I have two boys, 2 and 5. We already have our Christmas gifts for the big kid because I managed to snag a bunch of Lego sets on sale a year ago.

NO clue what to do for the 2yo because they already have so many toys. Please help! Books sadly hold little interest no matter how much we read

What they are getting from us and grandma (no one on side celebrates Christmas, so it's smaller here).

2yo
DUPLO set from Gma
Highlights Mag subscription from Gma
Clothes from Both

5yo
LEGO set from Mom and Dad
Highlights Mag subscription from Gma
Science Kit from Gma
Clothes from Both

-- 5yo already has a standing KiwiCrate subscription from my parents from his birthday

Anonymous wrote:10 yr old boy — Ideas please!! He is the least materialistic person I know. He could care less about “stuff.” Hoards his own money and never even spends gift cards. Typically, we give him experiences, which he seems to love, but this has been tough during COVID.

He loves to read and is into computers (how they operate, code, etc). He also swims.

Subscription to Time for Kids or The Week. DD who is 10 and a voracious reader looks forward to these and eagerly gets the mail.

10 yr old boy — Ideas please!! He is the least materialistic person I know. He could care less about “stuff.” Hoards his own money and never even spends gift cards. Typically, we give him experiences, which he seems to love, but this has been tough during COVID.

He loves to read and is into computers (how they operate, code, etc). He also swims.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the shipping delays. Literally everything I want to buy my kids is on Amazon and it will arrive in 2 days with prime. Am I missing something?

Do you understand all those cargo ships camped out off the coasts are full of the toys you want to buy? We’ve gone from 6 weeks to 6 months to get products into the country. Once the holiday buying begins, things will just be gone.

As for shipping, USPS has already put out guidance that they are intentionally delaying mail and shipments going forward.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drone
Guitar
Nat geo fossil/gem/shark teeth dig kits
Pokémon cards if you can find real ones
Legos
One of those light up boxes they can put words on
Books (new wimpy kid)
Grounded for life game
Ping pong table
Moon lamp
Nerf guns
Switch games

Costco has the cutest Pokemon set right now with cards $33. My DD loves pokemon.

3??! Thank you!!! Which Costco? Last time I I looked at pentagon city they didn’t have any.

My kids like those dig kits, but we always do it outside and they are covered in clay/dirt when they’re done.

For kids who like the dig kits, I also recommend the Nat Geo geode kits.

Anonymous wrote:Oooohhhhh i am on board! 6 and 10 here.

So far i have pajamas for both.

I have an unopened Ticket to Ride - 6YO isn’t too old for this, right?

Do your kids like to cook at all? We’ve really enjoyed a Raddish subscription this year, highly recommend except you DO still have to go buy the ingredients.

Do they play any instruments? Any chance a keyboard would be fun?

My 6 yo and 8 yo are both still happy to play Ticket to Ride First Journey. We haven't introduced regular Ticket to Ride yet, but since that is played by adults, 6 is certainly not too old for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please link these digging kits! Sounds ideal for the 6YO unless they are very very messy…

They can get a little frustrating. We were gifted two of these for my son (6 at the time) and the material, whatever it was, was way too hard for the plastic tools provided. The instructions say to mist the block o' goodies with water and that turned it into a muddy activity.

Anyway, the kits are fun but you'll probably need some other tools and some patience. We ended up using a hammer and screwdriver to knock the stuff apart and it got pretty noisy, which my son enjoyed more than the gems/fossils.

Well, you just sold my kid on these! He will be over the moon. Thank you for the suggestion!

I don’t understand the shipping delays. Literally everything I want to buy my kids is on Amazon and it will arrive in 2 days with prime. Am I missing something?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Drone
Guitar
Nat geo fossil/gem/shark teeth dig kits
Pokémon cards if you can find real ones
Legos
One of those light up boxes they can put words on
Books (new wimpy kid)
Grounded for life game
Ping pong table
Moon lamp
Nerf guns
Switch games

Costco has the cutest Pokemon set right now with cards $33. My DD loves pokemon.

I am interested in pokemon card as well, but I don't see it at costco. How many cards are there, any speicals?

My dd turns 5 a couple of weeks after xmas, so I shop for both at the same time and divide it up when we get closer so that it's sort of even. So far I've got:

xmas pjs for her and matching for her doll
a lottie doll with horse
a couple of other lottie dolls
a lori doll car (the lottie dolls fit in it)
a couple of playmobil sets
a LEGO advent calendar
some accessories for the dollhouse we redid/decorated this summer
a haba unicorn glitterluck game

I've got enough to do Christmas tomorrow if I didn't get anything else, but I'm hoping that either she puts something I've already got on her Santa wishlist, or that something she puts on there can be acquired when it gets to be December.

I did get something for my nephew from his wishlist this weekend because it was on sale, but I have zero ideas for my highschool freshman aged niece.

One 9 yo girl:

No-bake air-dry clay
Babysitter's Club books
Karaoke machine
Claw machine filled with junky small toys
A few cute outfits

I’m getting my girls 9 and 10 nice jewelry boxes and necklaces
One wants a keyboard for her iPad. Another wants EarPods (not Apple ones).

I’m considering getting them a series of horseback riding lessons.

That’s it for now.

FYI - I work in international export and you need to start buying your holiday gifts today. Probably want to ship in mid-Nov.

I don’t know about the US, but in Canada, they have identified a toy shortage. So get in early.

The only thing my DD (4, turns 5 at Christmas) wants is the Barbie dream house. She’s a good kid, so I can’t see not getting it for her. Ugh.

We’ll get her another usual array of crafts, heavy on the glitter. We came across Triops last night, so I could see getting her a little tank with some. She’s super easy going, so maybe more Lego, a sparkly top with the sequins that colour change, and some silly little thinks like Real Littles or whatever they’re called. I’ll also box up one of my old Barbies that are supposed to be collectors, but that she loves more than anything. She will be thrilled.