What to buy child whose age you are unsure of

[yellowflowers]

Hi,

Not sure this is the right section but any help appreciated. We are going to stay with some of DH's old friends in a couple of weeks. DH not seen them for many years and in typical man style doesn't know the detail of their kids. All he knows is one is aged 5, 6 or 7 and one is aged 1and a half - 3. The older one is a boy and the younger one we are not sure about.

Other than being surprised at how crap men can be about this kind of thing, any advice on what we can take with as little presents given the age range they might be?

Thanks.

I would maybe try some outdoor toys, like a ball or something, or maybe some arts and crafts stuff...

I'd get the younger one some sort of fluffy toy. These have always gone down well with my DD when we've had visitors (she's nearly 4).
The older one is more tricky, but a ball or something to throw around the park/garden wouldn't be a bad idea.

What about a bubble machine and some bubbles fun for all ages

I'd get the younger one either a cuddly toy or a ball (something football sized but brightly coloured).

There's about a 90% chance the elder boy will be into Ben 10, so you could get something from that range. Or Lego.

But bubble machine + bubbles as a joint present is a good plan (if the weather continues to be nice).

Lego would be a pretty safe bet for the older one. I have a 6 year old and a 7 year old and they both love Lego, as do most of their friends.

Character stuff is always a bit of a grey area, not every child is into it (my eldest hates things like Ben 10 etc) and you don't know how enthusiastic the parents are for character tat merchandise.

What about a picture book for the younger one? A lot of the ones like The Gruffalo and Guess how much I love you come in board book formats so would be tough enough for the child to look at themselves, and they can be read to a very wide age range.

But most(? seems like it, anyway) children have the Gruffalo already, and potentially many of the other classics.

colouring book and some crayons...

I was just using those as examples, it doesn't have to be that exact book!

You can always take the receipt anyway so that it could be changed if they already have it.

I just often find that people divide into "Oh, no, they already have plenty of books" (!?!) families and families who already have every book you consider getting for them. Any time MIL buys a book for the DCs it's one we already have. So if getting books I tend towards the more obscure or the just-published-that-week rather than classics.

I would agree.

But I would personally rather another book for my 7 year old DS than a Ben 10 action figure (and so would he).

The trouble with buying presents for children that you don't know is that you really have no idea of what they like and what they already have.

Something everyone can play with it good - like the bubbles. Or have you seen those massive outdoor jenga games?

How about vouchers? Would be good if you dont know the sex or age as the parent/child can then get something appropriate.

My Little boy got waterstone vouchers from a friend of mine once, and he loved going to the book shop to choose some new bed time stories.

paddling pool for the yonger one and water pistols for the older - works for any gender too (in case those are vague as well)! Tesco have some good offers on.

Even if they have both of those already, they will still be pleased and they are the sort of thing which regularly needs replacing too.

thanks all - really appreciated. Just been shopping to the early learning centre and in the end I got some magnetic car things for the younger one (very brightly coloured and aimed at 12 months to 3 years and a London vehicle set for the older one which says aged 3-8 but as we are from London and they are in the deepest countryside thought it might be nice. Also have some Happy Family books stashed in the present cupboard so will wrap a couple of those up and judge it when we get there and I see their ages as to whether to give those as well.