The best presents that you never would've thought to buy for your kids yourself.

[Anonymous]

A salad spinner when they were 2– they hilariously LOVED it - anything small in house got a pretend wash/rinse and dry off for hours at a time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect that my oldest child found such a gift for his younger brother. My middle kid is a total sensory seeker, and he particularly loves anything that is ticklish. Like he always wants someone to tickle his back when he falls asleep, and he's obsessed with soft fuzzy blankets. He would live in the shower if I let him.

His brother got him one of those head massagers with all the fingers that looks a little like an octopus. I was like -- why did I not think of that? It wouldn't surprise me if he opens that and then doesn't pay attention to anyone else.

You should get him a small massage roller. I bet he'd like the sensation.

Also the book The Tickle Monster which comes with a set of fluffy tickling mitts.

[Anonymous]

Grandma collects the comics section from the end of her local newspaper and mails them in bulk to my son. He is ten now but she started when he was an early reader in K/1st grade. We don't have a newspaper and just never would have thought to do this. He devours them, rereads them over and over, even in the bathtub.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The Melissa and Doug ice cream set. Both of my kids (4 and 2) love this thing. And when other kids come over to the house, it's like moths to a flame. It has subsequently been licked by every child in the DMV area, but hey, that's what lysol wipes are for.

I wouldn't characterize these toys as something I wouldn't have thought to buy, but our collection of various Melissa and Doug food sets (cookies, veggies and bread, ice cream, cup cakes), were probably the most played with toys my 3 kids ever had.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grandma collects the comics section from the end of her local newspaper and mails them in bulk to my son. He is ten now but she started when he was an early reader in K/1st grade. We don't have a newspaper and just never would have thought to do this. He devours them, rereads them over and over, even in the bathtub.

I love this. What a great connection between generations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grandma collects the comics section from the end of her local newspaper and mails them in bulk to my son. He is ten now but she started when he was an early reader in K/1st grade. We don't have a newspaper and just never would have thought to do this. He devours them, rereads them over and over, even in the bathtub.

I love this. What a great connection between generations!

Agree—this is awesome. If you could take a tasteful pic of him reading them in the bathtub (or elsewhere) and frame it, that would make great gift for this nice Grandma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A salad spinner when they were 2– they hilariously LOVED it - anything small in house got a pretend wash/rinse and dry off for hours at a time!

O think I’ve talked to you before!

[Anonymous]

The Rush Hour puzzle/game. I would have never known about this if we hadn't received it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The Melissa and Doug ice cream set. Both of my kids (4 and 2) love this thing. And when other kids come over to the house, it's like moths to a flame. It has subsequently been licked by every child in the DMV area, but hey, that's what lysol wipes are for.

I wouldn't characterize these toys as something I wouldn't have thought to buy, but our collection of various Melissa and Doug food sets (cookies, veggies and bread, ice cream, cup cakes), were probably the most played with toys my 3 kids ever had.

The Melissa and Doug play food never gets touched in my house.

Mine either! I thought these sets were so cute and we have a couple of them but my 2 kids (now ages 5 and 2) have never played w it at all.

[Anonymous]

I never anticipated we’d get 8 years of regular play from magnatiles.

[Anonymous]

Our trampoline. Kids have loved it. I knew they would like it when they were younger, however they still use it and they’re teenagers. they’ll go on the trampoline with friends and just sit in a circle talking and what not with their friends. And occasionally one might get up and jump a couple of times It’s turned into a clubhouse in our backyard

[Anonymous]

Flimsy cheap version tent for kids.

[Anonymous]

Tinker toys! I thought they’d be shit because they’re plastic so I’ve been searching for vintage ones on Craigslist but my in laws bought the plastic ones and it turns out they are great and my 4 and 6 year olds have spent all day playing with them!

[Anonymous]

Indoor snowball fight (large cotton balls) from TJ Max. Seemed like a waste of money but it’s been great for multigenerational fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mother got my kid a huge marshmallow soft stuffed lion. My kid is five, and he’s never even really like stuffed animals, so I never would have bought it. But the two of them, my kid and the lion, have totally bonded.

Yes! Except for us it was a giant white tiger.