Gift ideas for 4yr old who isn't into toys?

[4Marmalade]

My ds's birthday and Christmas are coming up and we are already trying to figure out what to get him as well as what to suggest to other family/friends. Most toys in our house are completely ignored. Ds doesn't do pretend play (we have a whole dress up trunk that is rarely used). He is really into real life stuff. He LOVES using a big loader and wagon outside to haul wood/leaves. He will do this for hours. No toy is used unless it can be used for something in real life. He will use some indoor trucks but it's to load up laundry, clean up books, etc... not just pretend play. I'm not complaining but it's getting difficult to think of anything to get him. We have a pretend lawnmower, vacumn, tools, etc... but they don't really work so they're not used.

I've seen a kids tool kit from Home Depot that has real tools and we were contemplating getting that so that ds could help dh out with all the building projects we do around here. But he's only 4 and the recommended age is over 6 I think. He also already has a ton of books and we do read a lot.

As per our suggestion, my MIL is getting him a magazine subsription to a kids outdoor magazine.

We're pretty stumped for anything else. We just don't want a build up of more pretend toys that ds won't use and family members are starting to ask.

[Thalia the Muse]

A construction set? Like Knex or Lego or Tinkertoys? Something he can tinker and build with might be fun for him. Or a set of small kitchen tools? We just bought a (horribly overpriced school fundraiser) set that comes with a little whisk, spatula, tart pans, cookie sheet, wooden spoon, basting brush, and cookie cutters. they're child-sized, but they're all real kitchen tools and you can bake real cookies or muffins with them.

Or do you think he would like a bug habitat kit? One of those things where you can catch and observe insects?

[meemee]

karen, i usually dont go by the recommended age. i look at teh abillities. and closely keep an eye. i think my friend's son at 3 got those set of miniature tools and under supervision did great.

what are his interests?

is he into a bicycle yet if u dont have one.

is he a builder?

how about rocks. lots of different coloured rocks.

does he like figuring out how things work? check home depot.

my dd got this on her 3rd bday. it requires help but she loves it.

http://www.discoverthis.com/freeze.html

there are many things out here that will require my help but i know if i could get her the perfume and candy one she would love it.
http://www.discoverthis.com/thames-kosmos.html

btw my dd just had her 4th bday. and her fav. toy was this jar of candle pebbles i found at a garage sale. she plays with them for hours. her other toys remain untouched.

[numom499]

what about gift certificates for activites? Movies, ice skating, roller skating, bowling, etc... or gift certificates for your local park district and he could take a class there?

I also think it would be fine to buy him the tool set for age 6, just supervise him with it

[numom499]

oh - and what about a camera? with film and gift certificates to get it devleoped...or even more exciting, but more expensive - a polaroid....

[becoming]

Originally Posted by Thalia the Muse

Or do you think he would like a bug habitat kit? One of those things where you can catch and observe insects?

:

That's what I was going to suggest. DS has one and looooves it.

[teachma]

My 6 year old has never liked toys but does love stuff. My grandmother gave him a gift certificate to Staples (office supply) for his last birthday. He loved choosing labels, post-its, all kinds of tape, paper clips. He makes crazy things with that "junk," and he enjoys being busy and creating.


What about CDs? Does he like music? Books on tape/cd?

What about a special trip somewhere...museum? To see a play in a theater?

Just re-read your post, edited out some suggestions...

[karen ann]

With regards to a tool kit: my DS (now 5) got (with my approval) a tool kit for age 6 and up when he was 4 . It was made clear to DS that it could only be used with proper adult supervision. My dad is a "tool guy" and is the one DS uses it with. The tools stay in my dad's (locked) basement workshop and DS goes down there with him to "do tool guy stuff" (my dad also built DS a kid-sized workbench so he can do things at the right height for him). If I didn't trust my dad as well as I do, I wouldn't've allowed this. But DS loves having his own tools and really helping with projects. DS has built a birdhouse, a birdfeeder, and helped my dad build my mum a mirror/coatrack for in the foyer and a display shelf for in DS's room. As long as you have someone *very* responsible, safety-conscious, and trustworthy, as well as a place to keep the tools that your DC *can't* get to without supervision, it's very doable, even at 4 years old.

[MamaSweetP]

Does he like art? I was thinking of one of those build-your-own bird houses that he can build, paint and hang, then he can be responsible for making sure there's food nearby, etc.

[MOM2ANSLEY]

Gift cert. to home depot, grocery store(so he can buy something special to cook) membership to zoo, ymca etc; craft items??? a real dustbuster handvac , dd loves her photoalbum, tools, cooking utensils, apron , cookbook,etc...easybake oven??? pencils and workbooks...dd likes to "pay her bills" Does dad have boots or something ds likes maybe a child size pair?

[nextcommercial]

I used to have a tree stump with about fifty real nails already started. The kids could pick up the hammer that was always there and hammer the nails. Eventually, I turned it over and started on the other side.

https://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/5125 <--but, technically that is a weapon.

https://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/5833 <--and tecnically that is torture.

https://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/5090 <--I would give my right arm for this.

http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/sear...nce_and_Nature

And just completely off topic, and just because I think you should all know... I WANT this. I wonder if she smells the same. http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/5915

[PiePie]

wheel toys: plasmacar or razor scream machine

carpentry kits: mr. feet table or sir-steps-a-lot, by i made it myself -- build your own furniture, doable by and sized right for preschoolers (no safety issues -- hammer is wooden)

activity kits: crepe lace-and-trace things by lauri (themed -- dinosaurs, pets, numbers, etc.)

barrel of wooden beads to string -- could use as party activity

[4evermom]

My ds also never liked toys much because he wanted things that really worked and prefered human interaction to all else. He has enjoyed our marble run and wooden train set (if playing with someone). The toy that has been the biggest success with him is remote controlled cars. I've discovered that so called racers don't work well. The wheels skid out on hard wood floors. They do better outside on a paved area. Little ones flip over too easily if they hit an acorn. The SUV/Monster truck kind with the big wheels work a lot better. They make r/c construction vehicles as well. Make sure to get some rechargable batteries if you get one of these.

Ds just received this r/c car http://www.highlights.com/azsearch.j...x=0&Search.y=0 . The neat thing about this is that it can go through puddles (it is designed to be able to go in ponds) but we haven't had the opportunity to do so yet. It manuevers nicely inside and doesn't have parts that look like they will break off easily (the wing mirrors always snap off). My ds is a bit rough but this one looks like it can take it.

[PiePie]

if he likes building, check out the magneato intermediate set, or blocks that make pretty pictures from the eric carle books, if he likes those.

[4Marmalade]

Wow! I love all these great ideas. We do really want to get the tool kit and we agree that it would be kept in dh's workroom unaccessible to ds unless a parent was around.

Last year we bought him some of his own kitchen utensils and bowls because he liked helping me bake. But that has faded a bit since he has been outside a lot more. Now that winter is coming maybe he'll be more willing to bake again.

He has lego blocks but hardly ever takes it out. He might enjoy something like K'nex more but I'm not sure.

Someone mentioned something about rocks. We do have an obscence pile of small rocks in our house which is ds's "rock" collection. We are going to get him some sort of case so we can at least put the rocks in something.

He also might enjoy some of the build it yourself kits and science kits. He did love the volcano we made last year.

I would like to get him a remote control car to use outside but we would have to wait until May to use it due to the snow here. Getting it for Christmas would mean waiting 5 months.

Thank you to everyone for the great ideas!! I have bookmarked a few sites and written down a lot of your ideas .