lincolnsgma
Shy Member
Posts: 47 
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Post by lincolnsgma on Dec 10, 2014 5:31:31 GMT
I have been nominated to do the shopping for a co-worker's children for Christmas. She is going through some hard times and our supervisor decided that we would do a RAK for her instead of choosing an angel from the angel tree.
Her boys are 3 and 6. All I know is the 3 year old likes cars and trains and the older one likes lego kits and has an analytical mind. I have $150 to spend on them combined and I would like to get the maximum amount with the money but I know that lego kits are kind of expensive and all the money would be gone on one or two kits.
I have a 13 year old son who was never into normal boy toys so I am at a loss as to what kinds of things that boys this age are into.
Any suggestions would be great! And any tips on stores with good toy sales would also be appreciated.
Thank you!
Trish
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,025
Location: So Cal
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Post by caangel on Dec 10, 2014 5:43:58 GMT
Look into Snap Circuts for the older one! My Ds got a set for his 7th bday and loves it. After some guidance he is able to do it on his own.
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lincolnsgma
Shy Member
Posts: 47
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Post by lincolnsgma on Dec 10, 2014 9:53:41 GMT
Thank you caangel! I will look into that.
Trish
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Post by naomicatgirl on Dec 10, 2014 11:17:42 GMT
Magnatiles! They are expensive, but one of the best toys ever. When my boys were that age, they played with them almost daily. For well over a year. Now, at 8 & almost 10, they still play with them, probably weekly. (They don't have as much play time now)
I think he bigger set is around $100. That, plus some plastic animals and a few hit wheels type cars, and you're all set.
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Post by mandasue on Dec 10, 2014 12:53:07 GMT
I have am almost 6 year old. He lives Legos. He doesn't have to have the bigger expensive sets to thrill him. You can get him 2 sets at Walmart that cost 9.99-29.99 and I promise he'll be happy! My son still loves cars so maybe you could buy them a hot wheels track it play set to share.
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Post by librarylady on Dec 10, 2014 13:22:15 GMT
WEDGiTS
Different kind of building set. My grandchildren, (3 and 5) love them, as well as their father. I got them the starter set last spring and the entire family likes building things.
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Post by heartland on Dec 10, 2014 18:30:28 GMT
What about one of the books that has plans to build different LEGO figures? I bought one last year for a gift and it was around $15 - that plus a bucket of lego's could keep most kids happy for hours.  And don't forget books as an option. I buy new books for each of my nieces and nephews each Christmas - I think I enjoy that as much as they do One of the picture books I bought this year was The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt. The wrapping paper got torn during shipping and they already opened it  , and that one received two thumbs up. |
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Post by alissa103 on Dec 10, 2014 19:00:31 GMT
For the three year old, my DS loves this fire truck and plays with it several times a day. It has lights and sounds and the ladder moves. It's pretty cool and I don't think it's annoying (it's not super loud). it's made by Tonka and is hands down his fave toy.
lego duplo sets are pretty inexpensive for the younger boy too. Target had some good ones in buckets for about $15.
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lincolnsgma
Shy Member
Posts: 47
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Post by lincolnsgma on Dec 11, 2014 3:24:10 GMT
Thank you all for the ideas! It really helps me a lot!
Trish
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Post by ahiller on Dec 11, 2014 3:41:51 GMT
I got DS Gears, Gears, Gears for Christmas. He's 2.5
He's also into those huge dump trucks (drives them around the house all day long), Lightning McQueen (Toys R Us has some that talk) and anything Thomas the Train, particularly the ones that move on their own.
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mochi
Full Member
Posts: 449
Jun 26, 2014 1:45:16 GMT
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Post by mochi on Dec 11, 2014 3:42:24 GMT
My 3 year old boy loves imaginext. Also, any little play cars where doors, hoods, or trunks can open.
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Post by Basket1lady on Dec 11, 2014 3:49:02 GMT
My kids loved SnapCircuits at that age. I know either Toys R Us or Target sells them now.
I just bought a Thomas the Tank Engine Coal Hopper Figure 8 set for $40 at Toys R Us for our angel tree. It has a bridge and a coal chute thing. Amazon has it for $40, too. If you know he has track already, you could get more cars.
Then supplement with smaller things. Little figures, cars, etc. Nerf guns are popular. Maybe a board game. I would go with one or two things that are more expensive, then a few smaller things so that they each have 4-5 things to open.
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Post by impearia on Dec 11, 2014 9:25:46 GMT
For the three year old, my DS loves this fire truck and plays with it several times a day. It has lights and sounds and the ladder moves. It's pretty cool and I don't think it's annoying (it's not super loud). it's made by Tonka and is hands down his fave toy. lego duplo sets are pretty inexpensive for the younger boy too. Target had some good ones in buckets for about $15. We gave our three year old son that exact firetruck last year and he LOVES it. He plays with it constantly. It is probably in his favourite 2 or 3 toys. It is very well made and sturdy. He even likes to ride on it! |
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Post by kristenf on Dec 11, 2014 15:49:34 GMT
The Imaginext stuff is awesome. The price range is very wide, so you've got a lot of options. Right now, the Batman stuff is super hot, and the kids love it. My 5yo son still plays with the older Imaginext Bat Cave that was my middle son's like 5 years ago. I think they might be aged 4-7, because some of the sets have smaller accessories, but in general they're very appropriate for 3 year old play, and perfect for the 6yo. We are Lego freaks. There haven't been really great sales yet this year.  But they do have a new like of Lego Jr. sets, sort of in between Duplo and Regular. There's a Batman Set, too. I think they run around $30. Games start to be fun at this age too-there are few different character versions of Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Hi-Ho Cherrio, that even if the 6yo has the game, the 3yo's version would be unique (and these are often $10-$15, so a good part of a mix). For the 6yo, Quirkle is MY favorite game! Sorry, Operation, Clue Jr. (multiple versions available) are also good for the 6yo. The Zingo games are fantastic for the 6yo as well. Outdoor stuff is good too, there are lots of scooters and ride-ons that are in the $30 range. Little Tikes baseball Ts and basketball hoops I don't think are much more than $30ish either... could be a joint gift for both boys. I think I got the older boys Plasma Cars when they were right around this age (6 & 4)... I think they're out of budget at full price, but I feel like I remember getting a couple of coupons or something and getting a great deal. They rode these into the ground! (I think we actually have that firetruck pictured above, for at least 5 years, it also got played with by all 3 boys!) My 10yo and 5yo both still play with the Magnatiles that the 10yo got years ago (then the 5yo got his own 2 years ago). They are expensive, but they are awesome. Playdoh has always been a hit, when my first 2 were younger and now my 5yo... there are trucks and stuff that are boy-ish and not expensive (and Playdoh is BOGO 40% off at Toys R Us this week!). Thomas trains are great-in general they're expensive especially the wooden sets, but there are some die-cast sets are are pretty reasonable, especially the "Take-Away" sets that fold up and carry. They have some on sale at Kohl's this week and if you have an additional %off they're a great deal. My 5yo has been playing with his Thomas trains consistently for over 3 years. |
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, and that one received two thumbs up. 
But they do have a new like of Lego Jr. sets, sort of in between Duplo and Regular. There's a Batman Set, too. I think they run around $30.