mo2 Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 This year for Christmas I want to give a gift addressed to each child plus dad. I want it to be something that will sort of bring them together and give them something to do that involves spending time together. For example, I have decided to give my oldest and her dad a copy of Backyard Ballistics. Inexpensive, but it will give them hours of fun together. And it's not something my dd can do on her own, so she will need her dad's help. Where I'm running into trouble is coming up with ideas for my youngers---a 5yo boy and a 3yo girl. Does anyone have any ideas for an inexpensive gift I can give to the kids and their dad that will promote bonding and quality time? I'm excited...I really think my husband will love this as much as the kids will! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo2 Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 Oh, come on...No one has any ideas? I'm just looking for a gift I can give to a 5yo boy and his father and a separate gift for a 3yo girl and her father, something that they can do together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfeusse Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 what about a game? or a special book (or better yet a collection of books) that dad would read to them. would they do a simple craft together?? Does that help at all?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYoungerMrsWarde Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Dh plays with the boys with this t-ball set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo2 Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 Thanks for the suggestions. A craft type project would be fun if I can find one that is age-approporiate. Dad can't walk very well and so sports are not really an option. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Could he (would he) bake cupcakes with your 3yo? You could get her a pan, bowl and spatula. Oh, and I'd add a few goodies to the Backyard Ballistics book, if you think it would make things more likely to happen--there's some collecting of materials involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Legos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Here's my ideas: Paper Airplane Book http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Paper-Airplane-Book-Blackburn/dp/076110478X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351646588&sr=1-1&keywords=paper+airplanes+to+make+and+fly Straws and Connectors http://www.amazon.com/Straws-Connectors-705-piece-Set/dp/B0015344GM/ref=pd_sim_t_1 Painting set including big pad of paper (like 18"x24"), paints, brushes, pots, sponges to do wet on wet. Candy memory game (one of my husbands favorite games to play with the kids) http://www.amazon.com/eeBoo-MGCAND-Eeboo-Candy-Matching/dp/B000ELV3XS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351647324&sr=8-1&keywords=eboo+candy Parachute http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Play-Tents-Playchute-Parachute/dp/B00000IURU/ref=pd_sim_t_4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Paper airplanes/origami. Marble run. Stuff to play ball outside. Anything useful for hiking together -- nature guides, binoculars, journals, backpacks. . . DH takes my big kids hiking frequently, and they have a blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 I don't have any suggestions, but I wanted to say that I think your idea is a good one. I'm going to think about how I can implement it! Maybe a cute little cookbook with some stuff you'd need to make the neater recipes. Maybe you could find some cool stuff on pinterest and then make a kit to do the project. There's tons of cool stuff that could match their interests well. Or maybe coupons for things like mini-golf, bowling, swimming, whatever they like to do together. The coupons could say that they are only for the one child and dad. I don't know, just brainstorming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 My hubby and son spent a lot of time together over Snap Circuits :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonlight Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 the geek dad books come to mind.... does the dad have any particular hobby that can be shared with the child? my dh likes to box so we got the kids boxing gloves and they love to go up to our gym and exercise with him... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whoareyou Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Would they like tickets to someplace. Maybe 'dad and kiddo' day at the zoo, science center type thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 There are lots of science related experiments or demonstrations even for little kids that you can find online and on pinterest. Could you pick several of those and print up instructions and buy the materials? if you are looking for ideas I have a few websites and blogs bookmarked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo2 Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 Wow, what great ideas! I could really run with the cooking idea for the 3yo...Matching aprons? Fancy cupcake molds? Child-sized utensils? And so many great boy ideas for the 5yo. I've got about 5 Amazon pages open in other tabs, now to narrow it down. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 does the dad have any particular hobby that can be shared with the child? my dh likes to box so we got the kids boxing gloves and they love to go up to our gym and exercise with him... It may be a little wilder than you want, but one year my husband and my son each got a pair of boxing gloves in their appropriate sizes. I think my son was about 5yo, and he thought it was great fun to "box" with Dad. (Dh doesn't box at the gym, however.) This is a fun idea of yours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo2 Posted October 31, 2012 Author Share Posted October 31, 2012 does the dad have any particular hobby that can be shared with the child? my dh likes to box so we got the kids boxing gloves and they love to go up to our gym and exercise with him... It may be a little wilder than you want, but one year my husband and my son each got a pair of boxing gloves in their appropriate sizes. I think my son was about 5yo, and he thought it was great fun to "box" with Dad. (Dh doesn't box at the gym, however.) This is a fun idea of yours! Actually, I like that idea a lot. My 5yo has SPD and is a sensory seeker. He loves, craves, NEEDS rough physical time. I don't know anything about choosing boxing gloves, though, and this is supposed to be a surprise for my dh too, so I can't ask him. Any tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Simpler models snap together and don't require glue -- that might work for the 5yo. Floor puzzles to do together could be good for the 3yo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Ooh, I had a great idea for the 5 yo. A remote control helicopter. They're not nearly as expensive as you would think- you can certainly get one for less than 30 dollars. A while back, my bil had one at his house and he, dh, my son and nephew played with that thing for hours. Dh ordered himself one as soon as we got home. The 5 year old will need some practice to get the hang of it, but it's probably just the kind of interaction you're looking for. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 It may be a little wilder than you want, but one year my husband and my son each got a pair of boxing gloves in their appropriate sizes. I think my son was about 5yo, and he thought it was great fun to "box" with Dad. (Dh doesn't box at the gym, however.) This is a fun idea of yours! Actually, I like that idea a lot. My 5yo has SPD and is a sensory seeker. He loves, craves, NEEDS rough physical time. I don't know anything about choosing boxing gloves, though, and this is supposed to be a surprise for my dh too, so I can't ask him. Any tips? I just picked them up on sale at a sporting goods section of a department store or something, but if you search 'boxing gloves' on Amazon, it gives you both adult and child-size. If it is just for rough-housing at home, they don't have to be top-of-the line. There are some youth sizes for about $14, but I didn't keep searching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybee Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Also, with your son being sensory-seeking, you might could get him one of those floor standing punching bags for him to also use his boxing gloves on (also, as in not only using them on his dad). If your husband knew about that and your son's gloves, he still wouldn't have to know he was getting some gloves, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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