Just what do I get the Kids for Christmas this year??!!

[Ond]

OK so it's mid November, many are starting to think about what to get the kids for Christmas.  I'm sure there are some smug types who've already got it all sorted - read no further.  

For the rest of us Dads (and Moms?) it's yet another year of trying to figure out what the hell to get the rug rats this year.
  
Last year I kind of project managed it a bit.  I took all the "letters to Santa" and did my research.  Lunch breaks spent down at Kmart (=Walmart?) wandering the isles trying to sort out the rubbish from better value items.  I made up a spreadsheet and would tick off items located as I went.  I have 3 kids, eldest is a teenager (15 y/o daughter) my youngest is my 8 y/o son and then there's my 10 y/o daughter as well.  It seems to get harder and harder to buy for the girls.  Arrrrrgggg teen girls, just what do you get them?   When they were little it was easy because the stores are full of endless stuff for that age group.  

For my son it's sooo easy, I could spend all day gathering ideas for him i.e. is he old enough for a remote controlled helicopter? Hell yeah! (I know I am).   So looking past IPods, Cell phones, IPads, Gaming Consoles and cute little Netbooks,  what else is there?  I say let's get a brain dump going, then when we go out  and show “amazing imagination" in this year’s clever purchases, our wives will never know it was a cunning collective effort, hatched right here (I won't tell if you don't") Mooo hooo ha ha ha ha ha  .
 
Here’s my initial contribution – The seemingly quite cool for bookworm type daughters ‘KINDLE' from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Y27P3M/?tag=gocous-20&hvadid=5731324277&ref=pd_sl_1bgw2npllh_e

These look pretty cool and are different from other electronic viewing devices in that they are specifically designed for reading text with a paper like quality to the screen which can be read in bright light conditions. Holds thousands of titles, take it on holidays.  I’m thinking of just the basic model as a gift.  What else? C’mon share your suggestions! Give over!

[drventure]

My 6yo is getting a big girl bike, with +multiple speeds+!

I'm probably going to show her how to build up a PC as well, though that won't technically be "for christmas". I've been collecting parts for it ever since the lightning strike.

Beyond that, lots of princess stuff , which wouldn't help you much, I'm afraid!

Yeah, gifts for teen girls.... Not sure I'm looking forward to that stage

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Two girls here, 3 y/o in March and 1 y/o right after Christmas.
It's tricky finding things that oldest will enjoy that we don't have to be as worried about the younger one getting into. No small parts and the like.

You can always find novelty 'stocking stuffer' type stuff at Deal Extreme:
http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.899
Order sooner rather than later because the shipping takes a while.

Download the Wootalyzer and monitor the 'one item a day' stores like Woot, and KidsWoot:
http://www.wootalyzer.com/download
We just snagged a read a long book/pen system with three included books for $20 shipped from KidsWoot a week or so ago.

[HaRuMaN]

Get him this heli:

http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-Gyroscope-Controlled-Helicopter/dp/8499000606/

$27 shipped, Gyro stabalized, can't go wrong.   

I have a 5 month old girl, so not so hard shopping this year.   

[Howard_Casto]

"Boys get a football!  Girls get a pink football!"

(Bonus points to anyone that knows what that's from.)

[BurgerKingDiamond]

FINISH that cab! That's the best gift you could give him! hahah JK

Is he into music? Get him a guitar... I got one for my 10th birthday out of the blue, and I've been playing ever since (about to turn 25 in December). It could keep him from getting into rap..... That's a plus.

For the girl just please stay away from anything related to Justin Bieber for the love of GOD.

[shmokes]

Teen girls aren't difficult at all.  They want clothes.  Gift cards for Abercrombie or Xpress go a long way.  Yeah . . . it's a gift-card . . . not that personal.  But it's what they want.  They also want the new iPod nano or an iPod touch (or better yet an iPhone, if you can afford the monthly cost).  They want an iPad.  The Kindle is cool, too, but the iPad can do a lot more and it's pretty good for reading Kindle books too.  They want a salon-quality flat iron.  They want two tickets to an upcoming show (Lady Gaga's touring).  They want bags (Coach is always a safe bet).  They want shoes, but again this is gift-card territory . . . you can't choose them.

What about hobbies . . . does your daughter have any?  Would she like a nice camera . . . like an SLR or micro 4/3?  Does she ski/snowboard and need/want some new equipment?  A season pass maybe?  How about a nice tennis racquet?  Does she paint?  Would she like one of those cool french-style fold up easels with the built-in drawer to hold brushes and paints?

What about furniture?  A new bed for her bedroom?  A desk?  A chest of drawers?

[javeryh]

This could be a great thread.  We have also started shopping for Christmas for the kids (6 year old daughter and 3 year old son).  It is kind of tough because they are so young.  The kids also tend to want stuff they see on TV but then play with it for like 5 minutes and never pick it up again.  The only things they seem to go back to are books. 

My son's "big" present is going to be a little kid drum kit (bass, tom tom, snare and cymbal) - he is obsessed with the drums (thank you Rock Band).  His favorite "toy" is to just bang drumsticks against the couch.  We went to the Hard Rock a few weeks ago in NYC and all he wanted to do was look at the drum sets behind the glass cases.  I don't want to push him into it and have him get bored but I would love it if he really ended up playing - but he's only 3.5 so who knows.

I have no ideas for my daughter - probably books and clothes which are her two favorite things.

[chopps]

Get him this heli:

http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-Gyroscope-Controlled-Helicopter/dp/8499000606/

$27 shipped, Gyro stabalized, can't go wrong.   

MY 6 year old son has that same heli.  Takes a bit to get the hang of flying it, but we have lots of fun with it.  Fairly durable too, we have had many crash landings and it keeps going. 

[shmokes]

3 is old enough for a bike if he doesn't already have one.  Also kids that age LOVE those little mini kitchens with the fake sink and stove and stuff.  Not sure if the six year old girl will still play with that.  Mine is 4, though, and she hasn't shown any signs of growing tired of it since she got it for Christmas last year.  The one we got was at Target.

[Vigo]

Just be one of those Dads that teaches a "valuable life lesson" about how the world is not fair:

Give one kid a new iPad.

The second can have a mop and bucket.

The third can have a ketchup packet.


In the end, I'm sure your children will admire you for what you have taught them! That lesson is much more valuable than any material present you could buy. 

[Hoopz]

Donation to the Human Fund?   

[Hoopz]

To the OP:  Maybe your son is too old for these but I ordered one for my 6 year old nephew last night.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geek-kids/3-7-years/e560/

My step son is turning 12 next week so I think I've convinced my wife to get him a 360.  My 6 year old daughter is getting her own DS.  My 8 year old daughter is into baking cupcakes so we have a few books for her and a couple of outfits.  The standbys of books, outfits etc always go far.  We usually get them a game (the girls usually share it). 

I can't imagine what to get them when they're teenagers. 

My twin 2 year olds are getting the normal stuff that toddlers get. 

[knave]

This is a great idea for a thread. My daughters are 6 and 11, jewelery making was a big hit, earings and bracelets etc...they come in a kit. Both girls like this but it is more to my eldests skill level.

I get them a wii game each usually something top rated that's at least good enough for a few hours of fun.

My 6yo is just getting into playing her sisters DS. So I might pick her up her own DS Lite.

11yo really wants a cell phone...while part of me rejects this core concept I can't deny that it might have some merit. I told her 12 was the magic age a few years ago...so I think I might surprise her. She understands that it will be a prepaid account and that apart for the first month or two she will have to refill it with her money.

Both of my kids like books, plus it adds variety and something that doesn't plug in or take batteries.

My 6yo still has a play kitchen and it has always been a favorite...she is playing with it less now that she is older but from 3-5 1/2 it was well used.

Doll house and other polly pocket size toys have been popular as well.

Keep the ideas coming...

[Mikezilla]

Birth Control for the 15 year old? 


All I gotta say is that when I start having kids, I better have boys. Or else. 

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Our daughters love their play kitchen as well. Got it last Christmas and it gets played with every day. Even at 11mo/o, our youngest is starting to 'play' with it, though in more of a physical exploratory sense than imagination.

Toys that encourage imagination and abstract concepts I think will always have a longer staying power than something with a more strict interpretation of how you play with it.

[JMB]

The musical instrument ideas are great. I have a drum set, a couple guitars, and keyboards setup for the kids to use whenever they want. They don't get constant use but they do keep going back to them.

I also highly recommend board games you can play with your kids, Life, Monopoly, Sorry, Clue, etc.

[Vigo]

I also highly recommend board games you can play with your kids, Life, Monopoly, Sorry, Clue, etc.

I agree that board games age a great gift, but I really recommended that you don't get those games. There are so many games out there that are much, much better, and will keep you from that 5 hour game of monopoly riddled with arguments and grief.

I personally recommend a game like "Pandemic" or "Forbidden Island" for kids 10 and up. Intense enough that adults love it, but kids can really get involved in it and enjoy it just as much. Plus they are co-op games, so its not really about who wins. Its just a good time.

[atomikbohm]

With the younger kids it has to be cool / interesting not necessarily expensive. 

Best gift I got my brother's 2 boys was an Airzooka http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/warfare/60b6/ Under $20 and they played with them till they fell apart. Which was quite a while according to my sister-in-law 

BTW NEVER give your own children a drum set!!! Give things like that to your siblings children.  That way they get to enjoy listening to the learning curve 

[eds1275]

My recommendation also goes to a musical instrument. And not just any instrument - obviously I am biased because I am a professional guitarist, but I think you should get her one of the following instruments:

Guitar
Keyboard
Drums [electric drum prices are down lower than ever and quality is pretty good, even on the starter sets like the Roland TD-3]
Bass guitar
A small PA system with a nice mic if she likes singing

The better choices are the PA, guitar, and keyboard - those are instruments you can play alone. If you are going for a guitar, go electric. I know many will tell you to start with an acoustic, because acoustic guitars are the root of the instrument, but in my experience they are harder to play thus easier to give up on. An electric is easier on the fingers, can be played unplugged or with headphones for silent practice, and can if she keeps up with it a neverending source of ideas for gifts.

A PA system would allow her to jam with other musicians, plus it would also benefit you if you ever throw outdoor parties!

The reason I suggest these five instruments is because chances are better that she will keep up with these throughout her lifetime, as opposed to the regular high school "band" instruments. Not many people still play the flute out of high school. Plus... it's really hard to rock a flute.
Here's me rocking out at my housewarming partay!

[HanoiBoi]

I've got two boys, 6 & 8.  Here's some of our results;

RECOMMENDED:

Perplexus  3D spherical maze puzzle.  The kids really concentrate when they pick this up.  I love this thing!

Yam Slam  A yahtzee like game with poker chips for points.  Very well built and fun for all ages.

Stomp Rocket Jump or stomp on the launch pad and send the nerf like rocket high into the air.

Remote Controlled Thunder Tumbler  I've recently seen them in CVS.  We've had 2 of them for about 3 years and they still work and they're still played with

Zoom-O Also a 9.99 toy, found at WalMart, Target, etc.. Shoots a propeller disc into the air.  Simple, but very addictive.  Non-competitive and just fun.

Nintendo DS My 6 year old would bring it into the shower if he could!  If I had a nickel for every time I've heard "Can I play my DS?"  It's the Pokemon games that he loves.

'Dangerous Book For Boys' (or the 'Daring Book For Girls')  

Building Stuff Lego Sets (Atlantis, vehicles, etc) K'Nex, Bionicles, Magnetix

MP3 players  Doesn't have to be fancy.  Fill it with stuff that'll get them interested in tunes; Classic Rock, 80's, 1 Hit Wonders, Beatles, Bob Marley, etc.

Apples To Apples If you've got at least 4 people and most can read (you can help to an extent), it's always a fun game.

Five Below My boys love this store.

Other notables:

20 Questions Fun for the younger kids who can read

Mr Root Beer Make your own root beer.

Rubik's Twist Easy to get the hang of, travels well.

Duds

Air Hogs They are fun and they work well, but the kids lose interest when they have to charge so much.

Fushigi = Fushi++y

[eds1275]

Ooooooh MP3 players! Kids LOVE Stevie Wonder's poppier stuff!

[Hoopz]

We do games every year too.  Board, card, book games etc.  At least two for each.  My stepson and I play Spy Alley a lot, Stratego (star wars version but with the regular rules), Drakon board game etc.

We have a boutique style game store that I go in and browse stuff.  It's overpriced but I try and support small businesses that are local...

Perudo, Farkle and a few others like that are good for older kids (8+?) and teach good math skills to boot.  For the boys group I work with, we had 80+ play Perudo in one sitting.  It was fun to watch (at least the end of it was...).

The Cranium games are always good. 

[Ond]

The great Christmas Gift Thinktank!  There's already plenty more suggestions here than I could have hoped to dream up by myself. Now to find the one stop shop that stocks it all  (other than online ordering).  No more wondering around shelves full of potential landfill (there's too much plastic in the world) at the last minute for this dad.  I really like the family games, painting and art materials, constructive toys, musical and hobbyist gift ideas. I'll go with the clothes vouchers for the girls too, good one.

Not that I'd want to derail this thread with nostalgic Christmas memories, but  thinking back to the best value gifts I got as a kid is sometimes useful when I'm trying to get inspiration for my own kids.  Some of my favs were the Chemistry set I got one year, can you still even get these?? I mean the full on giant ones with all the cool tubes of various different coloured chemicals in them and glasswear, the microscope another year,  The 'Electronic Project Kit' that was awesome ,till I lost all the wires that came with it. Various different construction sets.  Thanks Dad!  errr I mean Santa.  Yes, I get to relive my childhood each Christmas and have no problem admitting that.

Well, time to spreadsheet some of these great ideas.  I can't wait to be the smug savvy shopper thanks to you guys! 

[HanoiBoi]

Ond, if you find a brick and mortar Amazon store, let me know.  Otherwise, they're a nice one stop shop for many items.

I'm sure there are other stores like it, but my Dad used to get us gifts from Edmund's Scientific.  They've got your Chemistry stuff.  We'd also receive cool items like prisms, magnets, holograms, etc.  It was kinda local to us and I actually visited the store a few times as a kid.  

Check it out - it'll be good for ideas at the least!

Edmund's Scientific Official Site:
http://www.scientificsonline.com

Chemistry Section:
http://www.scientificsonline.com/chemistry.html?limit=48

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Scientific_Corporation

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Used to love electronics project kits too.. I had a couple that were second hand sets, so they didn't come with wires, and the books were a little worn.

My dad found around 20 feet of about 50 pair twisted copper that had been discarded. I think we used that as a source for wire for several years for many projects.

[garwil]

Can one of you lot please adopt me. My parents never spent that much on me!

[Vigo]

We do games every year too.  Board, card, book games etc.  At least two for each.  My stepson and I play Spy Alley a lot, Stratego (star wars version but with the regular rules), Drakon board game etc.

We have a boutique style game store that I go in and browse stuff.  It's overpriced but I try and support small businesses that are local...

Perudo, Farkle and a few others like that are good for older kids (8+?) and teach good math skills to boot.  For the boys group I work with, we had 80+ play Perudo in one sitting.  It was fun to watch (at least the end of it was...).

The Cranium games are always good. 

Haha, I'm also one to play Star Wars stratego with regular stratego rules.

Also, I would recommend getting "The A-Maze-ing Labyrinth" if you see it for a good price. Simple game for kids 6+, but there is a lot of critical thinking skills that the game develops, and it is equally enjoyable by adults. It's overall just a really fun game to play!

http://www.amazon.com/Ravensburger-26448-Labyrinth/dp/B00000J0JF

[Hoopz]

Haha, I'm also one to play Star Wars stratego with regular stratego rules.

Also, I would recommend getting "The A-Maze-ing Labyrinth" if you see it for a good price. Simple game for kids 6+, but there is a lot of critical thinking skills that the game develops, and it is equally enjoyable by adults. It's overall just a really fun game to play!

http://www.amazon.com/Ravensburger-26448-Labyrinth/dp/B00000J0JF

I'm adding that to my list to give to my mom for my stepson.  Thanks!

[shmokes]

Probably the best board game I've ever played is Settlers of Catan.  It's more a less a board game version of a turn-based strategy game.  It's all about resource management and building cities and settlements, controlling important parts of the map, etc.  It's an excellent game.  If you're going to get a board game, get that board game.  It's not for kids under 10, though.  It's also not inexpensive.  It's like $30+

[eds1275]

Probably the best board game I've ever played is Settlers of Catan.  It's more a less a board game version of a turn-based strategy game.  It's all about resource management and building cities and settlements, controlling important parts of the map, etc.  It's an excellent game.  If you're going to get a board game, get that board game.  It's not for kids under 10, though.  It's also not inexpensive.  It's like $30+

Anything published by that company Rio Grande Games is EXCELLENT!

My favourites are Settlers of Catan and the million variations of Carcassonne! Also another good game is Zombies!!! and for all-around family enjoyment, Crokinole. I have a wicked Crokinole board from Lee Valley.

[Vigo]

Probably the best board game I've ever played is Settlers of Catan.  It's more a less a board game version of a turn-based strategy game.  It's all about resource management and building cities and settlements, controlling important parts of the map, etc.  It's an excellent game.  If you're going to get a board game, get that board game.  It's not for kids under 10, though.  It's also not inexpensive.  It's like $30+

Anything published by that company Rio Grande Games is EXCELLENT!

My favourites are Settlers of Catan and the million variations of Carcassonne! Also another good game is Zombies!!! and for all-around family enjoyment, Crokinole. I have a wicked Crokinole board from Lee Valley.

Yeah, Rio Grande makes killer games! I would also recommend Catan as a gift for teens and adults. I have made many people Catan addicts by gifting that game! It really has perfected the trading element that monopoly tried to do, but fell flat. Carcassonne is a good alternative for people on more of a budget, its like around $20 instead of $30ish. Its still a good game though. I also hear Puerto Rico is a sweet game, but haven't played it yet.

I always wanted to get a Crokinole board, but the classy ones are spendy. Maybe that can be a DIY project of mine someday.

[RayB]

I also highly recommend board games you can play with your kids, Life, Monopoly, Sorry, Clue, etc.

I agree that board games age a great gift, but I really recommended that you don't get those games. There are so many games out there that are much, much better, and will keep you from that 5 hour game of monopoly riddled with arguments and grief.

Seconded. Get ones that at least encourage a little bit of strategic thought. Anything that relies on a random number generator (dice) isn't strategic, it's just "luck". There are a number of good games coming out of Germany. Get Bohnanza, Pompei, Carcasonne, Settlers, etc....

Regarding buying for teen girls, you're really screwed. Their peer groups and media are all pushing clothes, music, celebrities and other inane shallow interests. You're gonna have to carefully balance that crap with encouraging interests that have a little more value. (How? I have no idea! )

[eds1275]

Regarding buying for teen girls, you're really screwed. Their peer groups and media are all pushing clothes, music, celebrities and other inane shallow interests. You're gonna have to carefully balance that crap with encouraging interests that have a little more value. (How? I have no idea! )

Yeah I haven't seen any of those retarded board games where you try to finish your shopping list first in a while. Those were the days...

[shmokes]

Settlers relies heavily on dice and it's very strategic.  Part of the fun is making the best of what fortune gives you.

[AtomSmasher]

The randomness of the dice rolling in Catan is mainly why I get really annoyed at that game at times.  A fun game that has virtually no randomness is Power Grid.  You actually have a supply and demand in the game for the various resources, the more people want a resource, the higher the cost goes.  It's a lot of fun, but definitely not for little kids.

Robo Rally is another fun one, which does have some randomness in that you draw a stack of cards, but the core of the game is quickly deciding what you need to do with the cards you've received.  You can pretty much always have a successful turn if you're fast enough to realize the correct moves to make.

[Flip_Willie]

...I also hear Puerto Rico is a sweet game, but haven't played it yet.

I have Puerto Rico, and it is a great game. I used to play Settlers of Catan a lot, but I honestly find Puerto Rico even more fun.

[popsicle]

Slightly off-topic, but a great fast playing game for adults is Wits and Wagers.  7 questions total, but all are numeric values (i.e. what year, how many, etc.)  Players write their answers on dry erase cards, then put them from high to low on an odds table.  Next, all players place 2 betting markers on whose answer(s) is closest without going over (kind of like that game in Price is Right).  The payoffs increase as you stray from the middle.  On the last question, you may put any previous winnings under either or both of your 2 betting markers and go 'all in'.

I bring this game weekly to the teacher's lounge, and it manages to suck just about everyone in during a very limited lunch break.  My parents and uncle (all 65+) like to play too.  Easy game for teams in large numbers as well.

 

[danny_galaga]

Don't get 'em anything. just teach them it's a bogus way to separate people from their cash 

[Mikezilla]

...I also hear Puerto Rico is a sweet game, but haven't played it yet.

I have Puerto Rico, and it is a great game. I used to play Settlers of Catan a lot, but I honestly find Puerto Rico even more fun.

You guys keep raving about these games but I have never seen them anywhere. Whats are they like? Rules gameplay, etc?