Son doesn't play with toys..Xmas ideas ?

[Givemetea87]

I've got a 4.5 year old little boy who just doesn't seem to have an interest in toys . He would much rather play games like hide and seek or running around or doing "superhero moves " but always with me or my partner and obviously we don't have the time to be entertaining him all day . I've got no idea what to get him for Christmas . I've got some playmobile small sets which he has played with once and now he's not interested . He's got all the superhero figures /imaginext castle /bat cave and orchard games but nothing that he "loves " if that makes sense ? What does your 4.5 year old child play with ? All ideas /advice welcome

I've two ds's and they used to like duplo/lego, brio and all sorts of figures.
However although they played well, there was a lot of input from me. So for example we would start off building a big garage for their cars together then I would go and make lunch, with occasional encouraging comments. I couldn't just leave them to it all the time, they wanted a bit of input from me. I find for younger children assorted bricks encourage independent play more than sets where they make a model.

My almost 5 year old adores Lego and Transformers. I don't think he plays with anything else. Transformers are great, as my DS spends ages transforming them from vehicles to robots and vice versa.

He's also getting a vtech digital camera for his birthday which might be an idea. It's a toy but doesn't really seem like one if you know what I mean?

Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear
Something to read

Theres marvel superhero lego juniors and batman duplo.
Bike.
Does he like drawing? Aqua doodle?
Superhero costume

My 4.5yo isn't really a fan of toys either she'd much rather get out in the garden to just roam around, she does enjoy roleplay sometimes and will push her baby around in its pram or as PP suggests she likes to use her VTech Kiddizoom to take pictures or play the built in games.

I've got her:
Dr Seuss classics collection book
A large hooded cat blanket
Hungry Hippos (I figure it's a quick game!)
Dolls clothing
An alphabet and number floor puzzle set

I'm waiting to see what she asks Santa for but at present she's obsessing about a yo-yo (no idea why!), if she keeps on then that's what she'll get but I suspect she won't be bothered in which case I'm getting her a CD player and some kids music.

She loves Stationary and notebooks so my Mum is making her a Smiggle hamper. :)

My lb is 4 he loves wooden train set, thomas magnetic trains, lego/ duplo, he has some playmobile. Im getting him some new stuff for wooden train , new thomas figures and playmobile set lots of new board games as he loves these and some science experiment things. For your lb what about dressing up Costumes of the super heros? If he doesnt play with lots of toys could you do activity days eg buy tickets to a trampoline park , climbing wall place? Does he live board games? What about creative making things? I also think from my own lb he does need quiet a bit of imput from me. He cant really play alone for long and still likes me involved. We can play for long time with lego has he tried lego ?

Know the weather can be a problem and maybe best wait for summer but how about a trampoline or goal posts.
Or indoor big skittles or those stick on dart boards ( safe ones)..
Does he like drawing ..an easel with blackboard?
An indoor sandbox is brilliant if you have space. Tall stand at one. And lorries diggers for it.

I second the dressing up costumes.

An awesome backpack? Drink bottle..

Play tent for the bedroom

Other things for his room like glow in the dark stars to stick on

Binoculars or telescope, a torch or head lamp (v popular with my boys)

I've got an awkward one too.

Aqua doodle is fantastic, but DS1 ignored it (DS2 loves it)

DS1 could never resist a hot wheels ramp/car set - let him run around, fetching them as well as being something i could tell people to get (they got broken fairly quickly too, hence it always being a gift I could tell people to get!)

My oldest never played with toys either.

She liked making things though. So play doh, glitter glue and craft things. Musical items. The year I bought her a playmobil castle her favourite present was a triangle...

Get dressing up stuff that is not too specific so he can use it for lots of games. An eye mask, a big rectangle of fabric for a cloak. A hobby horse.

What about a dressing up rail with all of his favourite superhero costumes on for him to run around in

My ds is a bit older 6 now but has always been like that, doesn't play by himself and doesn't really like toys.

He loves lego but as he''s not great at playing by himself I set challenges eg go away and build me a car / dinosaur etc.. and he is getting better.

He loves anything outdoors so bike, scooter, football, basket ball, ping pong, trampoline.

We hAve also had quite a lot of success with sciency stuff bug collecting kits or volcano making sets etc..

Hé loves board games as well, we have the world monopoly where you just have to collect tokens for your passport, uno, some orchard toys stuff etc..

Other non play related stuff that have been a success were some super hero wall decals for his bedroom, a sort of kids survival kit (with torch, swiss army knife (blunt and useless so perfectly safe for him to carry) compass and little pack for them), a new sports bag for football, a large beanbag, joke stuff eg fake poo, the fart cushions, pots of sticky snot stuff etc.

I have absolutely no idea for this Christmas though so shall be following this thread to see what ideas other peagle have

My friend has this indoor climbing/swing set for her DS and says it's the best thing they've bought for him.

How about something like a season ticket to his favourite attraction (e.g. adventure farm?), although I realise that might not be very exciting to open on Christmas Day!

A Micro Scooter has been the best thing over ever bought my awkward one! At 4.5 i would go for the Maxi Micro with the adjustable handle bar. They are light years ahead of any other scooter we've had.

A superhero themed light for his room.
Dressing up or accessories like weapons.
A play tent or wigwam.
Simple remote control car.

If he likes pretending to be superheros what about karate/judo classes? You could buy the uniform as an actual press to open.

Thank you so much for the suggestions ! Nice to know that he's not the only child that struggles to play by himself . I'm definitely going to get him a micro scooter , a marble run and some board games such as hungry hippos

Marble runs are great. Galt has the best quality one in my opinion.

Twister? You can shout commands from the sofa!

Great thread! Totally stealing some of these ideas for my niece's birthday present next month :)

A fish lol