OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

[Anne E]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

A treasured Christmas present we received a few years ago, which is loved by the entire family, is a reproduction of a marble chaser my husband's grandfather had as a child. It is a simple wooden toy that never gets old to play with and is enjoyed by kids (and adults) of all ages. It does result in finding marbles all over the house and must be put up during school time because the noise drives me crazy.

[enbateau]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

We took our entire Christmas pot and put it in savings for a trip abroad to come. I think it'll take 1.5 years to save for it, but hopefully it will allow my youngest to mature a bit and perhaps remember it. Anyways, we've had fun making suggestions when relatives ask for gift ideas for the kids.

My 8 yo girl has been sent a MadLibs book (Best of 50 Years), some cute Usborne books: sticker dolly dressing fashion designer weddings & a fashion designer pad, space mazes, DoaWK The Meltdown, a personalized beach towel from PBK, a Christmas hair bow, a Christmas dress and Mary Janes.

My 5 yo was gifted a 15 pk of Disney Cars minis and the race track. My brother sent Baffin snow boots because even though it's the south, the last 5 years have brought some record snowfall (12"). My little guy even used them today with our flurries that didn't stick. My mom, who teaches my kids music, got them season's tickets and a pair of drumsticks.

I usually get them beautiful Hammonds candy canes and a little toy elf that poops jellybeans. We have a candy snowball launcher from last year I thought about refilling with white jellybeans from Trader Joe's.

[DiannaKennedy]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

This is a great question. We have also noticed that as the kids get older it becomes increasingly difficult to come up with gifts that are worth it.

I think I’ve mentioned it before but we always have wild success with a big box of paintballs and slingshots. We also like archery, so bows and arrows are always fun and gets them outside.

My oldest quite literally becomes whoever he is currently reading about so a good costume to wear always brings a smile to his face. Last year it was a simple Roman soldier hat. We’ve also done knights armor and of course swords. A few years ago we got them the, “Armor of God,” knight set (Rainbow Resource) and even though they have outgrown it, they still play with it and make it work. It also solidified the meaning for the sword, breastplate, helmet, etc. <3

Earlier this year we were introduced to the game Settlers of Catan. Everyone really enjoyed it and they will spend about 2 hours playing it with friends. It’s really an interesting game to play and once you master one phase you can expand on it so this Christmas we are adding Cities and Knights. I think that it will be a big hit.

I have thought about putting the Latin version of a children’s book in their stocking just for giggles. I’ve seen Quomodo Invidiosulus nomine Grinchus Christi natalem Abrogaverit and Abor Alma. Being completely ignorant of if they are good translations or not, I have hesitated.

I hope you get your glass cake stand and dome. I'm going for a double belgian waffle maker!

Oooh! Let's talk about this paintballs and slingshots gift. My boys would be over the moon. Did you create targets, or let them shoot each other? I'm envisioning a pouch of some sort to hold the paintballs? Most importantly: DOES THE PAINT WASH OUT?

We have Catan Jr that was gifted to us, and we LOVE it. I prefer the junior version of these, because, I don't have 2 hours to play a game. #keepingitreal

[DiannaKennedy]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

We do not Catan (jr or regular, but we love the jr version of a ticket to ride.

Ticket to Ride Jr is on sale on Amazon. I'm thinking about buying it. I sent it to my mom, but not sure if she pulled the trigger.

[DiannaKennedy]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

Settlers of Katan is a great game. Buckle down for a long session when you get it out and figure out how to play. Playing is much more fun that figuring it out. Does anyone have the junior version? Thinking of getting that for little guy who often gets excluded from the older kid games. 😔

AHHHHH! We LOVE the Catan Jr. It was gifted to us over the summer, and we just pulled it out a few weeks ago. We adore it.
Maeve (6) and Daniel (4) do play it, with help for Daniel.

For games with which I am unfamiliar, I google, "How to play XYZ". There's usually a YT video that pops up in search.

[DiannaKennedy]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

Our go-to ideas are books, board games, handicrafts, stem stuff, music stuff, and outdoors stuff.

We do a lot of camping, so individual toiletries bags made the cut this year (exciting, I know. You can stop drooling now).

Merit badge kits (workbook + needed materials). New violin stuff (rosin, a new bow, a music dictionary). I mean c'mon, Christmas is sounding exhilarating around here, isn't it? Mom even gets some new garage shelves (woohoo!).

Also, STEM stuff that doesn't make the curriculum. Robot kit, snap circuits, electronic paper airplane kit...

Latchhook, coloring, woodburning, calligraphy, woodworking have all made the cut at some point.

Really though, our Christmas standard has been mostly practical stuff, and one or two really exciting things (inflatable kayaks for the family! Shhhh! Don't tell!). It has worked well so far!

Hope that gets the creative juices flowing for your own family!

I want to hear more about this ---
Merit badge kits --- let's chat. My husband was exploring the idea of spearheading a Trail Life troop, but that's going to have to wait, due to family issues. I want to know what you're doing with these merit badges.

Woodworking --- are these independant kits for your children?

And please, someone explain to me why snap circuits always top the list? I'm not seeing it. (meaning, I don't understand the appeal)

[DiannaKennedy]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

My kids are into Extreme Dot to Dot, origami kits and paper, and any kind of science or art kit. I like these kinds of things that they can work on quietly and individually when we need them to.

I'm driving my relatives crazy. So far I've been offered a Nintendo and electronic Super Hero readers, both of which I've declined in favor of more wholesome (IMO) activities. I don't think my MIL was impressed when I asked for a set of the Primary Phonics readers, and I know those won't be as exciting to open. I'm trying to keep a balance of purely "fun" and more practical/ educational types of gifts. So, she's getting the 5 year old the readers and also a nice set of Star Wars Legos.

It's so exciting to have fun toys to open, but honestly, how many of our kids need more of that stuff around? I already feel like my boys' bedroom is overflowing with toys that rarely get used. And I hate feeding that present greed that is so easy to get this time of year. But on the other hand, I love to delight my kids and lavish good things on them in celebration of the greatest Giver and Gift of all! It is a hard line to walk...

I have already purchased quite a bit --- but I found lots of deals, on things I knew my kids would enjoy. Honestly. Fox Trot books for 0.50 at a local library sale. (I bought ALL they had) Professor Noggin games were on sale -- so I bought Human Body, Ancient World, and others that I can't remember. If I think I've gone overboard, I can always keep some things back for birthdays. My kids (the bigs especially) don't ask for much. So, I revel in finding things I know they will use and enjoy.

[buckeyelaw]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

And please, someone explain to me why snap circuits always top the list? I'm not seeing it. (meaning, I don't understand the appeal)

I personally don't get the appeal, but my older 2 boys love them. They play with them like they play with their Legos. My oldest is a rule follower and has so much fun going through all the projects in the manual. He can spend hours doing the projects. My 5 year old is a creator and loves to make different things happen with the circuits and then I get to oooh and ahhh over his creation.

[Nerdmom]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

I want to hear more about this ---
Merit badge kits --- let's chat. My husband was exploring the idea of spearheading a Trail Life troop, but that's going to have to wait, due to family issues. I want to know what you're doing with these merit badges.

Woodworking --- are these independant kits for your children?

Scouts is a long family tradition, so we're in it for the long haul (ie- til all the boys make Eagle). The Christmas before our boys cross over from cub scouts to boy scouts, we get a zipper binder and organize all the rank requirements, eagle required merit-badges requirements, and some elective merit badge requirements of our choice. They have clear protective pockets for important papers and blue cards (what they use to keep track of progress on each merit badge). I also collect letters to them from some of the older eagle scouts in the family.

That year, they generally also get some "big gift" related to a merit badge we think they'll be interested in. Last year, my son got a bugle. This year, my crafty kid will get a woodcarving kit - the merit badge booklet, a decent case of woodcarving tools like this, and some wood pieces to carve).

They're also getting the Basketry merit badge stuff (the booklet, and the materials to make the 3 required baskets), and Fly Fishing (a fly fishing rod and what not...). Other ideas might include Aviation (with a model airplane kit, ticket to an aviation museum, etc), Bird Study (binoculars, notebook for bird journal, bird field maps), Insect Study (insect board kit), Radio (ham radio set), etc.

Most of the merit badges require some stuff. I just try to get the stuff together and make it look like fun. Voila, Christmas present They're going to need it anyway. If I can pawn it off as a Christmas present, AND they're excited about it, all the better!

HTH!

[pickandgrin]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

Amanda,
I'm seeing a little side business here for you (or for your kids!). Those "kits" would sell. Just throwing that out there--

[Nerdmom]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

You're very kind, Jessica. I'll give it some thought. At this point, it's a matter of time vs. money balance. (Isn't it always?)

[3Blessings]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

And please, someone explain to me why snap circuits always top the list? I'm not seeing it. (meaning, I don't understand the appeal)

I don't know, I don't understand it either, but my son (8) got a set for his 5th birthday and they're one of the most played with toys we own. I think it's the cause and effect thing. If I do x can I get y? We now have had several Christmases and birthdays to add in different kits, and I think he has the basic one as well as a glow in the dark / light show one and a 3D one. He usually uses the book for ideas, but adds his own take on it. On everyone's birthday he makes a circuit that will sing Happy Birthday, but they have to do something to set it off.

It does take a lot of batteries. I am sure I am being overly dramatic, but I feel like he is always asking for more batteries for it. They're just AA though, so not the expensive ones.

[Michael]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

I am sure I am being overly dramatic, but I feel like he is always asking for more batteries for it. They're just AA though, so not the expensive ones.

Have you ever looked into rechargeable batteries? I use them and they have more than paid for themselves in terms of how many times I've recharged them.

[Hahcook]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

I’m thinking my crew will each get their own deck of cards, hopefully via Shutterfly-type service with a pic special to each child.

[3Blessings]

Re: OT: Gifts worth giving; gifts worth having...

We love snap circuits too and I feel you on the Happy Birthday tune! I would definitely go the rechargeable battery route. They also have an AC adapter for the snap circuits so you can plug it in and not worry about batteries. I agree, they pay for themselves quickly! We bought one and really like it!

I didn't realize there was an AC adapter. That might be a cool stocking stuffer. I need to get some rechargeable batteries. I'm sure it would wind up making sense down the road, we don't have a ton of things that take batteries, but every little bit helps!