Its that time of year again when we struugle to find things for our DC's for christmas.

[Marne]

Last year i started a thread where people could reccomend toys and other items for our dc's for christmas, i know some find it hard to find things to suit out childrens needs. Thought we could do it again this year, so what toys have been a hit with your dc's? and also post any bargains you have found?

Here's my list of good toys (my only expereance is ASD so my list might not suit all);

moon in my room (big hit with both my dd's)

Rainbow in my room

Tomy pain pot

Tomy photo Album

liquid bubble timer

Vibrating cushion

space projector

Tomy music maker

Scuttlebug

Oh my word! Thanks Stabby. There is a chance dd1 will actually play with all the cars/road mat I got her now, as thanks to you and Dreams she will have loads of traffic lights.

DS2 has asked for a morph suit ( he likes being covered up, sleeps under a blanket etc.). DS3 liked the idea so has asked for one too along with a set of pan-pipes!

Going to be some interesting Xmas photos this year.

DVD's of ancient Doctor Who episodes are popular here.

The combination of Lego +Lord of the Rings is irrestible too.

We had toyed with the idea of getting DS2 an ipad for Christmas, but seeing how obsessed he is with his DS (which we've put away for a few weeks because of this), we decided against the ipad. I understand his teacher is using time on the ipad as incentive for behaviour for him during school, so I want the ipad to continue being a treat, rather than everyday.

We did purchase a Logo game - he's really into logos, so we thought it'd be fun for him.

DS1 obsessed by ironman - lots of iron man lego and figures
DS2 obsessed by bakugan - lots of bakugan in various sizes and shapes
DS3 obsessed by dinosaurs and horses - lots of dinosaur stuff (and anything horsey that isn't too girly!)
Christmas sorted! Fairly 'boring' but they'll be very chuffed. Realised many years ago not to bother wasting my money on anything that wasn't a current obsession.

DD (2.5 with DS) is getting:

Mr Tumble spotty bag
Singing hands Xmas DVD
Convertible book (turns into pink car)
Kids cake decorating kit - easy squeeze bottles
Peppa pig onesie

Ooh, forgot, I bought a kit called Makedo which has special fasteners for joining cardboard together so that DS3 can make cardboard armour/robots/ dens from the recycling, I suspect it will be the surprise hit of the holidays. I may post pics of DS in morph suit, wearing cardboard armour and playing the pan-pipes [ grin].

Lego. Lots and lots of prickly, noisy lego! It makes DS1 quite easy to buy for.

DS2 is much harder.

We got him some kidminiz for his birthday, which he found quite entertaining for a while
www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=kidminiz
And he's been stopping and playing with the Dinos in the shops, so we've got him a couple of those for Christmas
www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=vtech+dinos&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Avtech+dinos

We have slight leapfrog overkill, but one of my favourites is Fix the Mix - but it doesn't seem to be available any more. It's one of those sequencing game things, only it sequences days of the week, numbers, daily routines etc
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00134PM5U/ref=wms_ohs_product

proudmum - the Singing Hands Christmas DVD is great. I must dig it out for this Christmas again. dd1 has long been Singing Hands obsessed, and we have all their DVDs and CDs.

I even arranged for her to go to one of their group sessions as a reward for her working extra hard at something once - she was absolutely thrilled, and loved singing with Tracy

wow, ouryve, Fix the MIx looks good.

must not buy anymore presents. really, really must not

I like the fact that so many fine motor skills are practised - twist, squeeze etc.

how, as a leapfrog aficionado, have I never seen this product before now?!

I have got DD a Melissa and Doug Doorbell house, which has four doors you can open with a key and doorbells you can ring, and a Galt marble run.
Also a Sylvanian Family set of Meercats - to be honest I'm not sure why I bought it, DD most unlikely to be interested in it, but you never know...

The doorbell house sounds good, have not seen that before (will go and google).

silverfrog -my DD loves them too, only wished we lived closer to their classes; DD currently signing along to the 'pirate song' she may get that present before Xmas!

Bit worried about the convertible book though, just realised it's 3m when converted!! Really should learn to read descriptions better before online shopping...

dd1 used to do a good "'A' you're Adorable" - blimey, that brings back memories. she sang that on repeat for a good few months, including most of one holiday where she charmed just about everyone she came across by singing that to them (I guess it's really cute the first time you hear it! )

Silverfrog, I think it was being phased out when I bought it a couple of years ago. I only came across it by accident when I was looking for that toy for older kids with all the tweaky bits, the name of which escapes me, right now.

It's brilliant for DS2, who is particularly entertained by the French counting and always gets that one right, and occasionally keeps DS1 occupied :o

proudmum - my two would soon reduce it down from it's 3m (3 feet, surely?) to a pile of shredded card!

its. Its!!!!!!!!! I know the difference, honest!

- i think that's exactly what DD will do too! It says 3m, but I hope they're wrong. I know the kid can sit in it, but even still 3m seems excessive...

Must remember to act at the size if it turns out to be right & DH wants to know why I bought it.

Oh the doorbell house looks like something my son would love. Not sure if the constant doorbells might drive me crazy though! Still I suppose the batteries could be removed might run out quite quickly if used incessantly.

yes, I think after a while, ( Boxing Day) I may I have to think about sending the doorbell house and its inhabitants (the Meercat family) to live with DD's lovings GPs....

for ds 3.6 with asd and language delay -

i've so far got the melissa and doug latches and locks board - will look up the doorbell one too!
a big kung fu panda that talks if you wrestle it
lift the flap books
new red boots
galt marble run

need a few more ideas so def going to check out some mentioned.

also not a present but I'm very excited as a laminator should arrive tomorrow so can make him some picture cards. didnt realise they were so cheap :)

DS2 needs no encouragement with keys, latches and locks. Oh no

would moon in the room be suitable for 3 yr old??
DS has three constant words one of which is Moon - he would love this!!
he always looks for the moon before going to bed (well i think thats what hes doing :))

I looked at the Paradox box for DS2 but worried that he'd find it too frustrating: his Impossiball has been thrown across the room on numerous occasions! I can't link easily from my phone but we're getting him some Basher Science books by Dan Green, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cheese Touch game and a Harry Potter Lego Wii game. I found a bundle of fiddly toys all in green (his favourite colour) on ebay so that's the stocking sorted. He has a weighted beanie that we warm up in the microwave and it has seen better days, but I'm reluctant to replace it in case the new one doesn't feel / smell right.

Still can't link but the weighted microwavable beanie was made by a company called Intelex if anyone else wants to try one.

3b1g, ds1 asked for the addictaball last year but I read reviews that said it breaks too easily so bought him a similar one from ebay instead (can't remember what it was called, but it began with a P - I think. ). He loves it and it kept him busy for hours, but it the rattling noise really winds me up.

I have to admit to a deep sigh when I saw he'd asked for the paradox box, as it's pretty much guaranteed to be equally as, if not more rattley, but I know he'll love it and more importantly it's something he can do on his own, which is a big issue in our house, because he is totally unable to entertain himself unless fixed to a screen.

I got him something extra yesterday as well. Brightminds had an offer on those chrome mechanical marble runs that you can build and then watch go around. I've always wanted to get ds one as he still loves his old ELC basic marble run and again, it's something he can do on his own without nagging his brother to play, but they're thirty quid-ish normally and as he's never actually asked for one I couldn't justify it. I got an email from brightminds saying they were 9.99 just for one day, so I ordered one. Then I kicked myself for not thinking of posting it on here, because I'm sure there are others whose dcs would like one. The combination of construction and then perpetual motion to watch is pretty much a sure winner with ds.

Stockings in our house consists of mini-lego kits (cheapies off ebay) star wars mini-figures (again, I get them cheap off ebay), little puzzles, a couple of packs of pokemon cards, some sweets and a couple of stress toy's/tangles/fiddle toys.

I also do them each their own cracker for the table (to avoid the disappointment factor that can tip ds1 over the edge with all the stress and excitement of the day). Last year they all had a collectable star wars minifigure in one and a display case for the mini-fig in the other. This year they have star wars jedi knight enamel pin-badges, which I have to say look very effective and I'm pretty sure ds will love and I still need to think of something small but exciting for their second ones.