Your go to toy gift???

[sere234]

I'm having trouble buying my SIL's kids gifts. For Christmas she repeatedly stressed that her kiddos have plenty of books, they don't need any books! Dang, books are my go to item for kids! 

So I got them what I thought were cool gifts: wooden train, cool flashlight, pound a peg toy, and a few other things I can't remember! Thing is, I don't think the kids have even played with them. Last time I was over there, some of the toys were sitting in their wrapping still, out in the playroom. 

So: they don't need books, won't play with the toys, and they have SOOO many Christmas toys. Dang, what do we buy for my DN's birthday this week and next month??? SIL doesn't have suggestions either. I hate to buy them a bunch more flashing, musical, plastic toys. I'm not entirely against them, the kiddos just have so very many already!!

What's your go to toy for toddlers?

[SunRise]

How about a cute shirt or piece of clothing (since they dont play with toys or they have lots). That is what I used to buy my niece. Because I like buying clothes and they are practical. Or a crafty thing - if mom has time to sit with them and do the craft. AH, stamps and a stamp pad. We found a nice wooden alphabet stamp set ... My son loved those.

You dont mention their age - My 23 month old daughter LOVES stuffed animals. She always carries one around, and wraps it in a blanket, pushes it around.

[JudiAU]

Art supplies or membership to a play place or museum

I personally think it is sort of sad and depressing that a parent says her kids have too many books. I think what the parent is really saying is they, the parent, doesn't want more books.

[crunchy_mommy]

In that situation, a gift certificate or membership, or if you can't afford that or they already have it all, maybe something like a homemade gift certificate for dinner or ice cream out with Aunty Sere234.

As far as actual tangible gifts -- maybe art supplies, the Melissa & Doug jumbo cardboard blocks, or a sensory table...

[Mal85]

I've been grabbing a box of crayons and a coloring book lately. Seems to win over most kids. I know we go through coloring books pretty quickly around here. Clothes are always good, too. Or how about a board game of some sort? I'm not sure on the ages, but things like Hi-Ho Cherry-O, Candyland, or Memory are good ones.

[cristeen]

Definitely depends on age. 

My 2 yo got what seemed an odd gift at first - one of those big pads of paper that are used in offices for presentations.  The ones they put up on easels for writing on in front of a big group.  Turns out he loves it.  I only give him a page at a time, but that thing is huge.  I don't have to worry about him scribbling off the edge of the paper onto the table, and the one we got is gridded, so I can write his ABCs on it (a letter per square), and let him try to copy them.  A fun accessory for that is the marker tops - the little tops that are markers.  You spin them and they draw circles and spirals and corkscrews.  Your average toddler may not have the dexterity for it yet, I don't know, since my kid isn't average, but his therapists have been trying to teach him how to spin them.  Just a bit of a twist on the crayons/coloring book idea.

Something else my toddler adores is scissors.  A pair of kid's scissors and some construction paper can keep him happily occupied for an hour.  Definitely a supervised activity, but he loves scissors.  And I happen to think art supplies are a great gift at just about any age. 

For a 3 yo, I like to give a copy of Salad People and/or Pretend Soup.  Yes, they're books, but they're cookbooks.  Intended for small children.  Paired with a Head Chefs utensil or two, makes a great gift.  I happen to be of the opinion that every child needs to know how to cook, and the earlier they start, the better.  Your average 3 yo may not quite be ready for it yet, but they usually will be before 4.  I like to think about what kids will be doing that entire year from one birthday to the next, rather than just what works for right now at this moment. 

[littlest birds]

Face pencils!  Pretend crown or mask from an Etsy crafter?

[34me]

A piggy bank.....  Sounds like they might have enough "stuff"

[sere234]

What great suggestions!!!

SIL's kids are going to be 1, 4, and just turned 2. I think I'll get the 1 yo some clothes since he could care less about getting "fun" stuff! Or maybe a stuffed animal, I love those. Newly 4 yo is going to get a huge pad of paper and art supplies. Not sure if SIL will let him use them but OH WELL!! Having 3 little ones can be tough and she hates to let them makes messes since she has to clean it up times 3. 

I agree, get my DS books any day! He loves them and so do we. 

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions!!

[McGucks]

For me, about 95% of the time I give a book with a gift receipt in case they already have the book.  I'm boring, I guess.

[Imakcerka]

Always went with art.  And sidewalk chalk. 

[Super~Single~Mama]

They have too many books?? How is that possible? I MUCH prefer book gifts, and my ds loves them. We read constantly, and the more books the better!!

[Nicole730]

Gymboree bubbles! They are amazing. Those and glow sticks from the dollar spot at Target.

[tooraloora]

Balls, art supplies, dress up stuff, and child sized self care and cleaning stuff are my go to items for little ones.

[mckittre]

Stickers?  A not-too-messy craft and my kid loves them.  He doesn't care what they are - even address labels are great.

As for books, yes, you can have too many.  I love books.  But I live in a tiny space, with room for only one small-ish bookshelf for the kids.  And it's overflowing.  There are really only a handful of books that my 3-year-old wants to read, and he wants those over and over again.  Excess books just mean more books all over the floor as my 1-year-old pulls them out and scatters them.  We have a library in town if they get bored with their selection.  I do happily accept gifts of books, but then quickly purge our least-favorites to Salvation army. 

[Nicole730]

Fun sheets for theirs beds.

[Chamsia]

Good replies above!  I like something useable: hot cocoa mix with special mugs and marshmallows.  Or tea with mugs and honey.  Nifty soaps and their own soap dish.  "Kids" toothpaste and some cool toothbrushes.  A gift certificate to a local ice cream shop.  (My sweet tooth is showing here, oops).  When they turn 5 a homemade or store bought (etsy!) tooth pillow is a cool gift.  Art supplies, yes!  Things kids love that technically aren't toys: flashlight, cool chapsticks, cds they may like.  Dress up clothes/costumes are often a hit.  Cool containers for all the crap they have!!!  (Bins, or pockets that hang on the wall).  Mittens/gloves in winter--heaven knows they're always getting lost!  Little backpacks/bags. 

This is good--it's helping me brainstorm too.  I HATE the idea of adding clutter to someone's home!

For your case, OP, I'd go with "consumables".  Homemade pancake mix in a mason jar (include a recipe listing the wet ingredients to add) with a small decorative jar of maple syrup.  Those cute animal freezy things for boo-boos and fun band-aids, maybe even an herbal boo-boo salve.  Cute kiddy utensils for the younger ones. 

One I do a lot is nice metal water bottles.  And/or those thermos bowls for kids who pack lunch.  For that matter, a nice lunch box or bento box.  Picnic basket?

I'd better get on with my day.  This was a good exercise!