S/O Gifts for 7 year old boy who doesn't... - Page 2

[One_Girl]

Maybe some game props for his imaginative play. Some specialty children's stores have them already assembled. A gift certificate may also be something that he would like, if he really has to have only certain things then he may be happier to choose them himself.

[*Jessica*]

Originally Posted by eepster

Would he enjoy videos of people he knows taking bus rides in other cities? Then maybe he would want scheduals from those.

I think this is a wonderful idea if you have any gift givers who would be willing to do it!

Would an "I : My Bus Driver" t-shirt be too silly?

What about more city life Playmobil toys to go along with the bus? Maybe a gas station and a corner store, or a playground if you pass one on the bus route. He could set it all up like the bus route you take and be the bus driver going through town.

[sunnmama]

Would he like to cook? I'm getting my like-age dd (who doesn't play with toys) and Easy-Bake oven, so that she can experiment with food with abandon.

I just saw a cool gift idea on a blog and thought of your ds (and my dd)--a vintage typewriter! Although it might be tricky to get ribbons...

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by eepster

Would he enjoy videos of people he knows taking bus rides in other cities? Then maybe he would want scheduals from those.

I can't see my parents (80+) doing that any time soon (nor my prosecutor sister, nor my corporate sister..) Maybe my brother is geeky enough to try that (ds shares many many traits with my brother) - I'll suggest it to him!

Thanks for the suggestions -- I've gotten some good ideas for the family.

DVD Building Big: Bridges
How Things Work Game
Science Kits (Motion, Chemistry)
A kids' weather station that includes a rain gauge (mom has a digital one, but he can have one all his own!)
Lift bridge building kit from a hobby shop
Monopoly (the real game - he's asked for it)

Books:
Bridges: Amazing Structures to Design, Build & Test (Kaleidoscope Kids) (or a couple other ones I've got).
Building (Make it Work! Science)
City Transit Buses of the 20th Century: A Photo Gallery


Santa found someone who's willing to sell me some shirts from the local bus company (and a patch to sew onto a jacket!), we'll give him some 'coupons' for bus rides. We're thinking about a digital camera for him, as well as a globe. I'm also considering a fish tank (a nice one) - he was really fascinated by my friend's one the other day.

[mommy68]

Originally Posted by bestjob

Lego suits a lot of kids.

I agree. I'm betting if you got him Legos and built it for him that he would eventually begin to build buildings and bridges himself. Plus Lego has so many different models out there to choose from.

What about one of those Brio things that comes with a table and roads and a train? I see them a lot at book stores in the back of the store for kids to play with.

[teachma]

We have similar gift-buying problems for our ds as well. We try to get family members to gift "experiences" rather than tangible items. Last year, for instance, my parents' big Chanukah gift to him was a trip into NYC for lunch and to see The Lion King on Broadway. He loved it! What about tickets to a show or special museum exhibit? Or a sleepover and trip to a favorite restaurant with his aunt(s)?

Someone mentioned collections...my ds is into the state quarters, so last year, one set of grandparents got him a new, really nice book to hold his state quarters.

You mentioned he doesn't "play music." Does he listen to it? We have bought many CDs as gifts for ds in the past. Now he has his own iPod (purchased by him with b-day money) so iTunes gift cards are great! He buys a lot of audio books for his iPod, another good idea for gifts...

My ds has a LeapFrog globe with a "pen," and when you click on each country it plays the national anthem of the place, speaks some words in a language common to the place. He has been very obsessed with the anthems at times. It has definitely held his attention more than a regular globe.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by mommy68

I agree. I'm betting if you got him Legos and built it for him that he would eventually begin to build buildings and bridges himself. Plus Lego has so many different models out there to choose from.

What about one of those Brio things that comes with a table and roads and a train? I see them a lot at book stores in the back of the store for kids to play with.

Thanks, but alas, Lego DOESN'T suit ds. He's one of the few kids that have very little interest in building things. He wants to play with the things that we build, but then gets frustrated because they break easily. I don't know if it's motor planning issues or weak fine motor skills or his preferred learning style, but he's not a lego kid. We have a number of legos that go unused.

We have lots of trains and train tracks. Dh's godmother is into collecting, and she "collected" a lot of Thomas the Tank Engine stuff for us.

Originally Posted by teachma

Someone mentioned collections...my ds is into the state quarters, so last year, one set of grandparents got him a new, really nice book to hold his state quarters.

My ds has a LeapFrog globe with a "pen," and when you click on each country it plays the national anthem of the place, speaks some words in a language common to the place. He has been very obsessed with the anthems at times. It has definitely held his attention more than a regular globe.

The quarters are a good idea, and I'm strongly thinking of the LeapFrog Globe too.

Alas, most of the relatives live 1500+ miles away so an experience isn't going to happen. We are going for a week over the holidays, but we'll only have 3 days with my family and 3 days with dh's family (and one day of travel between the two).

[Breeder]

How about memberships to the zoo or museums if there are any in the area?

Some other science-type stuff my big boy likes:
A Root Viewer

Cable Car Kit

A Pulley (we didn't by this one, just created one from stuff at home depot... a lot cheaper!)

Also my kiddo likes his standard, non-talking globe a great deal as well.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by Breeder

Cable Car Kit

Thanks!

He saw the cable car and thought it was cool. So that's a great idea. It's nice to know that a standard globe works too.

(I think I'm really the one who wants the talking globe. Along with the Moon in My Room nightlight and the Glow in the Dark model of the solar system. Ds has no interest in the latter two and I think they're really cool.)