Christmas and Birthday shopping for almost 4 year old girl - ideas?

[tippytoes26]

I'm sure it has something to do with nesting, but I have this NEED to get some of the Christmas and birthday shopping (her bd is mid Janurary) out of the way this year. Last year I found myself super irritated going shopping and ended up buying "stuff" just to have someting to wrap. With a baby on the way .. due date Dec. 24, I don't want to be caught giving birth early and not having time to Christmas shop.

so far, we have a pop-up tent (the big one), a marble vortex (I'd like to find a better one.. but I think she'll like this one), an etch a sketch, and some melissa and doug shape block puzzle thingies.

I want to get her a melissa and doug doorbell house, but I don't know where to order that without paying outragous shipping.

She's really really really into computer games, but I have a difficult time finding software that isn't too simple and not too hard. She's sort of at a funny in between stage. Baby software is too simplistic and most other software is for 5years and up.

She's all good to go with crafty stuff.. that's what we stocked up on last year.

I'm not fond of toys with lots of noise and lights UNLESS she'll really play with it. She already has a large dollhouse (which she doesn't play with.. go figure). We just got her "memory" and l"ets go fishing" games, and she's very thrilled with those.

Anyway.. I'm coming up empty handed. There sure is a lot of JUNK out there now.. but not much that I think would acutally keep my daughters attention for any length of time. It sounds odd, but it's almost like they design toys that children will lose interest in quickly so you'll feel the need to go buy more. *LOL* We looked for an etch a sketch in walmart and toys r us and they both told us they don't carry them anymore because they don't sell. So I have to order it online. So odd since my daughter plays with one EVERY time she gets a chance and loves them and doesn't care for a magna doodle.

So, what does your child play iwth more than anything else? I'd like just a couple more things to stow away

amber

[MomInFlux]

How about some construction-type toys? My 4yo DS really likes his Super Magz (like this)

And he really loves his Kids K'nex

[tippytoes26]

Oh excellent suggestion! I just got some magnetix. I thought perhaps they would just be a lot of little pieces to lose, but she ADORES her magnetic marbles from oriental trading, so I think she'd really love these too. Thanks so much!

amber

[G&B'sMama]

My DD has been really into dress up since she was about three and a half. We went to the thrift store and bought a funky old suitcase that was in great condition, then we filled it with funny hats, scarves, gloves, and assorted thrift store clothes in bright colors that are either a much bigger kid size or a small adult size. We also put in some big squares of fabric that we found on the sale table at the craft store- a friend with a sewing machine hemmed a few of the edges for us with a zig zag stitch- and these are great for all sorts of creative uses: capes, skirts, tents, picnic blankets, etc. Over time people have added stuff to it- so there are some actual costumes left over from Halloween and ballet recitals and plays, and that sort of thing. Someone gave her a crown from the burger king once and you would have thought it was made from solid gold!

Other favorite toys include: legos, wooden train set, and art supplies (which get consumed at a rapid rate- sometimes literally, if the baby gets into them). We are big fans of gifts that can be added onto and foster some creativity or imagination, like any of the examples above. Of course, our DD has been given so much stuff that we now request no gifts, but that is a whole different story…

[kate~mom]

magnadoodle is huge here - as is her felt board, melissa and doug (i think) castle - we got ours at a local bookstore

re. craft stuff - i know you said you were all set - but what about beading things? dd is very into making necklaces for everyone.

ummmmm - brain quest cards for a stocking stuffer?

what about books? we're reading the tale of desperaux now - by the author of because of winn dixie - a ice hardcover set of books might be nice for reading out loud together? something a little more "big kid" than she's used to?

[**guest**]

what about books?

[Stinkerbell]

Around 4 is when my kids began being interested in mimicking my activities: kid-sized gardening sets were huge hits with them, kids cookbooks and an apron, that sort of thing.

[mamachandi]

My dd loves playing kitchen. We bought her a wooden kitchen on line but you can probably find them at a local toy store-they have small wooden versions also. We bought some haba wooden food and found some old metal bowls and cups at the thrift store. I splurged on some mini size utensils. She loves it! I found a mini basket with a handle that takes the place of a shopping basket and she plays store. Her grandparents bought her a cash register and she plays for hours. She also loves only hearts club dolls. they have soft bodies and dress more like 12 year olds than grown women(barbies),the clothes are easier to take off than barbies as well (I hate barbies but she wanted something like them and I found these and she loves them). barbie furniture and excessories work great for those dolls (second hand).
discount school supply has some great wooden learning toys for a good price. stuff you don't see elswhere. well hope this helps, have fun!!

[Willowrose]

I think the dres up clothes are a great idea! My boys have some neat tie-dye capes with hoods that they love to wear. Our playsilks get a lot of use, as well.
There are some really neat games out there, if you can find a toystore that sells some of the new wooden ones(I believe there is a new line of games made out of bamboo that look fun!).
Finger puppets are fun...you can find some really cute fairy ones for girls.
My boys love music, so some of their favorites are guitars, bells, drums, a harp, etc....

[MamaBug]

What about science kits? My kids got a great kit to make a volcano recently and they LOVED it. It was very easy to make and then you just needed vinegar and red food coloring to make it explode, it came with the baking powder. My friend got it at ToyRUs and they have all kinds of other kits as well that I myself am going to look into for Christmas.

I have boys so it's tough but what about:
TinkerToys
Lincoln Logs
Books
Fairy Wings
Kitchen Set with food
Animals
Musical Instruments ( my boys have a guitar, piano, and assorted bells, triangles and such)

Magic Cabin has some very cute dolls and craft kits that you can get

[loudmama]

These are all suggestions I would make! Maybe a backpack or bag. Around that age & now, my DD would love to put stuff into a backpack to take with us where ever we went. DD also love magnetix. How about board games & puzzles (real ones-25 pieces)? Memory games? Jewelry making stuff?

Those are my ideas for now....

L

ps You can never have too many books!

[michelle1k]

I second the only hearts dolls - the detail is really lovely and they're well made and best of all, because they're soft you can really snuggle with them

http://www.onlyheartsclub.com/

Michelle in NY

[yogamama]

We LOVE Playmobile Toys - we have an outlet near our house and our house is FULL of Playmobile stuff.

[dvnmama]

Amber- if you're interested in computer software, Humongous Entertainment makes a whole bunch of use your brain to play the game software. Freddi Fish. Pajama Sam & Putt Putt. Putt Putt Saves the Zoo, Putt Putt Joins the Race, Putt Putt Travels Through Time (in order of appreciation from ds). Are these names you know? My ds started with putt putt around 4, I think. He also loved the Reader Rabbit Kindergarten software around that time. Lots of songs to go along with learning games.

Trying to think of things he LOVED at 4. Marbleworks was a big hit, and still is actually. Discovery Toys has a version that you put on the refrigerator, I thought that was cool.

Sue

[Mere]

I second several things people have already mentioned...my dd is the same age as yours, and her favorite things are her wooden kitchen set and food; dress up; dolls; and more recently, games, such as Candyland, Junior Monopoly, Dominoes, and Chutes and Ladders.

She also adores this backpack/suitcase combination she got from my mom. She takes either the backpack or the suitcase with her everywhere (usually packed full of random items from her kitchen, dolls, or dress up clothes).