present problems

[flea]

I am all set for Casper presents. In ten minutes, I'll know if I've gotten her another (ebay in progress).

I got nothin' for Dillo. What does a 3 year old boy want? Part of the problem is we have a lot of good toys handed down from Casper. Blocks, duplo, all covered. He has a big wheel and he's too little for a bike (and he'll get Casper's when he's big enough). He doesn't need clothes, or care about them much. I mean, I'd like to buy him fancy underpants, but he won't give a damn about them. Hot wheels and bakugan are stocking sort of presents, but the Big Gift.

I don't even have a big special book for him - I've already gotten all my favorite books appropriate for a 3 year old. (I have The Secret Garden for Casper.)

Second kid is hard! Halp!

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Lego set? (One of those new boxed kits that are for making specific things but can later become one with the vast Lego cosmos.) My 4yo nephew is all about the Legos. But he's also all about what his older brother is all about, so he may be a bad example.

Bakugan Carrying Case? Unites a young boy's two loves: Bakugan, and counting/storing/displaying said Bakugan.

One of those volcano kits (where you make a plaster-of-paris volcano, and then you paint it, and then you make it erupt with vinegar, baking soda, and progressively more improbable shades of food coloring). Good parent/kid project for bad-weather day.

DVD (that you can sit the kids down with when you're working on Christmas dinner).

Also, even if kids don't care about Underoos, they sometimes enjoy the reaction they get while wearing them. Or make him a low-key super-hero costume (PJs, and the cape can fasten on with velcro to the back - makes it easier to get kids ready for bed).

[ellenbs.livejournal.com]

(I am anon)

[vwbug.livejournal.com]

What about starting him on collecting Brio trains? My parents did that with the second boy because of similar issues, and it was a HUGE hit. And, it gave something to build on to for later birthdays and Christmases.

[dxmachina.livejournal.com]

This was going to be my suggestion, too, maybe with a side order of Thomas the Tank Engine. You also couldn't go wrong with Tonka trucks (or similar).

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

My mother is sending a Brio train she got at a yard sale, so maybe that will be the Big Gift. I'm not sure how much there is - maybe we can supplement.

[mightyurchin.livejournal.com]

In my limited experience with 2-3 year old boys, you can't go wrong with vehicles. Does he have a Tonka truck?

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

He has a couple of big outdoor trucks but doesn't use them much. He's not a vehicle-fixated as some little boys I know...

[mightyurchin.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm... you also might ask some males what their fave books were for book ideas.

[(Anonymous)]

I have a similar situation with my second son -- we've already got all the good toys for boys. I think my definition of a "big" Christmas present is much smaller than most people's (I made my kids tote bags), but I second the train suggestion. Both my boys (nearly 6 and 2) spend hours playing with them. Lincoln logs, legos, t-ball set, and just about anything by Melissa and Doug (vegetables, pizza, sushi have been favorites with my kids). Happy Shopping! You could always bring Dillo over here and see what he likes to play with the most! (I am actually serious, if you want to).

Clare

[amy37.livejournal.com]

The Planet Heroes stuff looks like it replaced the Rescue Heroes, but they're the same idea, and my boys LOVED them: http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900000&e=storethumb&pcat=fps_presch_pheroes

Also the Fisher-Price Imaginext stuff or the GeoTrax.

[loligo.livejournal.com]

One of the huge birthday hits for Squeaky was a Super Hero Kit. It was from that same company that does all the juggling kits and stuff. It came with a satiny red cape, and a bunch of punch-out cardboard masks and wristbands, plus insignia and letter stickers (which were supposed to be for decorating a T-shirt but never actually made it onto a shirt here, but are instead scattered all over the house).

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Trucks or a fire engine, maybe?

I sympathize. It is especially difficult when the second child is a baby, because there are only so many different types of baby toys in the world - especially when you try to avoid electronic beeping. We would barely get him anything, except that then Alex would notice and wonder why Santa didn't love Colin.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

I think you could probably explain to Alex that you told Santa that since Colin is still a baby and doesn't need much, Santa gave gifts to other children who needed them more. In our house there's not a big focus on Santa - just stockings - so when Dillo was a baby he just got (needed) clothes.

[smonsterbite.livejournal.com]

What about a playmat?

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

As Seen On TV!!

[smonsterbite.livejournal.com]

Hee. For me it was As Seen On Flylady. Better or worse? Idk.

[burrell.livejournal.com]

I recommend those Duplo Legos. Isaac STILL plays with Legos for hours at a time. Really any dorky version of whatever he's into will go over well. At 3, Isaac was all about space ships and outer space.

[(Anonymous)]

Wedgits?