Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Present ideas for children that are NOT TOYS

69 replies

Pruhoohooohoooooni · 05/10/2006 10:14

Someone on another thread suggested getting my ds a dustbuster so he could help with the vacuuming. He would LOVE this so we have decided to get him one for his 3rd birthday.

Also thinking about a real digital camera - a cheap one - because he goes mental over ours and is totally capable of operating it.

He has tons of toys and a big family who will buy more.

Are these terrible ideas? And any more ideas for real things that we could give as gifts, especially things that need him to work out how to do it - he's very analytical.

OP posts:
QueenPeaHead · 05/10/2006 11:29

a really great present is one of those little suitcases on wheels, for sleepovers and taking on holidays etc. my 3 year old has just got his own (after coveting his siblings' for ages) and he very proudly wheels it around the house and packs it full of books and stuff to "take to granny's"...

QueenPeaHead · 05/10/2006 11:31

also my dd was given a pillowcase with her name appliqued across it in big letters which for some reason she LOVES... she is 8

Bozza · 05/10/2006 11:31

Oh yes QPH both mine love their suitcases.

cowmod · 05/10/2006 11:31

i wish somoen had given oune of our dsses when they wer tiny one of thsoe happy birthday banners
great famility radition

Marina · 05/10/2006 11:32

Definitely QueenPeaHead. Children love packing stuff. Those little stacking suitcases are v. popular with us.
Gobble, I got ds a splendid flexy ruler from Letterbox with his name on.

cowmod · 05/10/2006 11:32

loads here

Marina · 05/10/2006 11:32

And following on from cowmod's post we do have birthday bunting and it has been a big, big hit.

Marina · 05/10/2006 11:33

From Urchin
Named aprons too.

cowmod · 05/10/2006 11:33

ye sorusi frfom party piesces i think
look at htese cut e things

Marina · 05/10/2006 11:35

Very Alessi I think. I loved them but felt the price was just a bit steep

TooTickyTheAppleMuncher · 05/10/2006 11:39

Dynamo-powered torches are fun, battery-free (hooray!) and quite cheap (although probably very unfairly made/traded, mutter mutter).

JackieNoHeadJustABloodyStump · 05/10/2006 11:39

I think there may be a cheaper Ikea version of the candeloo things - seem to remember someone on here bought one.

Gobbledispook · 05/10/2006 11:40

nice but I'm not paying £50 for a kids lamp!

TooTickyTheAppleMuncher · 05/10/2006 11:40

Somebody - was it foundintranslation? - posteda link to a fabulous German site. Hang on, I'll see if I can find it...

TooTickyTheAppleMuncher · 05/10/2006 11:42

here it is

BettyBatShapedSpaghetti · 05/10/2006 11:54

Hawkins Bazaar have a lot of sciencey-type presents.

Other non-toy ideas:
child-size gardening tools, pots, bulbs and seeds
things for their bedroom -fun rugs, lamps, duvet sets (themed if they have a theme), storage for bedroom
dressing gown, slippers

batters · 05/10/2006 14:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cheeryface · 05/10/2006 14:58

i like these ideas! was wondering about one of those real but smaller scale tool kits for ds, but, maybe he would be a bit lethal with it..

cheeryface · 05/10/2006 14:58

ds2 was dead chuffed with the bracelet and skull necklace i got him last year from next

cowmod · 05/10/2006 15:09

yuk

TooTickyTheAppleMuncher · 05/10/2006 21:03

Dd1 has a nice set of tools - didn't get it until she was 9 though.

CalifornifamousFANGjo · 05/10/2006 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FrankenZooey · 05/10/2006 21:24

A swanky set of percussion instruments is amazingly good value for money and could last a lifetime. We also have a 1/4 size guitar which is beautiful and sounds great when strummed wildly.

Tape player and globe are on ds's list this year.

WestCountryLass · 05/10/2006 21:47

Magazine substiption?

Zoo membership?

sorrell · 05/10/2006 21:52

Books! As real as you like and so fantastic and wonderful.