Blessedwithboys Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 What are the best gifts or toys you have bought in previous years for your kids? Every year I try to find a great gift for each child that they will really enjoy. I also like to buy a new family board or card game each year. So, I would love some ideas... FYI... My personal overall favorite toy for my kids: KEVA planks. They can't get enough of these. I've taken them to Co-op for game time and kids of all ages just flock to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haysmommy Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 The board game that everyone enjoys here is Blokus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMW Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 My kids are older now... ages 10-19. They like mp3's. We avoid the ipod scene, it's more expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 A game we love is Ticket to Ride. It's a little pricey, but it's been a big hit with everyone we've played it with. It's a strategy game, sort of like Risk, but it moves much faster. With four players, I'm thinking it's probably still under an hour start to finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedwithboys Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 A game we love is Ticket to Ride. It's a little pricey, but it's been a big hit with everyone we've played it with. It's a strategy game, sort of like Risk, but it moves much faster. With four players, I'm thinking it's probably still under an hour start to finish. Thanks for the info. That's one of the games on my wish list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Those Keva Planks look interesting.....I'm always looking for something that I think my kids will play with a lot. How many Keva planks do you need for it to make interesting things and keep them occupied? I noticed it is $70 for 200 planks....is that enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedwithboys Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 Those Keva Planks look interesting.....I'm always looking for something that I think my kids will play with a lot. How many Keva planks do you need for it to make interesting things and keep them occupied? I noticed it is $70 for 200 planks....is that enough? Two years ago, I bought a box of 200 planks. That kept them pretty busy, but they did want more. So, last year I bought another box of 200 and they have been content with that. Although, they would say they could always use more. The sets were on sale around Christmas (I think I paid around $50 a box) and the quality is very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Those Keva Planks look interesting.....I'm always looking for something that I think my kids will play with a lot. How many Keva planks do you need for it to make interesting things and keep them occupied? I noticed it is $70 for 200 planks....is that enough? These have been THE best toy for our house!!! Everyone plays with them. The Christmas we bought them, I took them to my mom's and dad's house for New Years. There were 40 relatives there. I have wonderful pictures of everyone playing with them - all ages!!! We bough the 1000 pack. It was expensive, but very worth it in terms of play value. In fact, right now, my 11 yo is down in the play room building a princess castle for his 3 yo sister! The other item that gets LOTS of playtime is our marble run. We splurged and got a gorgeous wooden one. Dd can't put it together by herself yet. But, the boys always help her out and they love to do it!! I always try to buy toys that can be used outside for exercise. We've got a bunch of ride-on toys from Constructive Playthings. The kids will play on them for hours. This year, we're going to buy a unicycle! Another popular outside toy has been a HUGE frisbee. It's diameter is at least as tall as my 3 yo. All the neighbor kids love it. Our basketball hoop has brought over lots of neighbor kids too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleWMN Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Magnatiles and Plasma Cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Another popular outside toy has been a HUGE frisbee. It's diameter is at least as tall as my 3 yo. All the neighbor kids love it. :iagree: Our monster disk has always been a huge hit. Lego sets Magazine subscriptions American Girl or Breyer stuff Drawing supplies -- tracing kits, nice drawing pads, good colored pencils, a pack of tracing paper, etc.... Memberships or tickets to something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujsky Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 My kids both love Orb Factory's Sticky Mosaics. It keeps them busy for days and days, and it great for eye-hand coordination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Wedgits, gears, gears, gears, playdough, anything hot wheels, uno attack, Sorry, legos, anything nerf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Hamsters :) We thought we bought two boys. Turned out one was already pregnant, and gave birth before the boys woke up on Christmas morning. They got 22 hamsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Hamsters :) We thought we bought two boys. Turned out one was already pregnant, and gave birth before the boys woke up on Christmas morning. They got 22 hamsters. Holy snickers! That is a LOT of hampsters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixglides Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Rainbow Resource has 200 Keva planks for $55.35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Board Game: Settlers of Catan Hit Individual Gifts: good binoculars & nature journal Zoobs magazine subscriptions (they love getting something just for them every month concerning a topic they really like - favorites have been Highlights and National Geographic) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in MD Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Magnatiles and Plasma Cars We got a Plasma Car here three years ago, and it still gets played with A LOT. It works just as well in the kitchen as it does on the deck and the driveway :) Whoonu by Cranium Games is also well-loved, as is Apples to Apples. We have Kapla Blocks, which are like the Keva Planks, and they get used quite a bit too. Heather in MD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 (edited) Well, on the very slim chance someone hasn't heard of them or wasn't thinking about them, here are the toys my boys play with non-stop: 1. Playmobil people--they like the historical ones mostly. (The don't care for the circus or doctor ones, but my boys seem to have a historical bent.) The also don't care for all the extras (like horses or houses or boxes and stuff.) They just like the people and their swords or helmets or clothing. 2. K'nex sets. 3. Legos 4. Paper and lots and lots of pens, pencils, staplers (to make books) markers and tape. They spend a good hour or more a day making books and sketching pictures. For a recent idea that also is a lot of fun, but very mainstream, and probably has a short play life (maybe a year or so): My son just turned 7 last week and he got an Alien Maker. You use various molds, some sort of goo and some sort of playdoh type stuff to make little rubbery aliens. My sons love this and the 4 and 7 yo can do this entirely on their own. He also received a bunch of Ben Ten (a cartoon) aliens. What they like about these aliens is that the arms, heads, and legs pop off, so you can mix and match the aliens. They spend a great deal of time pulling off the arms and legs and creating new aliens. (My son received about 6 aliens, so there are many different combinations--hmm... is he old enough to do a math equation to figure out how many combinations there are??? :)) The Alien Maker and Ben Ten aliens aren't really long-term toys, but for now they are a LOT of fun and the kids love them. (Maybe an idea to ask for from the grandparents as a gift.) Edited September 21, 2009 by Garga Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 It was INSANE!!!!!! Holy snickers! That is a LOT of hampsters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedwithboys Posted September 21, 2009 Author Share Posted September 21, 2009 It was INSANE!!!!!! Dare I ask what you did with all those hampsters?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Begged our friends to give them to their children as belated Christmas gifts. About a third of the babies died within a day, which is normal. We kept 4-5. Dare I ask what you did with all those hampsters?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Well, Miss Bossy liked the pony she got last year. This year, I'm telling her the new baby will be her present so that she does not ask for anything. I have no idea what we will really end up getting her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linders Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Sorry, but here Lego has ruled for years. However, I do know that a snake or bullfrog would go over well. (It just ain't happening.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 board and card game hits: blockus rush hour cadoo apples to apples dutch blitz polarity 10 Days in USA (or Europe, Africa, Asia) OTher hits: American Girl dolls or Lee Middleton swing set teeter totter bikes pogo sticks roller blades Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 http://store.playmobilusa.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Well, when our eldest was four years old, her favorite gift was her very own hot water bottle! As far as games go, given the ages of your children, I'd recommend Wise and Otherwise Other fun games include: Bananagrams Quiddler Set Fluxx (This is a game that people seem to either love or hate. There are also many versions such as Zombie Fluxx, Monty Python Fluxx, Eco-Fluxx, etc.) Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedwithboys Posted September 23, 2009 Author Share Posted September 23, 2009 Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm off to go look them up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessed2fosteradopt Posted September 23, 2009 Share Posted September 23, 2009 Hamsters :) We thought we bought two boys. Turned out one was already pregnant, and gave birth before the boys woke up on Christmas morning. They got 22 hamsters. ROTFL! WOW, I'm sure that made for quite a memorable Christmas! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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