5 year old, no interest in toys

[firefly37]

I guess I'm looking for some reassurance that we haven't done anything wrong! My 5 year old son doesn't and never has really played with toys... No interest in cars, dinosaurs, transformers... All the usual stuff little boys usually play. He's always liked learning... He played with shape sorters when younger where he learnt the names of shapes, he had learnt the alphabet by 18 months and counting to a high level. He's an intelligent and highly energetic boy. He is about 10 levels ahead of his class mates in reading and attends phonetics classes in the year above him due to his advanced level. He plays minecraft on computer to an expert level and the only things he enjoys playing with are nerf guns. He will build lego sets with us and can play games such as monopoly, Cluedo etc! It's like he's just too grown up for toys and it's making me feel a bit sad. I guess I'm thinking about it more now as it's Christmas and we know that buying toys will just be a waste. Does anyone else have a child like ours? I would love to hear about them. Thanks x

My son is 8 now and the same. He's autistic though.
Yes, it's a real struggle at this time of year.
I used to get presents from bright minds website.

I don’t have the same experience as my DC are younger but I just thought I’d say that board games etc are still toys, even if they are for older kids.

He is playing in his own way. There is actually huge variety of fun board games these days so I recommend finding more. Also what about chess, backgammon, card games?

He sounds like a delightful little boy.

One of my children never really played with toys. He liked puzzles and building train tracks when he was a preschooler but never really played with trains.
He's not really into lego either but likes modelling clay, minecraft and board games.
Never done imaginative or small world play like my other children have.
He's also very intelligent and is awaiting an autism assessment.

I also have a bright boy who never really played with toys. He liked doing things - jigsaws, reading, playing football, playing the piano - rather than imaginative play.

I don't buy him any toys for Christmas - he gets board games, modelling clay, lots of books, Switch/switch games. Character clothing and Pokemon cards. Scooter. Headphones. Cosy slippers and onesies.
I've also had success with things like comic book subscriptions, trampolining classes, baking kits.

It feels like children should get toys for Christmas but by the time he was 5 we realised it was a total waste - he still has some things like lovely Schleich toy dinosaurs that have sat for years gaining dust on a shelf.

A ukelele and lessons were a big hit for us for Christmas last year. I agree about doing with a purpose rather than 'playing'.

My other children have asked for lego, playmobil, Barbies, cuddly toys for Christmas and this one has asked for an ant farm 😀

DD is much more into construction/logic toys than anything else. She likes designing different train track layouts, making Lego creations following instructions etc. and doing jigsaws with lots of pieces.

You say your DS likes Lego and board games.. These are toys so he does have an interest in playing.

For DD for Christmas I'm looking at getting her some of the Smart Games as there's a playful tactile element to them as well as being logic.

My dd was the same. Not interested in toys past the age of about 3. Loved games, books and crafts though. She's now a secondary school teacher.

My eldest son (now 13) was never interested in toys. I think it boils down to not being into imaginative play as he has been interested in Rubix cubes and chess.

He adored alphabet toys when younger.

We felt bad for not buying him loads of trains or whatever but things he did have like that were not used.

Your son might be interested in this car puzzle (it is sold from numerous brands I think) He is probably to young for the hot wires (which is building circuits) but one for the future. Mechanical type stuff might also very good.

At 13 my son is doing really well at secondary school. He is hugely into music which I think also suits a mathematical/sciencey mind.

My dd didn’t like toys or books either. Christmas Day was so boring 😂

Unlike most of the posters DCs my daughter was of average intelligence. We found out she just like doing physical activities like sports, hiking, outdoor games, riding bikes instead.

Thank you for your replies - I am glad he's not the only one! He is very hyperactive and does afterschool clubs every day to try and wear him out - although he doesn't excel at physical activity, he still enjoys it - for example he is still in the bottom group for swimming but loves it and really struggles with his coordination ie riding a bike. He is definitely an academic - we considered autism but ruled it out a long time ago as he is incredibly sociable and confident ... first one on the dance floor, first one to volunteer for things etc. I guess I will just have to accept that imaginary toy play is just not for him and continue finding other new things for him to enjoy :) thanks all x

Autism comes in all shapes and sizes, being sociable definitely doesn’t automatically mean not autistic. I lf it’s something you’ve considered before then I would keep an eye 🙂

I have a similar 3.5 year old in terms of not being into toys, he loves music and has asked for a guitar this Christmas!

My 5yr old daughter doesn’t play with toys, we try and she asked for Barbies last bday, never plays with them. She loves people, and physical activity . Can’t make out if it makes Xmas a nightmare or bless-fully cheap.

This is the exact same as my son who just turned 6, always very advanced from a young age and working to a higher level of reading in school as well as maths, he becomes obsessed with a topic and spends hours online reading about it,for example he loves flags and capital city type stuff just now, think the World Cup kicked that off lol, he has a scarily sharp memory and so retains information really well. He never really liked toys much, he is a total gamer and very gifted with computers, he loves drawing/colouring, puzzles and board games too, for Xmas we have bought him those and a new gaming chair and games for his console. Its so difficult to think of things when they don’t like toys, you definitely haven’t done anything wrong he just likes different things 🙂

Wow @Teacakexo ...our boys sound just the same! My son gets obsessed with certain things for a while too... The last things have been guns, money and currently mobile phones... He also loves maths and is naturally gifted academically :)