.

Rieslinger · 11/02/2011 14:17

Something random here how about rugbytots?

At his age it's all about balance and co-ordination and he doesn't even have to go on to do touch or even full contact rugby.....maybe a few sessions worth or the same for football if there is anyone that does that sort of thing near you

www.rugbytots.co.uk

Or a fishing rod and him and DH could do something together?

pranma · 11/02/2011 19:51

Casdon toy Post Office is great

pantaloons · 11/02/2011 19:58

Don't get a Lego kit, they always end up in the big box in our house. A real waste of money. If you go on the lego website they have some nice boxes which are aimed at different things eg house making or car making. DS loves these. He also loves his k-nex, he has the bigger stuff at my mums which is aimed at younger children and he can use on his own and the smaller stuff here. I think it's meant for 7 year olds, but he had it for his 4th birthday and enjoys playing with it with some help.

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