For those with boys 8-11 yrs old

[Anonymous]

We have an old electric Lego train we pull out at Christmas. 14 year old still loves it, but only for 2 weeks a year. I don't think it is a bad investment to buy a lovely model train to circle the tree. Everyone loves that. You can buy it now and if they don't like it, then make it part of the Christmas display. I think that a serious model train habit is unusual and takes up a lot of space.

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

OP, tell us more about the child. Did he ask for a train set? Does he play with trains? Watch trains go by?

[Anonymous]

My boys, 8 & 11 only play with Grandpa's electric train set at Christmas.

Now, the boy across the street (now nearly 30) had a huge train set-up in the basement when he was growing up. However, it is now gone and I don't think he is sad (it had to make room for his camping gear he stores at his parents)

[Anonymous]

My son was obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine too from age 2-5. We have everything under the sun for the wooden train tracks. But once he turned five, absolutely no interest. He maybe brought them out once when he was six, but it was more to show some younger kids that had come out. He had one electric train during the age 5 to 6 set thinking he had moved on to the electric trains. Pulled it out once or twice. That's it. My son's 9 and is obsessed with Legos and Minecraft - pretty much since age 5. No indication that is it going away anytime soon. Same with all his 3rd grade friends.

Now, if I could just get my stuff together to put all those wooden Thomas the Tank Engine sets on craigslist or ebay!! Two full (large) blue totes.

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old liked Thomas from about 3 to 5. Now he doesn't express an interest in playing with trains at all. My 14 year old was never into trains.

[Anonymous]

My 7 and 9 yr year old boys have zero interest in trains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Ditto the Minecraft and Legos.

yup