What toy make for boys?

[libranbutterfly]

I am really good with girls, but am having trouble coming up with stuff for boys. I have a couple ideas for boys (the bendy sets with knights and Native americans) but I am unsure what to make for a 3 yr old boy or an 11 yr old boy. The 11 yr old loves dinosaurs, and the 3 yr old loves plastic crap (can you tell this is the trickiest one to buy for?) Are bendys appropriate for a 2.5 year old? I was thinking of giving his big brother (5.5 yrs.) a set, but don't want them to fight over it, and want it to be ok for him as well. I am mostly at a loss for these two, the other boys will probably be getting bendy sets and maybe a pair of PJ pants.

[tinasquirrel]

I'd think the 3yo would love an I-Spy bag. Or a superhero cape? Playsilks that you dye yourself in his favorite colors?

Now, for the 11yo....I have absolutely no idea, LOL!

[operamommy]

I'll address your older son since I think you'll get plenty of ideas for your 3-year-old. Some things I've made in the last year or so for my son (he's 12) include: an embroidered Star Wars pillow for his bed, a set of crocheted owls (he loves owls), and an I-Spy jar. I think the key even for this age is to just take what they love and do something with it. For instance, this year for Christmas I'm crocheting him a parakeet that sits on your finger. He has two parakeets and adores them. You could also make a bean bag for sitting on while reading or playing video games, or even a coupon book with coupons for a trip to the game store, etc.

[libranbutterfly]

I cape may be good for the 3 yr old, thanks. I should be able to sew a cape The bean bag is a great idea for Jay (the 11 yr old) he also loves video games.....This was so much easier when I bought toys (for him, anyways) What would you fill it with?

[jessicafairy]

My boys are 12 and 4 so I know where you are coming from. Older ds will probably be getting a little drawstring bag to keep his gaming dice in, pj pants, I might knit a hat and maybe socks. He also really likes pillows so I might find some cool fabric for that. We are all into Doctor Who so I might crochet a Dalek if I have time. Can you tell us what he is into? It might help generate more ideas. My ds has decorated a little lunchbox style tin to keep his games in. Maybe you could do that?

Younger ds will get a hat and mittens, a Dalek if I make one for his brother so they don't fight over it, some play food, dress up items, not sure what else at this point, but the ideas are everywhere on this board

[4evermom]

How about a painted canvas playmat for the younger kids? Something to drive cars or trains on, in whatever motif they would find appealing. You could make one for the 2.5 yo and 5.5 yo to share, maybe giving each of them a special new vehicle to go with it.

Coupons are a good idea for the 11 yo. I remember getting some when I was that age. Mine were for things like trips to get Italian water ice or to go swimming or to do one of my chores for me (that one was rom my brother). One was for 1/3 the price of a bike if I saved the other 2/3.

I painted a dinosaur on a shirt as a gift recently. It turned out really nicely, much better than I expected. I used glow in the dark paint for the teeth and claws. It was for a 6 yo girl so I did it on a pink shirt thinking a pink dinosaur shirt would be awfully cool for a girl who liked dinosaurs.

[HipGal]

I agree about the Tshirts. If you know they like something, you could put it on a Tshirt with iron-on, or applique it on, or use fabric paint. You could pair the shirt with some pj pants as well.

When ds's friends turned 3, I gave most of them a play pizza set. I bought boxes - at Papermart.com I think - that looked like pizza boxes and cut ivory fleece crust (dinnerplate size), red fleece (squiggly like tomato sauce), dark red felt pepperoni (baby food jar top size), dark green felt rectangles for green peppers, brown felt mushroom shapes and cut up a bunch of yellow yarn for cheese. It turned out cute! I also printed out a label for the box with a pizza guy on it and the child's name. I then put the same image on a Tshirt as well. If you were really good, you could make some kind of chef's hat and apron - maybe a toy rolling pin as well!

[sunanthem]

What about sewing a wallet for the 11 yr. old? It might make him feel very grown up; and it can be embellished with an image of something he likes.

Also, my son is 4, and we have been enjoying making these little wooden car kits I got at Joann's for a $1 a piece. You could put them together and paint them or leave them nautural. We made a pick up truck, a boat and a race car. They make pretty nice little toys, I think.

[kisskiss]

Yeah like PP said a wallet would be great. What about one made from duct tape?

[eden/averymum]

I have 10.5 year old and it is HARD! last year I made him a mancala set, this year we're making an easel and pallet, and I'm knitting a "cool" sweater, probably flames.

[anjanetteopal]

oh I love dinosaurs, too!! I hope my son(s) like(s) them someday so I can make dinosaur-themed stuff.

How about making this: http://www.mkdesigner.com/C-DINO.HTML into a zipper pull for his backpack?

or you could fork the money over for this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5397029 haha!

[quietserena]

For the 3 yr old, how about one of those busy bench types of things with various screws and nuts and his own screwdriver set?

[libranbutterfly]

Originally Posted by anjanetteopal

oh I love dinosaurs, too!! I hope my son(s) like(s) them someday so I can make dinosaur-themed stuff.

How about making this: http://www.mkdesigner.com/C-DINO.HTML into a zipper pull for his backpack?

or you could fork the money over for this: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5397029 haha!

That looks cool! Unfortunately, I can't knit well at all. My grandma was trying to teach me but her arthritis got too bad.

[operamommy]

libranbutterfly, I've read that you can fill homemade bean bags with packing peanuts, which should be pretty cheap at a local shipping store. In fact, I decided to make my oldest kiddo a bean bag after giving you the idea!

[kittycat9]

For the 3yo:
Super Hero Cape
Memory Game
Felt Board
Mini Robot Softies (so he can roll play)
Bean Bag Game (we're doing this one - DH is making the board, I'm making the beanies)
Bean Bag Chair
Custom pillow case & fleece blanket with his favorite characters, embroider his name if you have a machine to do so.

[MrsAprilMay]

I found this article about making a felt playmat:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art..._mat_with.html

I'm making slings for all the nieces this year. If the only nephew was my son, he would be getting a sling, too. But, I don't want to hear BIL ranting about girl toys for boys. I might even make this playmat for DD, too!

[MrsAprilMay]

I thought of something for the 11 year old. Does he have a Nintendo DS? One of my former co-workers sewed himself a carrying case for his games. It folds up like a trifold wallet and has little pockets on the inside. I think it's fastened with velcro. He pretty much traced around a game and then made a pocket that was slightly bigger. Maybe 4 to a section, so 12 pockets total. This could also work for adult men who maybe aren't so adult.

[merrijayne]

blocks are always good. dragons are fun. swords and crowns capes they love capes